In the heart of Pennsylvania, you’ll find a PA Preferred® cidery producing some very special apple cider. Laurel Spring Cidery in Centre County uses Pennsylvania apples to craft high-quality beverages with a passion for the American heritage of cider making. Founder, CEO and Cidermaker David C. Sterner says, “At Laurel Spring Cidery, we are committed to taking the slow trek back up the mountain, reviving heritage methods, staying true to native and natural ingredients, and growing apple trees used to make apple cider in Pennsylvania to restore America’s connection to this delicious American spirit.”
The team at Laurel Spring Cidery were thrilled to gain the PA Preferred designation in 2024, and have joined the Homegrown by Heroes program for veterans and active service members. Sterner says, “PA Preferred matters to our family and our community. It is a symbol of trust that the extraordinary apple cider wines that we produce are authentically crafted from apples grown and pressed right here in the Commonwealth. The team at PA Preferred, and the program itself, have opened doors for us to tell our story beyond Egg Hill and engage with new customers to start building our community. We have a bold ambition to fill a gap in America’s palate for a heritage craft cider – like our Founding Fathers made and enjoyed – and acknowledge that our journey to defining that spirit happens incrementally: one sip, one story at a time.
Learn more about this incredible PA Preferred cidery in our conversation with Sterner:
PA Eats: What do you love about what you do, and why?
David C. Sterner: What I love about what we do at Laurel Spring Cidery is the journey we’ve taken since planting our orchard on our mountain farm in 2012. We began making small experimental batches of cider for personal enjoyment, and now, over a decade later, we have the joy of sharing our extraordinary apple cider wines with America.
Each first sip someone takes creates a reconnection to our past, and that makes it all worthwhile. The process of growing, building, pressing, fermenting, bottling, and refining reminds us that good things take time. Our perseverance reflects Pennsylvania’s rich agricultural heritage and the pioneering spirit that founded our great nation.
What are your most popular products and what do people love about them?
We proudly offer three distinct varieties of apple cider wine: Red Label, Black Label, and Blue Label. Each variety is crafted from a blend of Pennsylvania apples sourced from the same orchard, but harvested at different times, showcasing how just a few weeks can create remarkable differences! We used unique yeasts for each, resulting in three completely different apple cider wines, all aged since 2018.
Our customers are often pleasantly surprised by the complexity of our full-bodied ciders compared to what they’re used to. The Black Label drinks like a fine wine, while the Blue Label captivates with hints of vanilla that add an intriguing sweetness to its dry profile. The Red Label, our American Basque-style cider, is a favorite among craft cider connoisseurs, with high acidity and sharp flavors that pair beautifully with rich and fatty meals like cabbage stew with kielbasa.
What excites you about the future?
What excites me about the future of Laurel Spring Cidery is our commitment to not only producing America’s defining craft cider but also fostering meaningful connections within our community. We envision our cidery as a vibrant hub for American culture, where dreamers, playwrights, musicians, and poets can feel at home and join us in cultivating a deeper reverence for our heritage.
Is there anything you would like to add?
We warmly invite everyone to visit us! Climb up Egg Hill and take in the breathtaking views of majestic Mount Nittany, or cozy up by the fire as you swirl our sophisticated ciders under the warm glow of handmade candles. In 2025, we hope to host a variety of events, from weddings to company gatherings, allowing folks to enjoy the fresh air among wildflowers or find solace while wandering our orchard. This can be a playground for the thinkers and dreamers of America’s next 250 years for those willing to experience the journey.
To taste and purchase Laurel Spring Cidery products, visit its tasting room on the 110-acre mountain farm and orchard, or shop online at LSCider.com. Use the discount code PA-EATS for 15% off online or in person! 354 Egg Hill Rd., Spring Mills; (814) 201-1551.
This series was created in collaboration with PA Preferred.
PA Preferred® is Pennsylvania’s statewide branding program that promotes locally grown and processed food and other agricultural products.
- Photos: Laurel Spring Cidery
