Sponti is a spontaneous cuvée – a cross-regional representation of New York State terroir. Sponti’s blend is always based on Northern Spy and native NE heirloom apple cultivars. 2020 sourced fruit from 2 orchards in the Finger Lakes and Lake Ontario regions of NY. 60% of the apples received 12-48 hours of maceration before pressing. Native fermentations kick off without temperature control and the cider is then aged for 6 months on the lees. Bottled by traditional method without disgorgement. No fining or filtration. Sulfured only once at racking, in accordance with pH. 2020 Sponti is made of 43% Northern Spy, 25% Margil, 14% Golden Russet, 12% Baldwin and 6% Wickson.

Origin: New York
ABV: 8
USNW Classification: Natural
Varietal & Type: Northern Spy, Margil, Golden Russet, Baldwin and Wickson.
Vintage: 2020

Tasting Notes

pit fruits, cured apple, cambium, tea leaf and cherry.

Vineyards

pit fruits, cured apple, cambium, tea leaf and cherry.

About the Winemaker

Leif Sundström lives and works in New York’s Hudson Valley, helping to revive the region’s centuries-old tradition of preserving orchard fruit as cider, a drink that evokes early America’s agrarian past and, Leif believes, points the way to the region’s farming future. Leif is animated by the search for “the impacts of terroir and agriculture on cider’s ultimate potential” — and his conviction that cider from the northeastern U.S. is “poised to be among the best in the world.” Leif makes tiny quantities of still and sparkling ciders. The fruit he uses is a blend of heirloom apples selected to express the delicate differences in variety and terroir of three historic cider-producing regions in New York. Fermentations start with a wild yeast pied du cuvée, and run long and cool to complete dryness. There is oak aging and considerable lees exposure. The sparkling ciders are traditional method without disgorgement. The results are vinous ciders of tremendous character — textured, delicate, and nuanced, revealing of tradition, region, variety, method, and intent. Their notably high acids and greater phenolic content from maceration processes and lees contact, as well as bottling with their lees, equip them for aging and evolution in bottle.

Shipping Details

US Natural Wine ships once a week, every Wednesday. All orders should be placed by Tuesday at 10am in order to be picked up from our distributors and out on Wednesday's delivery truck. Shipping cost is 30 bucks a box (up to 12 bottles) so we highly encourage picking up more than 1 bottle for the best value!