Cideries and orchards to visit in NYS this fall

Hard cider just may be the new beer. Or maybe the new wine.

"New York State is positioned to be the Napa Valley of hard cider in this country," said Scott Ramsey, executive director of the NY Cider Association, noting there are hard cider manufacturers in virtually every region of the state. Orchards and cideries in the Hudson Valley, the Catskills, the Finger Lakes, even central metropolitan area are creating beverages to accompany food like fine wine, or to be enjoyed alone as you would craft beer . Most encourage visitors, offering tastings, along with traditional activities you’d expect at a working orchard — think apple picking , play areas for the kids, farm stores, restaurants and snack bars. Needless to say, cider doughnuts are abundant.

It all comes down to the apples, sai