As one of the founding farming families of Salem, Ore., the Zielinskis and E.Z. Orchards have been working the land of central Willamette Valley since 1929. Running a farmers market that changes with the seasons, E.Z. Orchards is also famous for their shortcakes and now garnering acclaim and awareness for their vintage French-style hard apple cidre (the French spelling and pronunciation for hard cider). The 2010 Willamette Valley Cidre is a blend of French cider apple varieties grown on the estate vineyard and harvested late in the season to get peak ripeness and lower acidity. Produced in a traditional French cidre method, the apple aromas and flavors are loud and clear, with baking spices alongside and a mild yet apparent acidity to balance out the sweet flavors and provide a crisp, slightly effervescent finish.
