Find award-winning hard cider off a dirt road in Thedford
Jonathan Pinto pays a visit to Twin Pines Orchards and Cider House
For what seems to be a growing segment of the population, the pumpkin spice latte is the embodiment of "fall food."
But for me, it's apples.
So to celebrate the official start of fall, I decided to visit Twin Pines Orchards and Cider House.
Located off a dirt road near Thedford, a community of Lambton Shores, Ont., it's fair to say that Twin Pines is off the beaten path. I'd heard about the place from a few farming friends who had nothing but high praise, especially for their award winning hard ciders.
Unlike many cider makers, Twin Pines is a true orchard to glass operation, with about 16 hectares (40 acres) of apple trees, massive tanks for fermenting and storing, and bottling machinery. My favourite part was the pressing room, which Twin Pines used to make juice for their own cider.
They also supply juice to other craft cider makers in Ontario.
The apples are loaded onto a conveyor belt, cleaned, then elevated into the press, which pumps the juice into a nearby tank. Can't see the GIF? Click here.
The Vansteenkistes have been farming the land since the late 1960s, when Joe and Alma Vansteenkiste moved to the area from London. After decades of simply producing apples, the family realized it was harder and harder to make money, and they'd have to produce value-added products turn a profit.
That's when Mark and Mike Vansteenkiste — Joe and Alma's sons — decided to leave their jobs and help the family farm transition to the world of traditional hard cider.
After a decade of tinkering with the right recipes and apples, Twin Pines opened its hard cider operation about 15 years ago — and they've been winning awards ever since.
Tap on the audio player to hear more.
Twin Pines Orchards and Cider House is at 8169 Kennedy Line in Thedford. While you can find their ciders in many local restaurants and bars, you won't find it at the LCBO — so you'll have to go straight to the source.
And yes, there's a tasting room.
CBC Windsor reporter Jonathan Pinto travels across southwestern Ontario as Afternoon Drive's "food dude." Know of a place you think he should check out? Email him at jonathan.pinto@cbc.ca or on Twitter @jonathan_pinto.
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