National Park Service advances plans to relocate Chequamegon Point Light Tower
(Apostle Islands National Lakeshore News Release) BAYFIELD, Wis. — Apostle Islands National Lakeshore has awarded a...
Community Cider tasting event benefiting Friends of the Apostle Islands draws a crowd
“It’s a really special thing. It’s not just a cider, as wonderful as it is. It’s really, first of all, a taste of the Lake Superior region. There are the breezes that blow off the lake and through the islands, that touch the apples and pears and infiltrate into the cider that Phil creates. And even more so than that, it’s a taste of community.” With those words, Friends of the Apostle Islands Executive Director Jeff Rennicke kicked off the Community Cider tasting event at the Bayfield Winery on Saturday, June 6th.
Community Cider artwork by Erica Peterson – Norm Okerstrom photo
The tasting event, and official launch of Community Cider sales, drew a crowd to the Bayfield Winery and Blue Ox Cider vineyard just outside of Bayfield on a beautiful early summer day. Friends supporters and community members joined in the fun with Friends board members past and present.
Rennicke explained, “As many of you know, the Community Cider Project is where volunteers go out, and I see many of them here, pick apples in their yards, in various places, bring them here, add them the collection bin and Phil (Bratsch) turns them into this wonderful cider. It’s not just cider, it’s our love of Lake Superior and our love of community. It’s a cider that brings all of that into a blend.”
Bratsch predicts that this year’s Community Cider, benefitting Friends, will set a record for money raised. He said, “This is our fourth season doing the Community Cider. And this was our first year we had to stop taking donations because we hit our max, which is the best problem ever. But it’s been fun. Even the Washburn school got involved. Their forestry class came with 30 bushels of apples they picked one day from wild trees… I like the wild apples for cider. Don’t have the time to pick all that, so we thought of the idea of if people bring them to us, let’s do something fun with it, then do something that benefits the community.”
Phil Bratsch talks about making the Community Cider – Jon Okerstrom photo
He added, “It’s the most nerveracking of any project we do, because so many people are involved. I’m so worried if I ever screw it up, that I have to face everybody on that, but every year we’ve had a good batch. And this year’s a great one and people have been loving it. We’ve been flying through bottles already, and hopefully we keep doing that and next year year will be another project. But right now, we’ve got a great batch out and thank you all for coming. and I hope you enjoy.”
A group of friends enjoying the event
Glass with vineyard in the distance
Erica and Mark Peterson with Jeff Rennicke – Bob Jauch photo
Tables of Friends supporters on the lawn
Charcuterie to accompany the Community Cider – Jeff Rennicke photo
Raising a glass to the new Community Cider – Jeff Rennicke photo
Rennicke said, “I wanted to tell you how honored Friend of Apostle Islands is to be chosen for the recipient of the proceeds for this year’s Community Cider, which is a really nice way of saying, ‘buy a lot of bottles, please.'” (Crowd laughs) Rennicke encouraged the crowd to “enjoy the cider, and let’s all Love our Lakeshore.”
Community Cider is available for sale only at the Bayfield Winery and Blue Ox Cider, 87380 Betzold Rd, Bayfield. We encourage our Friends to buy a bottle or two to support Friends, before it’s gone.
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