Erwin Orchards & Cider Mill Wins First Place in Third Cider Contest
By Karen Gentry
Associate Editor
From left, Bob Tritten, Michigan State University Extension agent, stands with the first place winners in the Michigan State Horticultural Society’s annual cider contest – Bill Erwin, owner of Erwin Orchards and Cider Mill of South Lyon, Mich. and Bill Emery, cider maker.
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Erwin Orchards & Cider Mill of South Lyon, was awarded first prize in the third annual Michigan Apple Cider Contest, that took place during the Michigan State Horticultural Society meeting in Grand Rapids Dec. 7-9.

Contest organizer, Bob Tritten, said cider makers are improving all the time. Cider makers have been changing the blends in their cider, improving their sanitation and cleanup practices and watching the quality of the apples they put in cider, said Tritten, district horticulture agent for Michigan State University (MSU) Extension.

Erwin’s cider was noted for its distinct flavor and well-balanced, pleasing aftertaste in using a blend of five different apples. The Oakland County mill, selected from 20 entries, is owned by Bill and Linda Erwin, with cider pressing management handled by Bill Emery, a family friend and employee. The mill is only in its fourth year of making cider, said Bill Erwin.

“Our cider is a little bit sweeter,” Erwin said in comparing cider from east Michigan to cider in west Michigan. Erwin said he has entered the contest every year and he is proud and honored to win the award this year. He grows 200 acres of apples, runs a cider mill and u-pick operation and is in entertainment agriculture. He said he started making cider as a value-added product.

“We have the Stanley Cup of the cider world here,” said Erwin, about the traveling trophy that he can display for one year. Alvin Hill, owner of Hill Brothers Cider Mill in Grand Rapids, relinquished the trophy after winning the award the first two years of the contest.

Second place was awarded to Uncle John’s Cider Mill of St. Johns in Clinton County while the third place winner was Parmenter’s Cider Mill in Northville, in Oakland County.

The cider at Uncle John’s Cider Mill, owned by John and Mike Beck, was noted for its good sugar-to-acid ratio, a great aftertaste and aroma. They use six varieties of apples in their blend.

Third place winners, Rob and Cheryl Nelson, owners of Parmenter’s Cider Mill, were recognized for their interesting blend of apples and pleasing aroma.

Entries were judged by a panel of food writers, cider enthusiasts, Extension staff and apple industry representatives in a blind taste test. Judges included: Harold Thome, a grower from Comstock Park; Ron Kruger from the Flint Journal; Jim Parker, a cider enthusiast from Sterling Heights; Kim Kropf from Lowell; Steve Wood, hard cider maker from New Hampshire; Dave Bolster, a California cider maker; Gary Thornton, MSU Extension; Sarabeth Carr, cider enthusiast from Grand Rapids; and Jeremy, a Grand Rapids radio personality. The cider was judged on a number of variables including appearance, consistency and flavor.

The cider contest originated to help dramatize the expertise and care that cider makers take when making a product that has been produced in Michigan since settlers first came to the state, according to Patrick O’Connor of the Michigan Apple Committee. Winners Bill Erwin and Mike Beck are members of the newly formed Michigan Apple Cider Guild – a group formed to further increase the quality of Michigan cider. There are currently 113 Michigan cider makers, down from 141 in 1998.
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