Guided tasting of Cider

The best part of this experience is its setting: a working home surrounded by apple and pear orchards, fruit trees, and herb gardens near Unterkirnach in Baden-Württemberg. Peter and Wendy lead the tasting, explaining their own sparkling wines and ciders in a relaxed, personal way.

I like the small private format, and I like that the tasting is more than a row of glasses. You get stories, background, and a possible orchard walk. The main consideration is the weekday evening schedule, plus the fact that this is a focused tasting rather than a full-day farm visit.

Key points at a glance

• Private tasting with Peter and Wendy: Your group takes part on its own, which allows for a more personal evening.
• House-produced drinks: The tasting includes several sparkling wines and ciders made by the hosts.
• Apple and pear orchard setting: When weather permits, the experience includes a walk through the surrounding orchard.
• Two-hour evening visit: Sessions run Monday through Friday from 6:00 PM, making this a good fit after a day in the region.
• English-language option: The activity is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket.
• Minimum age of 16: This is designed for older teenagers and adults, not young children.

A private cider evening near Unterkirnach

This is the sort of tasting that works because it feels connected to the place where the drinks are made. You are not simply seated at a distant bar with a printed list. You meet at Mooslochweg in 78089 Unterkirnach, at the hosts’ home and production setting, where the orchards and gardens form part of the experience.

The setting matters. Cider makes more sense when you can see the fruit trees behind it. Apple and pear growing gives the tasting a useful sense of origin, even though the supplied details do not specify every variety of fruit or every production method.

Peter and Wendy host the evening. Their approach combines tasting with plenty of background information and a bit of fun. I would expect the conversation to be central to the visit, so this suits you if you enjoy asking questions and learning how a small producer thinks about flavor.

Because the activity is private, only your group participates. That is a major advantage over a large commercial tasting. You do not have to compete for the host’s attention, and the pace can feel more natural.

The tradeoff is simple: a private booking can be more dependent on availability. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability, so it is sensible not to build a tightly timed evening around this activity until your booking is confirmed.

What you taste during the two-hour visit

The tasting features a number of sparkling wines from the hosts’ own production. The experience is also presented as a cider tasting, and the description of the visit places strong attention on ciders made by 1785 Cider.

That wording is worth noting if you are booking with a very specific expectation. You should expect a house-produced tasting centered on sparkling fruit drinks, with cider as the main theme, rather than a standard German wine tasting based on grapes. The exact number of pours, varieties, sweetness levels, and food pairings are not specified.

This lack of a fixed tasting list can be a good thing for curious drinkers. Small producers often serve what best represents their current work, and the hosts indicate that there is always something new to taste. It can also mean that you should not expect a set menu of named bottles guaranteed at every session.

The background information adds value. You are not only sampling drinks, you are learning how the hosts frame their production and ideas. For anyone who has mainly encountered mass-produced cider, this can help show how wide the category can be.

I especially like the mention of innovative ideas. It suggests the tasting is not limited to one familiar apple profile. The supplied details also refer to apple and pear trees, fruit gardens, and herb gardens, so you may encounter a wider sense of the property’s produce and experimentation.

Still, keep your expectations measured. There is no stated promise of a meal, formal food pairing, or a full production tour. If those details matter to you, ask before booking.

The orchard walk when weather allows

When the weather is nice, Peter and Wendy take the group for a walk through one of their orchards. This is a modest addition, but it may be the part that gives the evening its strongest sense of place.

You get to connect the drink in your glass with the trees that help define the farm. Apple and pear orchards are especially appealing in good weather, and the walk offers a break from sitting at the tasting table.

The wording is important: the orchard walk is weather dependent. It is not guaranteed in rain or poor conditions, and it should be viewed as an added feature rather than the main reason to book.

The information provided does not state how far you walk, how steep the route is, or how long you spend outdoors. Wear sensible shoes if you hope to join the walk, but do not assume a hike is part of the program.

I would also avoid planning this as a grand countryside trek. The core experience is the tasting. The orchard visit gives it context and fresh air, but the two-hour schedule is built around drinks and conversation.

Why the home setting makes a difference

A tasting at a producer’s home can feel more direct than one in a commercial tasting room. You see the place where Peter and Wendy live and work, and the gardens become part of the story rather than a backdrop chosen for tourists.

The setting has been described as a charming home in the Schwarzwald, with apple and pear trees plus fruit and herb gardens. That combination gives the visit a personal scale. You are likely to remember the property as much as the individual pours.

I like experiences that let the hosts talk about what they actually make. Here, the tasting is tied to their own production, not a broad sample of unrelated brands. That can make the evening more useful if you are interested in craft cider, small-scale production, or unusual fruit drinks.

There is also a practical benefit to the private format. If you are traveling as a couple, family group, or small party, you can enjoy the evening without being folded into a large bus group. The minimum age is 16, so older teenagers can take part, although the activity is clearly aimed at people who want to taste rather than children looking for entertainment.

Service animals are allowed. Most people can participate, but the available information does not provide detailed mobility notes, so contact the provider if you need specific access arrangements.

Making sense of the $30.77 price

At $30.77 per person, this is priced as an accessible two-hour specialty activity rather than a major excursion. The value depends on what you want from a tasting.

For that price, you are paying for several elements at once:

• A private experience for your group
• A tasting of house-produced sparkling wines and ciders
• Direct time with Peter and Wendy
• Background information about the drinks
• A possible walk through the orchard
• An English-language experience

That is a fair package if you enjoy personal hosting and small producers. A large commercial tasting may offer more samples, but it usually cannot offer the same private setting or direct connection to the people behind the drinks.

The price may feel less attractive if you are looking for a full meal, a long farm tour, or transportation from another town. None of those are listed as part of the experience. You need to get yourself to Mooslochweg in Unterkirnach, and the activity returns to that same meeting point.

I would also treat the word tasting carefully. The exact number of drinks is not stated, and neither is the size of each pour. The value is strongest for someone who wants conversation, setting, and a look at local production, not simply the maximum amount of alcohol for the lowest cost.

Timing your evening in Baden-Württemberg

The listed operating period runs from June 2, 2024, through July 12, 2026. Sessions are offered Monday through Friday, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, with the activity itself lasting about two hours.

That schedule makes this easy to place after a daytime outing in the Black Forest area. You can spend the afternoon elsewhere and arrive for an evening tasting. Since the visit ends back at the meeting point, you should plan your onward transportation around the same location.

The evening timing also shapes the mood. You are not squeezing in a rushed morning stop. A 6:00 PM start leaves room for a relaxed tasting and, in suitable weather, an orchard walk before or around the drink portion.

There are a few limits. There are no weekend hours listed, so this will not suit everyone’s itinerary. If you are visiting only for a Saturday and Sunday, check availability before building your plans around it.

Because the duration is approximate, leave a little breathing room afterward. The activity is not advertised as ending at a precise minute, and private conversations can sometimes run at a natural pace.

Who will enjoy this experience most

I would recommend this tasting to you if you like small producers, fruit-based drinks, and local settings. It is especially suited to couples and small groups who prefer a calm evening with personal attention.

It also fits people who want something different from the usual brewery or vineyard visit. The focus on cider and house-produced sparkling wines gives the outing its own identity.

You are likely to appreciate it if you enjoy:

• Asking producers how they work
• Comparing several styles of cider or sparkling fruit drinks
• Seeing orchards and gardens connected to the tasting
• Taking part in a private activity
• Booking an English-language experience
• Adding a food-and-drink stop to a Black Forest itinerary

This is less suitable if you want a large social event, a formal meal, or a guaranteed outdoor hike. It may also be a poor match if you dislike fruit-based drinks or prefer a fixed tasting list with detailed bottle information available in advance.

The minimum age is 16. The supplied details do not say whether every participant must taste alcohol, so families booking with older teenagers may want to clarify that point directly.

Practical details before you book

The meeting point is Mooslochweg, 78089 Unterkirnach, Germany. The experience ends at the same place, so no separate drop-off is provided.

You receive a mobile ticket, and the activity is offered in English. Confirmation arrives within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. That timing is worth watching if your dates are fixed or your accommodation is far from Unterkirnach.

The experience requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not reached and the activity is canceled, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the local start time are not accepted for a refund. This is a reasonable policy, but it means you should make your plans before the final day.

Bring a phone for the mobile ticket and wear comfortable clothing for the possibility of an orchard walk. The available information does not state that food, transportation, or a production-facility tour is included, so do not count on those extras unless the provider confirms them.

The personal touch from Peter and Wendy

The strongest feature here is the hosting. Peter and Wendy are not just names attached to a booking. They are the people connecting the orchard, the gardens, the drinks, and the story of 1785 Cider.

Their own response to the visit points to an ongoing sense of experimentation, with new things to taste over time. That makes the experience appealing for repeat visits, though you should not assume the same drinks will be served on a later date.

The personal approach also makes this a good choice for guests who want to understand the people behind a small operation. You can expect background information and a friendly tone, rather than a strictly scripted lecture.

That said, the experience is still a tasting, not a private interview or a full lesson in cider production. The exact depth of the explanation will depend on the evening and the questions you bring.

Should you book the 1785 Cider tasting?

Book it if you want a small, personal cider experience in a real orchard setting, especially if you are already exploring Baden-Württemberg or the Black Forest. The $30.77 price is sensible for a private two-hour visit with house-produced drinks, English-language hosting, and a possible orchard walk.

Skip it if you need weekend availability, included transportation, a meal, or a guaranteed list of specific bottles. Before booking, confirm the current tasting lineup if you care about particular cider styles or want to know exactly how many pours are included.

For the right visitor, this is a warm and focused evening: fruit trees outside, locally made drinks inside, and Peter and Wendy guiding the conversation. That is a good way to spend two hours.

FAQ

Where does the cider tasting take place?

The meeting point is Mooslochweg, 78089 Unterkirnach, Germany. The activity also ends back at this meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The guided tasting lasts approximately two hours.

What drinks are included?

The experience includes a number of sparkling wines from the hosts’ own production and is presented as a cider tasting with 1785 Cider.

Is the tasting offered in English?

Yes. The activity is offered in English.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in this private activity.

Can children join the experience?

The minimum age is 16. No younger participants are permitted according to the stated age requirement.

Is an orchard walk included?

When the weather is nice, the hosts take the group for a walk through one of their orchards. The walk is weather dependent.

When is the experience available?

The listed operating period is June 2, 2024, through July 12, 2026. Sessions are offered Monday through Friday from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded or accepted.