The Cider Farm

What The Cider Farm does

The Cider Farm is a Wisconsin-based craft cidery and distillery operating a 166-acre certified organic orchard in Mineral Point planted primarily with ~2,500 Dabinett apple trees alongside other rare English and French heirloom varieties that have been hand-grafted over more than two decades. Founded in 2003 by Deirdre Birmingham and John Biondi, the company produces nine cider varieties, two apple brandies, Pommeau, and a small line of specialty foods from estate-grown fruit. Cider production is led by Jason Cassidy, one of only three certified Pommeliers in Wisconsin, and the company employs approximately seven people.

Revenue is generated across a diversified channel mix: a Madison cidery and tasting room opened in 2019, a Cider Club subscription that ships to approximately 35 states, wholesale distribution through Beechwood Sales in Wisconsin and Fine Vines in Illinois, and a retail/showroom partnership with Orchard Restaurant in Verona. The business has never raised external capital and operates as a bootstrapped craft producer. Competitive positioning rests on the long-maturation estate orchard (functionally non-replicable in the short term), award credentials including the 2026 GLINTCAP Best Microcidery designation and multiple Good Food Awards, and limited but expanding Upper Midwest wholesale plus national DTC reach.

Name

The Cider Farm

Legal name

The Cider Farm

Website

https://theciderfarm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Cider Farm is a Wisconsin craft cidery and distillery that produces traditional-method ciders, apple brandies, and Pommeau from a 166-acre certified organic heirloom apple orchard, selling via a Madison tasting room, wholesale in WI/IL, and a Cider Club shipping to approximately 35 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Cider and Apple Brandy

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Apple Orchards (111331), Fruit and Tree Nut Combination Farming (111336)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Cider & Perry Production (AFAFAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cider & Perry Producers & Brands (CRADAIAE), Cideries & Meadery Tasting Rooms (THAFALAI), Pome Fruit Orchards (Apples, Pears, Quinces) (AFAGACAB)

Keywords

• Craft cider production
• Organic apple brandy
• Traditional cidermaking
• Orchard-to-bottle spirits
• English cider apples

Headquarters

HQ city

Mineral Point

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct Cider & Spirits Sales: Online sales of ciders (500ml bottles and 20L kegs), apple brandy (2-yr and 5-yr aged), Pommeau ($45/750ml), Apple Brandy Infused Caramels, and Apple Brandy Maple Syrup. Spirits cannot be shipped due to regulations.
2. Cider Club Subscription: Quarterly subscription box with 3 ciders. Local pickup at Madison Tasting Room ($30-40/quarter) or shipped to 35+ states ($30-40 + $18-22 shipping). Members receive 10% off club ciders, 10% off events, guaranteed allocation of limited releases.
3. Orchard Tours & Events: Ticket-based orchard tours ($20-26/person) with optional charcuterie box add-on ($26). Special events including cider-paired dinners ($75/person). One-hour tours through the 166-acre farm in Mineral Point's Driftless Area.
4. Wholesale Distribution: Distribution through Fine Vines (Illinois) and Beechwood Sales and Service (Wisconsin). Products sold at retail locations, their restaurant Orchard, and select stores.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Cider Farm produces handcrafted ciders, apple brandies, and Pommeau from certified organic English and French tannic cider apples grown on its 166-acre orchard in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. The portfolio includes nine single-varietal and blended ciders, 2-year and 5-year aged apple brandies (America's only apple brandy made with certified organic true cider apples), and a 22% ABV fortified Pommeau, complemented by Apple Brandy Infused Caramels, Apple Brandy Maple Syrup, gift boxes, and a quarterly Cider Club subscription. Products are sold through an online store, the Madison Cidery and Tasting Room, partner restaurant Orchard in Verona, and wholesale distributors in Wisconsin and Illinois.

Product overview

The Cider Farm is an artisanal cidery and distillery producing small-batch ciders, apple brandies, and Pommeau from certified organic English and French cider apples grown in their 166-acre orchard in Mineral Point, Wisconsin's Driftless Area. Their product portfolio centers on three core offerings: (1) nine distinct cider varieties ranging from single-varietal expressions (Dabinett, All English, Tremlett's) to flavored styles (Equinox, Belgian Saison, Rosé, Cyser) and oak-aged expressions; (2) two aged apple brandies (2-year at 40% ABV and 5-year at 45% ABV); and (3) Pommeau, a fortified apple drink at 22% ABV. Complementary products include Apple Brandy Infused Caramels, Apple Brandy Maple Syrup, and Gift Boxes. The Cider Club subscription provides quarterly cider deliveries with member discounts. All products are crafted using traditional methods with hand-picked, organically grown tannic cider apples and are available in 500ml bottles and 20-litre kegs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• All English Cider A full-bodied cider composed of seven tannic English cider varieties (Porter's Perfection, Chisel Jersey, Dabinett, Cap of Liberty, Ellis Bitter, Somerset Redstreak, and Kingston Black) comprising 80% of the blend, with Brown's Apple providing balanced acidity; results in a complex cider with a long finish.
• Dabinett Cider A medium-bodied, bright and floral single-varietal cider made primarily from Dabinett apples, complemented by Liberty, Porter's Perfection, and Chisel Jersey apples; provides mild tannins with little acid and won 2024 GLINTCAP 2nd Place Overall Best in Show.
• Classic Dry Cider A tannin-forward dry cider blending five English cider apples (Major, Kingston Black, Somerset Redstreak, Chisel Jersey, and Dabinett) with Liberty as the base apple for acids and sugars.
• Equinox Hopped Cider A hopped cider featuring Equinox hops that impart green grassy and lightly citrus notes reminiscent of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, providing wine-like complexity in cider form; 2023 GLINTCAP Silver Medal.
• Tremlett's Cider A dry cider blending Geneva Tremlett's Bitter tannic apples with sweet and aromatic Priscilla apples, offering well-balanced acid and tannins with flavors of green grape, apricot, and subtle minerality; 2023 GLINTCAP Gold Medal.
• Oak-Aged Cider A cider aged in medium-toast American oak barrels, imparting subtle notes of oak and vanilla with a chardonnay-like character; ideal for roast poultry and pork pairings; 2023 Good Food Award Winner and 2023 GLINTCAP Silver Medal.
• Cyser Cider A semi-dry cider fermented from tart apple juice with honey from the farm and neighboring Brown Dog Farm, featuring green apple and honey notes; 2023 GLINTCAP Bronze Medal.
• Rosé Cider A semi-dry cider made from red-fleshed apple varieties (Redfield, Otterson, Bud-9, Geneva Crab, and Liberty) featuring a distinctive red hue with bold juicy acidity, red berry fruit notes, and crisp finish; 2024 GLINTCAP Silver Medal.
• Belgian Saison Cider A Belgian farmhouse saison-style cider made with organic orange peel, bergamot, star anise, and aromatics, featuring citrusy, floral notes with subtle hop backbone; 2023 GLINTCAP Silver Medal.
• 2-yr Aged Apple Brandy America's only apple brandy made with certified organic true cider apples, aged 2 years in charred-oak Bourbon barrels with wild apple wood from the farm, featuring light whiskey notes suitable for cocktails; 2024 GLINTCAP Silver Medal.
• 5-yr Aged Apple Brandy A small batch, single barrel apple brandy aged 5 years in toasted oak barrels, fruit-forward in character, bottled at 45% ABV for sipping.
• Pommeau A fortified apple drink (22% ABV, $45 per 750ml bottle) combining freshly pressed apple juice with 2-year aged apple brandy, aged in oak barrels, featuring sweet fruity flavors with notes of vanilla, spices, and caramel; suitable as an aperitif or cocktail ingredient.
• Apple Brandy Infused Caramels Caramels infused with The Cider Farm's apple brandy, available for online purchase or at the Orchard restaurant in Verona.
• Apple Brandy Maple Syrup Wisconsin organic maple syrup spiked with The Cider Farm's apple brandy, available online, at select retail locations, and at Orchard restaurant.
• Gift Boxes Curated gift boxes featuring select ciders, brandies, and specialty food items, available at the Madison Tasting Room with select options available for online purchase.
• Cider Club Membership Quarterly subscription delivering three ciders (mix of foundation and special release ciders) with 10% off pricing, 10% off public events and tours, guaranteed allocation of limited releases, and new release tasting notes. Available as local pickup ($30-$40/quarter) or shipped ($30-$40 plus $18-$22 shipping) to approximately 35 states.
• Orchard Tours Seasonal 1.5-hour guided tours of the 166-acre Mineral Point farm in Wisconsin's Driftless Area with tastings of three ciders (Foundation ciders and limited-release Rosé) at $20 per person; optional charcuterie box add-on at $26 per person featuring Wisconsin cheeses, local cured meats, house-made pickles, dried cherries, pecans, and a bottle of The Cider Farm cider.
• Cider-Paired Dinners Ticketed four-course summer-season dinners at Orchard restaurant in Verona, WI ($75 per person) by Chef Ian Hutchins paired with award-winning ciders curated by Cider Maker Jason Cassidy.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2026 GLINTCAP Best Microcidery award with medals for all 13 entries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Orchard RestaurantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRestaurant partner in Verona, WI (881 Verona Ave) featuring The Cider Farm's full product line alongside a seasonal, locally-inspired menu. Hosts special events including cider-paired dinners. Deirdre and team collaborate on menu development to pair food with ciders.
• Beechwood Sales and ServicecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWisconsin distribution partner for The Cider Farm products. Manages wholesale distribution to retail locations and on-premise venues throughout Wisconsin. Contact: (262) 717-2831.
• Fine VinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIllinois distribution partner for The Cider Farm products. Manages wholesale distribution to retail locations and on-premise venues throughout Illinois. Contact: (708) 343-6702.
• Sullivan's (Mineral Point)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Mineral Point business hosting cider sampling events during community events like Gallery Night. Deirdre attends to sample products and engage with customers.
• Spring Green General StoreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent venue partner hosting The Cider Farm at Beatlefest community event in Spring Green, WI.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Reverend Nat's Hard Cider: Portland, OR craft cidery known for ingredient-forward, small-batch ciders including perry and hopped styles. Comparable on craft- and experimentation-led positioning and DTC focus.
• Virtue Cider: Fennville, Michigan craft cidery producing ciders and apple brandy from estate-grown European cider apple varieties. Closest direct peer to The Cider Farm in the orchard-to-bottle, traditional-French-and-English-cider-apples positioning.
• Stem Ciders: Colorado craft cidery focused on cider-first, beer-cross lingo production with their own tasting room. Comparable on direct-to-consumer tasting-room model and craft positioning, though not estate-orchard.
• Alpenfire Cider: Olympic Peninsula, Washington estate cidery using organic, European cider apple varieties in small batches. Directly comparable on certified-organic orchard sourcing and limited-production profile.
• Eden Specialty Ciders: Vermont ice-style cider specialist producing artisanal ciders from heirloom varieties. Comparable on farm-anchored, terroir-driven, traditional-method cidermaking.
• Tilted Shed Ciderworks: Washington State cidery specializing in single-varietal, traditional-method ciders and perry from bittersweet and bittersharp apples. Closely aligned with The Cider Farm's tannin-forward, single-varietal philosophy.
• Farnum Hill Cider / Poverty Lane Orchards: New Hampshire farm cidery pressing bittersweet and bittersharp heirloom cider apples from their own orchard for traditional-method ciders. Shares the same 'orchard-grown, English/French heritage varietals' thesis as The Cider Farm.
• Eve's Cidery: Finger Lakes, NY orchard-based cidery focused on traditional dry ciders from bittersweet and bittersharp apples. Closely matched to The Cider Farm's growing and production philosophy.

Broad incumbents

• Vermont Cider Company (Woodchuck): Established national craft-cider brand under C&C Group. Provides the broader cider market benchmark and category-spend benchmark for a premium DTC cidery like The Cider Farm.
• Angry Orchard (Boston Beer Co.): Largest U.S. craft-style cider brand (Boston Beer Company subsidiary). Represents the broad-incumbent mass craft-cider retail presence that The Cider Farm's premium, single-varietal positioning competes against for shelf and menu real estate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCe97-TQs0nIurf-gSRWDozw/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/theciderfarm
• Instagraminstagram.com/the_cider_farm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theciderfarm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Cider Farm