Vancouver Island staple Merridale Cidery and Distillery is all set to host the third annual Cider Harvest Festival on September 29th at their Cobble Hill estate.
This year, the festival will include 14 craft cideries from across the province pouring the best farm-crafted ciders in the region.
See also: BC Liquor Stores will be carrying their annual Bordeaux wine selection by the end of September
Once again, patrons can visit BC’s first estate cidery and celebrate the growing art of craft on the 20-acre orchard.
This Sunday, guests can experience the charm of the orchard at harvest-time while sipping an assortment of BC ciders ranging from English to Pacific Northwest, along with some seasonal varieties.
Visitors can spend the whole day imbibing and mingling with the makers from participating cideries such as Faustino Estate Cidery, Left Field Cider Co., and Salt Spring Wild Cider House to name a few.
Tickets for the event start at $35 and include entry to the festival, a souvenir tasting glass, and a safe return bus ride with stops anywhere from Victoria to Nanaimo.
While buses for Nanaimo and Ladysmith are now sold out, patrons can still find all remaining tickets and bus schedules at this website.
Additionally, tasting tokens are $2 each and can be applied to cider tastings or tasting bites from the Merridale Kitchen (tokens can be purchased on the website or in person at the event).
The festival is currently 90% sold out for Victoria, which shows just how popular craft cider has become on the island.
See also: Victoria is one of the 15 best beer cities in the world, according to CNN
“Now, collaboration is possible; we have colleagues with whom we can exchange stories. That’s exciting!” explains Merridale owner Janet Docherty. “It’s extremely rewarding to see so many of our guests take an interest in exploring the world of craft cider in BC.”
Indeed, the Cider Harvest Festival is a once-a-year opportunity to meet the makers while sampling a wide range of ciders made right here in BC.
For anyone who wants to support the art of craft and appreciates the charm of fall festivals on Vancouver Island, the Cider Harvest Festival is a delicious destination that you’ll “fall” in love with this season.
Cider Harvest Festival 2019
- When: Sunday, September 29th
- Where: Merridale Cidery & Distillery, 1230 Merridale Road
- Admission: Tickets cost $35. Click here to purchase.
