Technical Skills Share Series 2025

The Cider Institute offers a monthly Technical Skills Share series, where producers, consultants, and researchers come together online to explore specific cider production topics in detail.

The series will occur on the second Thursday of each month from 2-3pm ET, starting March 13. You can buy a ticket for a single session or purchase a subscription for access to all sessions at a 30% discount.

October 9 @ 2PM ET

Topic: Blending in Practice: What Works—and What Doesn’t
Speaker: Nick Gunn, BenchGraft Consulting (Salem, OR)

In Part I, we explored the timing, techniques, and goals of blending in cidermaking—from orchard to ferment to finish. Now, in Part II, we take a candid look at the results: what makes a blend successful, and where things can go wrong.

Nick Gunn returns to lead a practical, example-driven session focused on real-world blending outcomes—both great and not-so-great. Whether you're blending for balance, complexity, or consistency, this session will help sharpen your instincts and expand your blending toolkit.

Join this session to learn:

• Why some blends work—and why others fall short
• Common mistakes in blending and how to avoid them
• Varietals that tend to shine in blends (and those that don’t)
• Techniques for evaluating blend potential
• Lessons from industry case studies and client experiences
• Tools for training your palate and making confident decisions

November 13 @ 2PM ET

Topic: announced soon

December 11 @ 2PM ET

Topic: Apple Harvest Insights & Orchard Planning for the Future
Speaker: Dr. Gregory Peck, Cornell University

This session is co-presented with the New York Cider Association

Greg Peck leads a timely session focused on real-world insights from the 2024 and 2025 apple harvests. Drawing on the latest data and grower experiences, this session will explore the biggest challenges and opportunities facing cider apple production today—with a special focus on what matters most for those planning orchards.

Join this session to learn:

• High-level harvest trends from 2024 and 2025
• Key challenges growers are navigating now and in the near future
• Considerations for orchard planning and investment
• Resilient apple varieties and what makes them stand out
• How changing conditions (disease, climate, and market) are shaping decisions across the industry

PAST TOPICS:

• Pressing tips (Christine Walter, Bauman's Cider OR)
• Blending deep dive (Nick Gunn, Benchgraft Consulting OR)
• Understanding free vs. total SO2 (Chris Gerling, Cornell University NY)
• Exploring flavor trends (Ryan Burk, Feel Goods Company NY)
• Using a product library and in-house sensory panel to better understand your products (Kira Bassingthwaighte, Western Cider MT)
• Working with single varietal ciders (Soham Bhatt, Artifact Cider Project MA)
• Understanding sugars and acids (Dave Takush, 2 Towns Ciderhouse OR)
• Operating an urban cidery (Brian Wing, Green Bench Cider FL)
• Facility design for new cideries (Cortni Stahl, Star Cider NY)
• Grafing & selecting rootstock (Maria Kretschmann, After the Fall Cider PA)
• Hopped Cider Production (Josh Sejat, Blake's Hard Cider Co MI)
• Disgorging & Packaging Traditional Method Ciders (Levi Danielson, RAW Cider Co OR)
• Barrel Maintenance & Aging Techniques (Matt Holley, Virtue Cider MI)
• Wild Fermentation: Evolving Approaches in Changing Conditions (Dion Stepanski, Presque Isle Farm Cider MI)
• Is Co-Packing the Right Fit for Your Cider Business? (Yann Fay, Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards NY)
• The Art & Science of Bottle Conditioning (Martha Lowry, Woodfolk Cider ON)
• Optimizing Stone Fruit Fermentation in Cider Production (Patrick Chavanelle, Allagash Brewing Company ME)
• Is Crossflow Right for You? Filtration & Stabilization Strategies for Your Cider (Joe Gaynor, Angry Orchard Cider House NY)
• Practical Approaches to Pome Fruit Processing (Dave Klawer, Alma Cider WA)