Table Cider 2019

The Table Cider 2019 is a limited blended cuvee drawn from all of Bardos's barrel-aged single-varietal ciders from the 2019 season. Only 50 cases were produced. The blend was dosed with 10% fresh-pressed apple juice before bottling to prompt refermentation in bottle, then bottle conditioned until ready. Bottles were screen printed in Mexico and the cider was bottled at Old World Winery in Fulton, California with Giovanni Duca.

Bardos sources apples exclusively from dry-farmed, zero-spray orchards in Northern California, many of which have been abandoned or gone feral and contain trees over 100 years old. The 2019 season drew on heirloom varieties including Winesap, York Imperial, Empire, Ben Davis, Winter Banana, and Red Rome, sourced from sites such as Walker Apples in Graton and Grand View orchard in Sebastopol. No yeast or sulfites were added at any stage.

The blend was designed to capture the best qualities of each individual cuvee: brightness from the acid-forward barrels, juicy apple fruit, and the distinctive brett character that develops naturally in Bardos's cellar. Because all 50 cases sold out on a single pallet once bottle conditioning was complete, this is one of the rarest releases Bardos has made. The character is acetic, lively, and funky in the best sense.