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We invite you to celebrate the magic of spring at Merridale. The blossoms bloom and the bees buzz giving you the perfect opportunity to learn about our rural lifestyle. Our orchard walk enchants and educates all at the same time. Learn about the cider apples planted in Canada’s largest cider apple orchard, and understand the noble beginning of cider. Marvel at the local plant and flora, indigenous rock and wildlife and see if you can spot the apple blossom faeries that are rumoured to live here. Kids will have fun on the faerie treasure hunt as they look for our little helpers that are so busy in our orchard and cellar. Minors are welcome to purchase a taste of soft cider… that is apple juice, of course.
As spring rolls into summer in the orchard, longer nights are yours to enjoy at Merridale. Imagine yourself on our back deck overlooking a wood burning fireplace surrounded by a vista of apple trees, meadows, and pond. Throughout the summer we will engage your senses with good food, entertainment, and a casual fun atmosphere.
Friday nights are for dinners al fresco and Bayside Jazz – This summer The Bayside Jazz Band takes up a Friday night residency. Paired with our back deck al fresco menu and Merridale will be your Friday night meeting place with friends, family and co-workers. To quench your thirst, enjoy a pitcher of Cider Sangria, or Forbidden Fruit (our apple ale developed with Phillips Brewing Company) or choose from our extensive local wine menu. Seating begins at 5:00pm.
Sunday nights are for pizza – Back by popular demand our Sunday pizza nights begin at 5:00. Our pizzas are baked in the outdoor brick oven on sourdough crusts, and toppings are ever changing depending upon what is fresh at the market.
Join us for harvest and winter season at Merridale. A magical time of the year when our apples are picked and pressed to begin our new vintage. See the tonnes of apples ready for pressing in the large bins. Tour the cellar and see how we turn them into our ’08 vintage of cider. Come and see the orchard alive. Take the opportunity to witness the beginnings of our next vintage. The sweet aroma is like non eother. And, as we move into winter and the orchard sleeps, the twinkling lights on the trees start the festive season at Merridale. We invite you to come inside and warm yourself around the fireplace with a hot mulled cider (mulled juice for the kids), and good old-fashioned heart-warming meals at la Pommeraie.
Have yourself a merri little Christmas at Merridale. While the orchard sleeps, the twinkling lights on the trees start the festive season. We invite you to come inside and warm yourself around the fireplace with a hot mulled cider, mulled juice for the kids), and listen to the carolers on our themed dinner nights. This year, weather permitting, we will have scheduled hayrides amongst the trees, all lit up, along with special Christmas feasts. Celebrate the season with a table at la Pommeraie Bistro for a few, or the whole Ciderhouse for many. Check back for Christmas banquet menus.