Discover the pleasures of making and drinking cider. From choosing the right apples through reaping the liquid rewards of a successful pressing, this classic guide has you covered. With detailed drawings of cider-making equipment, methods, and set-up, even a novice juicer will enjoy sweet and spicy gallons in no time. Annie Proulx and Lew Nichols provide insightful, time-tested advice enlivened by a smattering of historical anecdotes. Whether you like your cider sweet or hard, you're sure to find a recipe that satisfies. This handbook shows you how simple it is to turn fruit into nature's most refreshing drink. * Make fresh and delicious, sweet and hard ciders-including blended and sparkling ciders * Build your own working apple press * Enhance your cooking with cider as an ingredient * Choose the right apple cultivar for the flavor you want * Plan and plant your very own home orchard for the freshest batch of cider ever! Plus interesting bits of history and lore shed light on cider's colorful past. Introduction by John Vitorri 1. Cidermaking: What You Need and How to Do It 2. Making Different Cider Varieties 3. Apples for Cider 4. The Home Cider Orchard 5. Beyond Cider: Vinegars, Brandy, Tasting, and Cooking 6. Cider and the Law Appendix: Making Your Own Equipment Index