498: Heeman's Cellar | Somewhere Cider from Ontario

In this episode of Cider Chat, we visit Heeman Cellars in Ontario, where a multi-generational strawberry farm expanded into cider and mead production focused on heritage apples, terroir, and experimentation. We taste blends, single varietals, and rare apples including Wayne, Swayzie – Pomme Grise, Yarlington Mill, and crab apples while discussing Ontario cider history, barrel aging, Pet Nat cider, and what it means to make cider that comes from somewhere. 00:00 Somewhere Cider Idea 02:17 Episode Setup Tom Heeman 03:44 Cider Travel Updates 06:16 Road To Episode 500 10:19 Heeman Farm Origins 11:18 Orchard Plans Partnerships 12:04 London Ontario Location 14:13 Apples Bees Cider Bug 15:28 Cider Mead Beginnings 17:18 Launching During Covid 19:58 Style Shift Toward Dry 23:26 Ontario Terroir Apples 25:48 Family Buy In 27:51 Tasting Flight Begins 30:10 Magic Apple Story 34:52 New Traditions Pet Nat 36:14 Somerset Blend Deep Dive 37:55 Ontario Blend Origins 38:23 Aging Takes Time 39:04 Yarlington Mill Pour 40:28 Terroir and Acid Balance 41:51 Somewhere Cider Philosophy 42:12 Happy Space Mission 45:16 Wayne Apple Discovery 47:13 Old World Notes Explained 51:32 Swayze Pomme Grise 55:15 Ontario Apple Golden Age 58:59 Sweet Crab Apple Shock 01:04:21 Clamping and Carbonic Trials 01:08:27 Wrap Up and Credits Find the full show notes for Episode 498 at CiderChat.com Direct Link at:https://ciderchat.com/podcast/498-heeman-cellars/  Listen to 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. 💛 Enjoy cider? Help keep #ciderGoingUP - by supporting Cider Chat. Your support helps keep the podcast on the air and makes it possible to share more conversations like this one.