Making cider is an art form that’s built and honed over many years. We feel we have perfected the art of cider and hard cider, made right here in our cider mill at Robinette’s. We invite you to come see us in action the next time you come by for a visit.
A History of Growth
How apples are grown is a process that changed back in the 1960s, which made it more challenging for small farms like ours to survive and thrive. We found it was no longer profitable for us to sell our fresh fruit at wholesale markets, with all our neighboring farms quickly morphing into houses and shopping centers.
In 1971, Jim decided to build his own cider mill after taking the family on a tour of cider mills all around southeast Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin. We were able to transform our establishment into a retail destination with the addition of a cider press. Over the years, we have added many new products and services to the farm to make us a fun destination for the whole family.
Fresh, Tasty Cider
From the Tuesday after Labor Day right through April/early May, we are hard at work making fresh cider in the mill. Using a blend of apples that changes with the seasons, we are able to get the perfect balance of tart and sweet. In the summer, while we don’t make fresh cider, we do freeze extra batches every November so we can sell it to you in the warm months.
That means there’s no end to our cider season. You can come by and grab a cup, quart, or gallon anytime you want. In fact, you can stop by the cider mill all throughout the fall and weekly in winter to watch us make the cider.
Treating our cider with a special UV light process allows us to prevent any bacterial contamination, resulting in a better-tasting cider than cider produced by heat pasteurization. Plus, we don’t use preservatives or additives, which means our cider is 100 percent pure apple.
We also use cider as the starting point for our hard ciders and apple-based wines. The UV light we mentioned above is able to remove nearly all natural yeasts from the cider, making a great foundation for anyone who wants to make their own hard cider or apple wine.
Enjoy Fresh Cider at Robinette’s Apple Haus & Winery
Remember: our cider season never ends, so why not stop in for a cup, quart, or gallon now or any time throughout the year? Come by and see us at work in our cider mill in Grand Rapids MI to find out how we make your favorite drinks. For more information and hours, call us at (800) 400-8100 today.
