There’s no better place to drink cider than under an apple tree. With fresh air, blue skies, and plenty of space, Gowan's Heirloom Cider welcomes you to California’s first-ever cider tasting orchard in Philo, deep in Mendocino County wine country. The experience here is genuinely different from a typical taproom—you’re literally sitting in the shade of hundred-year-old apple trees while sipping cider made from the fruit above your head.

The ciders are made onsite using organic heirloom apples sourced exclusively from the Gowan estate heritage orchards. The range of flavors surprised me more than I expected. Each cider reflects the specific character of different heirloom apple varieties, so you taste real differences between batches rather than variations on a single profile. This is what they mean by exploring the natural connection between cider and apple, tree and terroir—it’s not marketing speak when you’re literally surrounded by the source material.

Gowan’s has serious credentials behind the product. These are award-winning ciders with gold medals and best-of-class recognition, but what matters more is that they actually taste good. The farm itself tells a compelling story: it’s been operating since 1876 and spans six generations of the same family, built on sustainable practices and deep knowledge of their specific apple varieties.

Bring a blanket and settle in for an afternoon. The setting really does change how the cider tastes—something about drinking outside in orchard air makes everything better. If you’re exploring the Anderson Valley wine region, this feels like the natural counterpoint to the heavier tasting room experience. You can pair ciders with food they offer on-site, though I’d recommend checking what’s available before you go, as offerings vary seasonally.