An early conversation that explored possibilities cider was only beginning to consider.

As Cider Chat moves toward its 500th episode, we revisit conversations from the earliest seasons, taking a long view of the moments that quietly shaped where cider and this podcast would go.

This episode, originally recorded in Season One, features legendary winemaker Randall Grahm, founder of Bonny Doon Vineyard and a James Beard Award winner. At the time, inviting a winemaker onto a cider podcast felt like stepping outside the expected boundaries of the category. Looking back now, it marked a turning point.

Long before many of these topics became common discussion in cider, this conversation explores:

indigenous and wild yeast fermentation
the use of pied de cuve to build healthy native fermentations
beginning fermentations de novo each vintage
blending philosophy borrowed from wine
quince used as structure and aroma rather than juice
perry through a winemaker's lens
antique fruits like medlars
cider as an expression of curiosity and place

Randall Grahm

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Find the full show notes for this episode at CiderChat.com Episode 491: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/491-randall-grahm-cider-history/

Listen to Episode 491 of Cider Chat® wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville.

Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

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