KETTLEBOROUGH CIDER HOUSE

The Dressel family’s long history of farming in the Hudson Valley has instilled nearly 100 years worth of knowledge, experience, and community affiliation. When Fred Dressel arrived in New Paltz in 1923 to work for Ruloff DuBois, the farm was less than 100 acres and populated with fruits, vegetables, and a handful of livestock. In 1956, Fred purchased the farm from the DuBois estate and officially renamed it Dressel Farms. As years progressed, the farm grew and focus narrowed to tree fruit, specifically apples. Today, Dressel Farms spans more than 400 acres and grows over 5 million pounds of apples annually, in addition to other fruits like strawberries and peaches.

The family’s orchard background keeps Kettleborough focused on a “fruit first” approach to cider making. One hundred percent of the apples needed to make Kettleborough’s cider are grown on Dressel Farms. In 2009, two years before Kettleborough’s founding, Tim planted a test orchard of European cider apples, becoming one of the first orchards in the state to grow such varieties. Since then, four acres of these historic apples have been planted and grown specifically for Kettleborough’s premium “Huguenot” line of ciders. All of Kettleborough’s ciders are made from hand-selected blends to achieve superior flavors and complexity.

As Tim still remains an integral part of the Dressel Farms operation, Kettleborough maintains a small operation. This allows for small-batch ciders, experimentation, and a welcoming atmosphere. You’ll routinely see Tim and his wife Kristin personally manning the bar, ready to talk cider with interested customers.