Wyndridge Farms installs apple press for its cider operation

York County’s Wyndridge Farm is expanding its operations with the installation of an on-site apple press.

The apple press will allow the York Township-based brewery, cidery, restaurant and event venue to partner with local orchards, including Peters Orchards in Adams County, to process a wider variety of apples tailored for specific hard ciders. Farm representatives pointed specifically to bittersweet apples, a variety not readily available on the East Coast.

As much as 800 bushels of apples producing 3,000 gallons of cider per day are expected to be processed with the accordion-style press and equipment, officials said. Wyndridge will also process apples for cideries, wineries, distilleries and breweries entering the cider business in the Mid-Atlantic region.

“We will be helping to put old varietals back in the ground, including cider specific apples, with a higher tannin content to producing more complex flavors with higher natural sugars resulting in higher alcohol content,” said Scott Topel, Wyndridge head cider maker and operations manager. “As we expand our operation, we will continue to increase jobs and build community with our neighbors.”

Brett Krosse, farm and cider manager, will oversee the production and logistics of the apple press operation. Krosse was the former cider manager for Brown’s Orchards in Springfield Township, York County. He won first place in the fresh cider category at the 2018 Mid Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention in Hershey.

Topel will work with Krosse to source the apples and producing the blends. Topel has more than 20 years of cider making experience with cider education from Washington State University and Cornell.

Future plans for the apple press include producing sparkling non-alcoholic cider and tours of the apple pressing operation.