Crisp, refreshing, fun: Sierra Cider is the place to visit

MARIPOSA, Calif. -- Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains, you'll discover a quaint and inviting apple orchard, the home of Sierra Cider.

"Our orchard sits on 16 acres. We have about 800 trees, 20 different apple varieties," co-owner David Bailey shares, "They are very tannic, very acidic and perfect for either hard cider or fresh pressed apple juice."

From tree to taproom, the entire cider making process happens on property. Bailey and his wife, Dana Tiel, opened the Sierra Cider five years ago, welcoming visitors into a Gold Rush-themed taproom to sample a variety of hard ciders.

"We get a lot of people coming into our tasting room who will come up to the bar and say, 'I've never had hard cider before...what should I try?" Bailey explains. "That's why we make so many different types of cider."

Ciders on tap range from very dry and tannic to a little bit sweet. Bailey hopes to have something for everyone to enjoy.

"So if you say, 'Oh, I love rosé,' we have a cider called Blood Moon that's infused with black cherry," Bailey says. "If I get somebody who says, 'I love whiskey cocktails,' you know, that's where I recommend our Speakeasy."

Families visiting the farm can also sample fresh pressed apple juice.

"You can get it as a cider slushie, which is a brand new thing here at Sierra Cider. You can also take a half-gallon jug to-go so you can enjoy it at home," Bailey says.

Visiting Sierra Cider is about more than just apples. Bailey and Tiel have turned the orchard into a fun-filled destination.

"We try to do something fun all season long," Bailey shares. "We do a huge Halloween spectacular in October. We do Christmas trees in the winter. We are open year-round."

In 2025, the couple added a petting zoo to the property. And for guests who don't want their visit to end, they can stay the night in an Airbnb.

"People can stay directly above where all the cider is made and wake up and go out on a balcony that overlooks the orchard," Bailey explains.

Although running Sierra Cider is a lot of hard work, Bailey says it's extremely fulfilling as well.

"It is such a rewarding lifestyle to not just grow something but to make something. And then in our tasting room to see somebody actually enjoying it," Bailey confesses.

Looking to the future, Bailey hopes that more people will appreciate the charm and taste of hard cider.

"I love beer and I love wine, but you know, hard cider is less filling than beer and just crisper and more refreshing than a glass of wine. So am I saying that cider is better than beer and wine? Absolutely not. But a case could be made, you know," Bailey says with a smile.

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