See below for a complete list of Red Sky Appellation Ciders.
Beausoleil Red Sky Appellation
Vintage 2025
This Red Sky cider highlights the unique Maritime terroir of Nova Scotia’s distinctive apple-growing region.
Working with Stirling Fruit Farm to choose the perfect blend of apples, our Red Sky features Golden Russet, Gala, Cortland, McIntosh, and Northern Spy varieties. Fermented cool and slow to capture the aromas and flavours at peak ripeness, this off-dry cider is crisp and complex with a bright effervescence. Expressive notes of ripe apple are balanced by a refreshing acidity, a hint of minerality, and subtle tannins.
Enjoy on its own or with soft and fresh cheeses, local seafood such as steamed mussels or lobster rolls, or creamy pasta dishes.
Lake City Cider Red Sky Appellation
Vintage 2025
This Red Sky cider captures the essence of a long, hot dry growing season. It begins with a blend of Jonagold and McIntosh apples. We then add a mix of Cortland, Gala, and Idared to balance the expression of the 2025 harvest.
This crystal-clear cider boasts a soft golden hue, a medium body, and a harmonious balance of acidity and light carbonation. It’s an off-dry cider with a delicate aroma of apple blossom and honey suckle that lingers on the palate.
Enjoy it with a buttered lobster roll, soft cheeses like Brie or Camembert, or a selection of sushi.
Red Core Red Sky Appellation
Vintage 2025
This Red Sky cider is crafted from late-harvest apples rich in concentrated sugars and vibrant acidity, showcasing a blend of premium apples led by the Northern Spy variety.
Brilliant, light gold with fine, persistent mousse. Dry and sophisticated with bright acidity and tannins framing concentrated apple essence. Notes of green apple skin, floral, and spice lead to a clean, lingering mineral finish. Medium-bodied with excellent balance. Its carbonation enhances elegance
Pairs beautifully with aged cheddar, Brie, prosciutto, Nova Scotia oysters, scallops, cedar-plank salmon, roasted chicken, duck confit, butternut squash risotto, roasted vegetables, apple torte tatin, and creme brulé.
ChainYard Red Sky Appellation
Vintage 2025
This Red Sky cider is crafted with apples from our long-time partner, Noggins Farm, it features a blend of Cox’s Orange Pippin, Jonagold, and Golden Russet apples. These varieties were chosen to showcase the character of Nova Scotia’s Red Sky Appellation and the exceptional fruit grown in our region.
Rich in character, this off-dry cider is a bright reflection of Nova Scotia’s Red Sky Appellation, it offers notes of crisp starfruit, baked apple, and ripe pear, extending to a structured, juicy finish.
Pairs beautifully with fresh seafood, soft and aged cheeses, roast pork, charcuterie, and seasonal apple desserts.
Maritime Express Red Sky Appellation
Vintage 2025
This Red Sky cider was produced from a vintage like no other. The long, dry 2025 season produced small, concentrated fruit - resulting in a cider with rich sweetness, firm tannins and lasting depth. Made with a blend of Jonagold, Macintosh, Spy and Russet apples. This is a cider that could age for many years.
Aromas of butterscotch, jujubes and ripe apple lead into a palate of crisp acidity, with hints of rocket candy and lemon curd. Juicy citrus and fresh apple linger on the finish.
Enjoy it with seafood, rich cheeses, and spicy chicken.
Spurr Brothers Red Sky Appellation
Vintage 2025
This Red Sky cider is our signature cider, crafted from a blend of ten apple varieties grown in the orchards of Spurr Brothers Farm. Celebrating 150 years of farming, this cider reflects our commitment to growing, harvesting, pressing, fermenting, and packaging all on the farm.
Fresh apple aromas are complemented by subtle floral notes and hints of orchard fruit. On the palate, it is crisp and well-balanced, with layers of ripe apple flavour, bright acidity, and a clean, refreshing finish.
Pairs beautifully with Digby scallops, Atlantic lobster, smoked salmon, Annapolis Valley cheeses, maple-glazed pork, and homemade apple crisp.
Island Folk Cider House Red Sky Appellation Vintage 2025
This Red Sky cider is a semi-dry, aromatic cider made from 100% Nova Scotia apples, handpicked during the 2025 harvest. Wild coastal apples from Cape Breton and heritage apples from the Annapolis Valley come together in a cider that is smooth and effervescent, with notes of crisp apple, quince, pear, and orange zest. Bright, fragrant, and distinctly Nova Scotian.
Enjoy it with lobster rolls with lemon aioli, steamed mussels with garlic and herbs, herbed chicken skewers with yogurt & mint, lemon ricotta pasta with peas & basil, citrus and fennel salad with toasted almonds and double cream Brie and prosciutto.
Moonrise Red Sky Appellation
Vintage 2025
This Red Sky cider is bright, balanced, and beautifully refreshing and easy drinking, showcases a lively blend of Honeycrisp, Sonja, Gala, Cortland, and Northern Spy apples.
Aromas of fresh red apple, pear, blossom, and soft honey lead into a crisp, juicy palate with bright acidity and gentle sweetness. Honeycrisp brings snap and freshness, Gala and Sonja add ripe fruit and floral notes, Cortland softens the blend, and Northern Spy gives the cider its clean, refreshing finish.
Enjoy it with charcuterie plate, salads and scallops.
This traditional weather proverb suggests that a red sky at night indicates good weather is coming, while a red sky in the morning signals that bad weather may be on the way. The rhyme has been used for centuries by sailors to predict weather conditions. It is rooted in meteorological patterns, as red skies at sunset often occur when clear weather is approaching, while a red sunrise can be a sign that a storm or inclement weather is moving in.
The history of cider in Nova Scotia is deeply connected to its maritime heritage, from the arrival of apples and seeds via ships to the role of cider in supporting sailors and coastal trade.
Nova Scotia has a rich agricultural heritage and is known for its quality produce. Now Nova Scotia is poised to showcase its unique terroir through the art of cider-making.
Red Sky Appellation is a designation that identifies ciders made in Nova Scotia using locally grown apples and adhering to specific quality standards. Red Sky Appellation celebrates the distinct flavours and characteristics of Nova Scotia’s world-class apples. It helps protect the region's cider-making traditions, ensuring authenticity, promoting sustainability and fostering growth within Nova Scotia's cider industry.
To obtain the Red Sky Appellation designation, all ciders must be made from 100% Nova Scotia-grown apples, follow a strict set of standards, and be approved every year by an independent blind tasting panel.
For more detailed information, guidelines, and product specifications contact:
Nova Scotia Cider Association at admin@nscider.ca