This Week in Stowe Rotary Club

The speaker for the evening was Ben Caivi, director of cider-making at Champlain Orchards. The topic was making hard cider and its growth in the Vermont market. Caivi explained his interest in making spirits started as a youth with his grandfather, who made wine in his basement. He passed on medical school to study and work at three wineries in California. He received a master’s degree in wine making. He now works with the owner of Champlain Orchards to produce hard cider. Vermont has 2,000 acres of apple orchards — not much compared to Washington state. However, no one beats Vermont for quality cider apples. Champlain Orchards uses high-density trellised apple trees, which make it easier for the mechanized operations such as pruning and harvesting. The fastest growing segment of the spirit industry is hard cider and flavored vodka.