American Cider

Praise

“Dan Pucci and Craig Cavallo take contemporary cider writing to a whole new level. . . . This ambitious book takes an approach to their subject that is unlike any that has come before it. . . . This is an important book, the first to look deeply into what cider in America was, is, and can become even as it just scratches the surface. It points the way to a future where the many factors that make each part of this country distinct are celebrated in the ciders produced there.”—Cidercraft Magazine
 
“As the book lays out with authority and specificity, cider is not just a lost craft addressing a sense of nostalgia, but a road map for a way forward that respects the environment, invigorates rural economies, and can provide pleasure for future generations of growers, drinkers, and makers who are sure to value this important book.”—Alex Raij, chef, restaurant owner, and author of The Basque Book

“Until now, we’ve had only glimpses of this story, but American Cider puts it all together, weaving history, botany, anthropology, and insight into the first comprehensive account of what American cider is and how it got that way. By tracing the human and natural forces at work over four centuries, Pucci and Cavallo provide a new context for understanding how America has shaped cider—and, in so doing, a new way for understanding America.”—Rowan Jacobsen, author of Apples of Uncommon Character and A Geography of Oysters

“Pucci and Cavallo survey the American cider landscape with a compass both diplomatic and passionate. It’s a far-reaching scene, dotted with tidbits and profound with consequence, but our guides are skilled artisans; the painting is both intimate with detail and bucolic in its sum.”—Andy Brennan, cidermaker, apple grower, and author of Uncultivated

“Whenever I’ve had questions about cider, Dan Pucci has long been my first stop for expertise. Now he can be everyone’s go-to expert, thanks to this thorough, comprehensive guide on ciders and the apples used to make them.”—Kara Newman, author of Cocktails with a Twist and spirits editor, Wine Enthusiast magazine

“Cider evangelists Pucci and Cavallo take readers on a centuries-spanning journey from colonial America’s historic orchards to today’s visionary makers who are spearheading the juiced-up cider revival. After reading American Cider, you’ll never eye an apple the same way again.”—Joshua M. Bernstein, author of The Complete Beer Course and Drink Better Beer

“In the past few decades the number of cideries, the apple equivalent of wineries, has risen tenfold in America. . . . Cider expert Pucci and food writer Cavallo have meticulously searched out cider makers old and new all across the land. . . . This is a good, comprehensive guide to this once-again popular, refreshing quaff.”—Booklist