7 Upstate New York Cideries to Visit This Fall

My husband and I aren’t big drinkers. We’re much more likely to be home with a movie or out looking for a really good dinner. But when fall rolls around, we make one exception: 1911 Candy Corn Cider.

We’re total suckers for it. It’s sweet, festive, and only around for a short time. It also made me realize that hard cider is one of the best reasons to take an Upstate New York road trip.

You don’t have to be a cider expert to enjoy a stop at a cidery. Some places are perfect for a relaxed tasting and a few bottles to bring home. Others have orchards, farm-to-table food, wood-fired pizza, live music, or a view that makes you want to stay another hour. If you’re planning a fall drive, these Upstate New York cideries are worth adding to your list.

As always, check hours, reservations, and product availability before you leave. Seasonal ciders can sell out quickly once everyone gets into fall mode.

1911 Tasting Room in LaFayette for Candy Corn Cider

If you also have a soft spot for 1911 Candy Corn Cider, start at the source. The 1911 Tasting Room and Tavern sits at Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards in LaFayette, where you can sample 1911 ciders, spirits, and wines alongside food from the tavern.

The brand’s hard cider lineup includes classic and seasonal flavors. If you want to make a full fall day of it, this is an easy place to start. Just be sure to check the tasting room’s current hours before you go.

South Hill Cider in Ithaca for Dry Hard Cider

South Hill Cider is tucked into the hills just outside Ithaca, close to Buttermilk Falls State Park. It’s a beautiful choice if you enjoy a thoughtful, dry, wine-style cider experience.

The tasting room offers cider by the glass, food, and guided tastings, and you can buy bottles online to enjoy at home. If you’ve always thought hard cider should be sweet, South Hill may change your mind.

Finger Lakes Cider House for Lunch and Cider Flights

The Finger Lakes Cider House sits on Good Life Farm between Seneca and Cayuga lakes. It combines farm-made cider with a farm-to-table menu, making it a great destination when you want lunch and a tasting in the same stop.

Visitors can enjoy cider flights, glass pours, food, farm tours, and live music events. The cider house also has a seasonal hours page worth checking before you map out your drive.

Nine Pin Cider in Albany for a Capital Region Cider Stop

If your fall plans take you toward the Capital Region, make time for Nine Pin Cider in Albany. Its tasting room pours a rotating selection of ciders made with New York apples, along with food pairings and other local drinks.

Nine Pin is a great choice for a city stop, date night, or an afternoon with friends. You can also shop Nine Pin ciders online if you’d like to bring some home.

Seminary Hill Cidery for Catskill and Delaware River Views

Seminary Hill in Callicoon is a working orchard and cidery in the Catskills with a tasting room overlooking the Delaware River valley. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to slow down and turn one cider stop into a full afternoon.

The cidery grows dozens of apple and pear varieties and offers orchard and cidery tours with tastings. You can also shop Seminary Hill cider online or pick up bottles when you visit.

Brooklyn Cider House in New Paltz for Pizza and Apple Picking

At Brooklyn Cider House at Twin Star Orchards in New Paltz, you can pair hard cider with wood-fired pizza, burgers, donuts, and an orchard visit. It’s a great choice for a Hudson Valley fall day when everyone in the car wants something a little different.

The tasting room, farmstand, and food pavilion are open through much of the year, while the orchard also offers seasonal u-pick opportunities. You can find Brooklyn Cider House ciders near you or order them for home.

Bad Seed Cider in Highland for Pizza and Pinball

Bad Seed Cider is another Hudson Valley option, with a farm taproom in Highland. They make their cider from fresh-pressed Hudson Valley apples grown on the family farm or sourced from nearby farms.

The taproom has a dozen taps, brick-fired pizza, snacks, and a vintage pinball arcade. If you’re looking for a cider stop that feels more casual and fun than formal, Bad Seed is an easy one to add to your fall road trip list.

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What Hard Cider Do You Look Forward to Every Fall?

Maybe you like your cider dry and crisp. Maybe you want something fruity, spicy, or sweet enough to belong beside a bowl of Halloween candy. There’s no wrong answer.

What hard cider are you always hoping to spot on the shelf every fall?