Eden Specialty Ciders
Newport, Vermont
Eleanor Leger founded Eden Specialty Ciders in 2007 after tasting ice cider in Montreal. Canada has always been a leader in ice wine, and a sweet cider industry, utilizing the same methods, sprung up alongside the vinous version. Leger’s great-great grandfather was a blacksmith in the Northeast Kingdom before the Civil War, and her deep roots there caused her to immediately recognize the similarities between the climate in Quebec and that of the Northeast Kingdom in Vermont. Eleanor bought an abandoned dairy farm and became the first producer of ice cider in the United States. Born out of this passion project, Eden is now an industry leader in quality cider production.
Along with the Brut Nature and Imperial Rose, which is available year-round, Eden also produces tiny quantities of seasonal cellar selections. While those mostly sell out in Vermont, Eleanor saves us a few cases every release to satisfy the most die hard cider lovers of New York State.
Wines
Brut Nature
Vermont
Sparkling beverage aficionados know that “brut nature” is the classification used in champagne to indicate that a bottle is bone dry, bottled without residual sugar or dosage. Made from at least 14 heirloom and tannic apple varieties, Eden’s Brut Nature is bottle fermented and aged on the lees for at least 18 months. It is elegantly balanced with deep apple character, smooth tannins and well-integrated acidity.
Imperial 11 Rosé
Vermont
The Imperial 11° Rosé cider has the body, alcohol level and juiciness of a delicious drier rosé wine. The cold-concentrated apple juice is infused with red currant juice which provides earthy tannin and red berry flavor notes as well as beautiful color.
Brut Rosé
Vermont
Eden Specialty Cider's uncompromising quality never ceases to impress, with the Harvest Cider line of canned ciders providing a new format of expression for the cidery. Apples are sourced from sustainable orchards, including Eden's estate orchards and their trusted neighbors from across Vermont and New Hampshire. As with their renowned bottled ciders, the Harvest Cider series never uses cold stored apples and is produced just once a year, shortly after harvest. No artificial sweeteners or additives are used, allowing the purest expression of the cider to shine (with one exception being the rose, which only adds red currants to achieve the color and pop desired). The result is a welcome addition to Eden's already impressive lineup - with convenient can packaging to explore the fastest growing format on the market today. The Brut Rosé is the most joyous of the Harvest Cider lineup, with a touch of sugar from arrested fermentation providing a supple sweetness on the finish.
Peak Bloom
Vermont
Eden Specialty Cider's uncompromising quality never ceases to impress, with the Harvest Cider line of canned ciders providing a new format of expression for the cidery. Apples are sourced from sustainable orchards, including Eden's estate orchards and their trusted neighbors from across Vermont and New Hampshire. As with their renowned bottled ciders, the Harvest Cider series never uses cold stored apples and is produced just once a year, shortly after harvest. No artificial sweeteners or additives are used, allowing the purest expression of the cider to shine (with one exception being the rose, which only adds red currants to achieve the color and pop desired). The result is a welcome addition to Eden's already impressive lineup - with convenient can packaging to explore the fastest growing format on the market today. Peak Bloom shows a remarkable level of balance, with a kiss of sweetness complimenting the the lush apple character.
Deep Cut
Vermont
Eden Specialty Cider's uncompromising quality never ceases to impress, with the Harvest Cider line of canned ciders providing a new format of expression for the cidery. Apples are sourced from sustainable orchards, including Eden's estate orchards and their trusted neighbors from across Vermont and New Hampshire. As with their renowned bottled ciders, the Harvest Cider series never uses cold stored apples and is produced just once a year, shortly after harvest. No artificial sweeteners or additives are used, allowing the purest expression of the cider to shine (with one exception being the rose, which only adds red currants to achieve the color and pop desired). The result is a welcome addition to Eden's already impressive lineup - with convenient can packaging to explore the fastest growing format on the market today. Deep Cut is the driest cider of the lineup, with no residual sugar and an exciting, crisp character.
People
Eleanor Leger, Owner/Founder
After a successful career in finance and tech, Eleanor moved back to her ancestral family home of the Northeast Kingdom in Vermont to start Eden Specialty Ciders in 2007. What started as a passion project for dessert wine has blossomed into one of the most well respected cider houses in the United States.
Benjamin Applegate, Orchardist
Ben Applegate has developed and led the holistic growing program at Eden since he joined as our first employee in 2009. He has a degree in Forestry and worked previously in tree botany, conservation, and education.
Garrett Huber, Cider Maker
Garrett is responsible for producing all Eden ciders from juice to package. He graduated from the Wine course at Kent State and has previous experience in sparkling wine production and cider making before joining Eden in 2017.
