Cider tasting in the Hudson Valley

There's never been a better time to partake of Hudson Valley cider. Driven in part by growing interest in craft beers and the craze for gluten-free products, apple cider has been enjoying a boom nationwide.

But New York ciders have had a particular renaissance, thanks to a cultural and technical exchange between New York and European cideries started four years ago, explains Sara Grady, vice president of programming at Glynwood, an organization dedicated to ensuring that farming thrives in the Hudson Valley. The result: French-, Spanish- and English-style hard ciders made using local New York apple varieties, in addition to traditional American-style ciders.  Many cideries offer on-site tasting rooms or shops for local visitors to try and buy.

"Until recently, there weren't a lot of tasting rooms," Grady says. As a result of the burgeoning interest in cider, "that is changing very quickly," with a growing number opening within the last year alone and attracting a new, thirsty generation.

"I haven't had apple cider before," commented Grace Lee, 26, of Edison, N.J., as she sampled Orchard Hill hard ciders at Soons Orchards in New Hampton, N.Y. "But I would definitely have it again."

More tastings:Head out on the lohud craft beer trail

Whether your preference runs to sweet ciders (non-alcoholic) or hard ciders (fermented, with an alcohol content roughly comparable to beer or wine), here's where to go and what to drink

Aaron Burr Cider

There's no tasting room and no visitor center, but that hasn't stopped this cidery from becoming an industry darling. Apples are collected via foraging all over Sullivan County: roadsides, field edges, farms, town parks, backyards, and more. Check the website to find a farmer's market or retailer where you can score a bottle, or sample it at NY Cider Week.

Try it: Appinette. Bubbly and brisk, made with a blend of apples and Traminette (a relative of Gewürztraminer) from the Finger Lakes region.

Details: Wurtsboro, N.Y., aaronburrcider.com

Bad Seed Cider

Sixth-generation apple farmers mix old and new cider techniques and craft beer influences. The newly-renovated tap room, complete with a pool table, is open on the weekends October-December, and some ciders are only available there.

Try it: Belgian Abbey Cider. Brewed with Belgian abbey beer yeast, this is a dry, tangy, slightly grapefruit-like pick.

Details: 43 Baileys Gap Road, Highland, badseedhardcider.com

Doc's Cidery

The tasting room at Warwick Valley Winery even has a café serving Gorgonzola and apple-topped pizza, so you can make a day out of a tasting trip. Sample the wide range of Doc's draft hard ciders, which includes dry-hopped and seasonal flavors as well as traditional crisp apple.

Try it: Doc's Draft Pumpkin Hard Cider. It's only available until mid-November, so snap up this easy, lightly sweet sipper made with apples, roasted pumpkins and lots of baking spice.

Details: 114 Little York Road, Warwick, N.Y., wvwinery.com/cider

Kettleborough Cider House

This small cidery, born from a 4th-generation family apple orchard, grows 20 varieties of hard cider apple varieties, and started producing hard cider in 2012.

Try it: Kettleborough Cider House Dry Cider. Made from a blend of Northern Spy and Granny Smith apples, the producer likens this tart, fizzy offering to "dry apple Prosecco."

Details: Dressel Farms, 277 State Route 208, New Paltz, N.Y., kettleboroughciderhouse.com

Naked Flock Cidery

This quirky cider producer is located at family-friendly Applewood Winery, which is open for tastings daily in October and Friday-Sunday in November and December.

Try it: Naked Flock Citra Hard Cider. Made with hops, this IPA-meets-cider is crisp, dry and refreshing.

Details: 82 Four Corners Road, Warwick, N.Y., applewoodwinery.com

Orchard Hill Cider Mill

The tasting room is located next door to Soons Orchards, which grows more than 22 apple varieties. Jazz is played in a converted shed space for a Prohibition-era feel, attracting a young, fun crowd.

Try it: Ten 66. Inspired by the Pommeau traditions of Normandy, France and named for 1066, the year of the Norman invasion of England, this delicious brew has a rounded, almost brandy-like flavor, with notes of dried/stewed fruit.

Details: 29 Soons Circle, New Hampton, N.Y., orchardhillnyc.com