Ace Cider is a hard cider company based in Sebastopol, California, United States. It is publicly owned operated by Vintage Wine Estates, Inc. (NASDAQ: VWE) (TSX: VWE.U) (TSX: VWE.WT.U)
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Founded | July 1993 |
| Founder | Jeffrey House |
| Headquarters | , |
| Parent | Vintage Wine Estates, Inc. |
| Website | acecider |
History
editCalifornia Cider was founded by Jeffrey House in July 1993.[1] The company makes cider, an alcoholic beverage fermented from apples, and was one of the first cider companies formed in the US after the end of Prohibition. ACE Cider also opened the first modern cider-centered pub in the US in 1999. While the pub closed in 2010, the company maintains a cider tasting room on its premises. House located his business in the Sonoma County historic apple growing region because it reminded him of his native England.[2][3]
On November 15, 2021, Ace Cider was sold to Vintage Wine Estates, Inc. for $47.4 million.[4] In July 2024, Vintage Wine Estates filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, with plans to sell all of its assets, including Ace Cider.[5] Ultimately, ACE was purchased from VWE in 2024, by Reva Lipton and Gila Lipton Blums, two sisters, with a passion for making hard cider, using natural ingredients and eliminating "junk" from their products. Although the sisters own ACE, the daily operations, continue to rely on the dedicated team of staff who have worked, collaborated and committed their time and skill to making ACE into the successful company it now is.
Location
editACE Cider has become a significant employer in the largely rural "West County" portion of Sonoma County.Sebastopol California, home of the Gravenstein apple. The company's existence and success (as demonstrated by rapid sales growth in the 3–5 years prior to 2013 in particular) bucks the trend of the "homogenization" of the county's agricultural economy, i.e. the domination of agriculture by the production of wine grapes.[6][7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Shan Li (17 August 2014), "Americans rediscovering a taste for hard cider", Los Angeles Times, archived from the original on 22 August 2014, retrieved 13 February 2020
- ^ Bland, Alastair (2011-11-02). "California's Disappearing Apple Orchards". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2013-01-18.
- ^ Emma Christensen (2013). True Brews: How to Craft Fermented Beer, Wine, Cider, Sake, Soda, Kefir, and Kombucha at Home. Ten Speed Press. ISBN 9781607743385. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "Vintage Wine Estates, Inc. Completed the acquisition of ACE Cider for $47.4 million. - MarketScreener". 16 November 2021.
- ^ Broadbent, Jessica (July 24, 2024). "Vintage Wine Estates files for bankruptcy". Just Drinks. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ Granahan, Andrea (2012-12-04). "Cracking open the cider door". Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Archived from the original on 27 May 2013. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
- ^ Digitale, Robert (2011-07-05). "Ace Cider expands in Sebastopol". Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Archived from the original on 5 November 2011. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
External links
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