Ontario Craft Cider Week: Four Styles of Ontario Cider to Explore

Ontario Craft Cider Week returns September 19–26, giving cider lovers a very good reason to look a little closer at what is being poured from Ontario orchards.

From Niagara and Prince Edward County to Georgian Bay and beyond, cider is being made in some of Ontario's most beautiful growing regions, with producers exploring different apples, fruits, blends and techniques along the way.

And there is so much more to discover than simply whether a cider is dry or sweet. What if we explored cider by the experience it gives us in the glass instead?

These are four terms I've started using as a sommelier to open up the conversation around cider. They aren't rules or official categories, but a way to explore aroma, flavour, fruit, texture, structure and the character of the orchard itself.

Maybe you love something fragrant and fruit-driven. Maybe you're curious about heritage apples, want a cider with enough structure for the dinner table, or prefer something richer and more textured. There is a whole world of Ontario cider to explore, and these four styles, featuring bottles you can find at the LCBO, are simply a place to start.

Aromatic ciders are the ones you notice before the first sip. Fresh apple, ripe berries, flowers and bright fruit lead the way, making these vibrant, fragrant ciders a natural fit for anyone who loves aromatic white wines or rosé.

Rice Lake Cranberry Dry Cider
Ontario apples meet tart cranberry in a cider that is bright, refreshing and packed with red-fruit character. The cranberry brings a lively tang, while the apple keeps everything fresh and balanced.

Find it at the LCBO: https://www.lcbo.com/en/rice-lake-cranberry-dry-cider-4pk-24871

Reinhart's Blackberry Cider
Juicy blackberry layers over fresh Ontario apple in this fruit-forward cider. Fragrant and vibrant, it delivers plenty of ripe berry character while remaining refreshing and distinctly cider-driven.

Find it at the LCBO: https://www.lcbo.com/en/reinhart-s-blackberry-cider-25034

Lean into all that freshness. Aromatic ciders love salty cheese, fresh herbs and dishes with a little fruit of their own. So next time you open a can give it a try with:

The trick isn't to overpower the cider. Let those bright, fragrant flavours do the work.

Heritage ciders bring the orchard into the glass. Just as grape variety shapes wine, different apples can bring their own acidity, aroma, texture and flavour to cider. These are bottles that encourage you to pay attention to the fruit itself and the Ontario orchards behind it.

Spy Golden Eye Cider
Inspired by Ontario's iconic Northern Spy apple, Golden Eye puts apple character front and centre. Crisp and orchard-driven, it offers a delicious introduction to how much the variety of apple can influence what's in your glass.

Find it at the LCBO: https://www.lcbo.com/en/spy-cider-house-golden-eye-cider-11674

Thornbury Honeycrisp Apple Cider
Built around one of Ontario's favourite apples, this cider captures Honeycrisp's familiar juicy fruit and freshness. It's an approachable way to start exploring how individual apple varieties translate into cider.

Find it at the LCBO: https://www.lcbo.com/en/thornbury-village-honeycrisp-apple-cider-15176

This is the category that makes you want to cook something from the farmers' market. There is something especially satisfying about drinking Ontario cider alongside ingredients harvested from the same landscape and season. So next time you open a can give it a try with:

These earthy, savoury and orchard-inspired flavours let the character of the apple remain at the centre of the pairing.

Structured ciders show just how comfortably cider can sit at the dinner table. Acidity, tannin, carbonation, spice and texture give these bottles shape and presence, allowing them to stand up to food in much the same way a structured wine can.

Heartwood Farm Eve Goes Badass Sparkling Cider
Ontario apples meet cayenne pepper and local honey in a bold cider with fruit, heat, texture and spice. It's a creative expression that pushes the boundaries of cider while keeping Ontario orchard fruit at its core.

Find it at the LCBO: https://www.lcbo.com/en/heartwood-farm-eve-goes-badass-sparkling-cider-36765

Shiny Apple Rosé Cider
Bright berry character and lively acidity give this rosé-inspired cider freshness and structure. It has enough presence for the dinner table while remaining vibrant and easy to enjoy.

Find it at the LCBO: https://www.lcbo.com/en/shiny-apple-ros-c-515098

Bring on foods with richness, smoke or spice. The cider's acidity can refresh the palate between bites, while its structure means it won't disappear once the food arrives. So next time you open a can give it a try with:

These are the ciders to experiment with at the dinner table, especially when the dish has enough flavour and texture to demand something equally interesting in the glass.

Rich ciders are about weight and texture, not simply sweetness. Ripeness, apple selection and production choices can create broader, more layered ciders that feel generous in the glass while retaining the freshness that keeps cider so drinkable.

Pommies Farmhouse Cider
Fresh Ontario apple sits at the heart of this farmhouse-style cider, with added depth and texture giving it a generous, more substantial feel while maintaining plenty of freshness.

Find it at the LCBO: https://www.lcbo.com/en/pommies-farmhouse-cider-418582

Tawse Cider
Made in Niagara, Tawse Cider brings together orchard fruit, texture and balance in a fuller expression. Generous yet fresh, it's an easy bottle to imagine alongside a fall dinner.

Find it at the LCBO: https://www.lcbo.com/en/tawse-cider-569350

This is where the comfort food comes out. Richer ciders have enough weight and texture to sit comfortably beside the deeper flavours we start craving as the weather cools. So next time you open a can give it a try with:

Cider's natural freshness keeps richer dishes from feeling too heavy, while its apple character makes it particularly delicious with fall desserts.