392: Bent Ladder Estate Ciders & Wine | Ohio

The Vodraska Brothers Chris & Matt of Bent Ladder

In the midst of a rich farming legacy emerged Bent Ladder Cider and Wine, based in Doylestown Ohio. Chris and younger brother Matt Vodraska are following in their father Dale’s footsteps. Chris is the orchardist and viticulturist and Matt is the cidermaker. The farm is the story.

Chris Vodraska

Dating back to 1995 their father Dale was eyeing farmland that was by all accounts destine for development. In 2004, he “finally wore down the seller” as his sons put it and bought the 128 acre farm. Today there are 3-4 acres of vineyards and 30-40 acres of orchards. The site hosts both the Bent Ladder production area and stunning tasting room and Rittman Orchards & Farm Market.

Matt Vodraska In the Cider Chat with Chris and Matt Sunset view from tasting room

• The Vodraska Family’s back story to present day
• The orchards,
  • Size, terrain, soil typeNumber of apple varieties
  • Orchard practices
• Kazakstan and Krygzstan scion wood graftings at Bent Ladder
  • Is this Malus Sieversii?
    • Up coming ciders with these apples
• Ciders at Bent Ladder
  • At the Tasting Room find draft, flights and glasses of select ciders
• Heritage Ciders in 750ml
  • Heriloom
  • Farmstead
  • Rose Gold – mostly Redfield in wine barrels
  • Black Gold a single varietal Gold Rush 
  • Russet
  • EverCrisp Cider 
• Cidermaking practices
• The tasting room

Contact Bent Ladder

• Website: https://bentladder.com/
• Rittman Orchard & Farm Store: https://rittmanorchards.com/
  • Find the Apple Chart that Chris Vodraska has been compiling at this page: https://rittmanorchards.com/apple-chart/

Mentions in this Cider Chat

• Dawes Arboretum
• Dr. Diane Miller
• CiderCon 2024 January 15-19th, 2024 Portland Oregon
• Artisans by Cider Summit| Portland, Oregon January 20, 2024
• Oregon Cider Week January 13-20th, 2024
• Totally Cider Tours – France – listen to past episodes and get on the wait list for the 2024 tour!