By Mark Jacklich
Bentley’s Grill Wine Steward Mark Jacklich shares his recommendations and thoughts in our monthly series: Wine Notes with Mark. Enjoy!
While my title and position here at Bentley’s is centered around our wine program, I must confess that my go to after work drink of choice as of late has been Cider.
With Cider houses becoming more and more common place locally, as well as in home with people making their own batches its hard to not jump on the wagon when you see them available. With that being said may I introduce Anthem Pear Cider.
Anthem Cider is made by Wandering Aengus Ciderworks here in Salem, right on Fairveiw Industrial drive. While pear cider is a term that gets used alot today, it does differ from the original “Perry” style that traditionally uses 100% pears in production. These rare Perry pears are scarce and only grown in Europe.
The Anthem Cider is finished with pears chosen specifically to balance with the pressed apples. The apples for Anthem are pressed and fermented year round from the common apple varieties that are grown on a large scale in Washington and Oregon.
Anthem Pear uses Bosc and Anjou pears smooth Anthem Cider’s acidity with a soft mouth feel and the earthy roundness only a real ripe pear provides. Semi-Dry. Mild Tart. 5.0% to 6.5% ABV. GLUTEN FREE.
Photo: Wandering Aengus Ciderworks
Below is an excerpt that I pulled off the website:
“We only use fresh pressed apples and other fruits, herbs sourced from the Pacific Northwest of known varieties – they are listed on every bottle and keg. To make great real cider, the varieties of apples, fruit additions and herbs matter. As does where the ingredients are grown and how far removed they are from their original form (degrees separated through processing from the farm to the bottle).The fresh pressed apples we use provide all the sugars for fermentation and the malic acid (source of the tartness). Any and all residual sweetness in Anthem is provided by the apples we started with or the fruits we finish with.The result is a line up of real ciders made the way you expect; apples pressed and fermented.”
With spring and nice weather becoming more apparent every day this Pear Cider is a great way to compliment the beauty of our Pacific North West!
The other addition comes in form of a varietal that seems to be picking up speed as of late in Oregon. Sourced from Folin Vineyard in Southern Oregon’s Rouge Valley AVA, 
