Stories From the Farm
Winter Activities at Merridale
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
There is so much to do at Merridale in the winter. Our farm is a great local escape - just up the road in Cowichan. Get a little fresh air, then come inside and get cozy with delicious craft cider, cocktails and farm-inspired comfort food. We're open 7 days a week all winter. We've got a sip and savour adventure that's just right for you!
Sunday - Thursday: 11am to 5pm Friday - Saturday: 11am to 8pm
Family Orchard EscapePut on your boots and wander through our orchard Faerie walk. Try your luck at our orchard nature scavenger hunt. Click here to view our orchard map.
For the big kids (adults), the self guided tour boards offer quirky facts about the natural Cowichan habitat and our apples. Finish your outdoor exploration with comfort food and craft drinks in the...
Cider-Inspired Night In for Two
Thursday, December 17, 2020
Stay in and stay cozy with this Cider-Inspired date night in.
Grab a bottle or two of Merridale's Traditional Cider. It’s delicious, full bodied and full of fresh apple flavour. Pair it with this rich and gooey cider fondue. Perfect for a cozy night in for two!
Holiday Cider Fondue for Two
Ingredients for the Fondue:
2 tsp unsalted butter 1 clove garlic ½ cup Merridale Traditional cider 4 ounces Gruyere, grated 4 ounces Sharp Cheddar, grated 1/8 tsp freshly grated Nutmeg 1 tsp apple cider vinegar or Merridale Cider BrandySuggested Fondue Dippers:
Granny Smith Apples Sourdough Bread Roasted Mushrooms or Asparagus Cooked Chicken and Apple Sausage Cooked Chorizo sausage Bartlett PearsDirections:
Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat...
Nothing tastes like Christmas more than Yule Fuel!
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
The holidays may look a little different this year, but they can still taste amazing. Merridale’s Yule Fuel mulled apple cider has deep spice notes of vanilla, peach, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It’s the perfect drink to enjoy hot or cold with turkey dinner or by the light of a crackling fire.
But wait… there’s more! Partial proceeds from every bottle of Yule Fuel sold go to support a great cause – the TLC Fund for Kids, which raises funds to aid in the wellness and quality of life for all children in the Capital Regional District. This limited release has been created in partnership with The Zone 91.3.
Get it before it’s gone! You can find Yule Fuel up at the Merridale Farmhouse or at these private liquor stores:
Near UsBlack Swan Liquor Store - Shawnigan Lake
...
4 Reasons to Escape to Merridale's Orchard this Fall
Thursday, October 8, 2020
1. You can take a rejuvenating walk in a sea of apple trees.
Harvest is a magical time to visit Merridale. This year, when having a little extra space feels even more important, the orchard provides a sanctuary of calm and safety. There is something uplifting about the trees going about their regular business, oblivious that anything is out of the ordinary.
Take an autumn wander through our 20-acre orchard. Stop, breathe, and unwind. The light, fresh scent of apples in the air, the rustle of leaves beneath your feet, and the sounds of nature all around you, will give you the extra space you need. Perfect for spacious socializing with family and friends.
You can even bring your puppy along. Dogs on leash are always welcome anywhere on the Merridale property (sorry...
Building Hope with Cider and Hops
Monday, May 11, 2020
Empty chairs at empty tables. Lively spaces typically rich with community and delicious food, drink, and music, sit silent and bare.
BC’s tourism and hospitality businesses have been hit hard by COVID 19 and we felt like we had to find ways to help our fellow businesses and local hospitality workers in critical need of short-term financial assistance.
This week, Merridale’s Hops for Hope cider will hit liquor store shelves on Vancouver Island and throughout the Lower Mainland. Proceeds from this special cider release will be donated to the Vancouver Food + Beverage Community Relief Fund.
Like most of BC’s pubs, restaurants, and bars, our Eatery has been closed for everything except take-out since mid-March. We know how hard COVID-19 has been on our own hospitality workers. We have an...
It takes a village, or two, to make hand sanitizer
Thursday, April 9, 2020
Over the last few weeks, a call went out to the craft distillers to make hand sanitizers for first responders and others. Merridale and many from the BC Craft Distillers Guild have jumped into action to figure out how to do this. Most of us have never made a product like this before, but Guild Members worked together closely sharing information and recipes, which has been incredibly inspiring. At Merridale Distillery, our first call for help came from one of our growers, Dr. Robert Anderson. Hand sanitizer was desperately needed for Home Care Workers to take with them on their home visits. These workers are out on the front lines of the pandemic and needed something portable. Because we pick our fruit in the fall, ferment it into cider, and then distill the cider into spirits in...
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