The American Cider Association recently announced that sixteen individuals successfully passed the Certified Pommelier examination held at CiderCon® 2024 in Portland, Oregon in January. Of those sixteen, two very special individuals represent us here in New York. Learn their stories below:

Olivia Yi

Cider and wine culture has always been a part of Olivia Yi's life, surrounding her dinner table with its presence. A tiny glass served as a gateway to taste and experience both food and beverage. One aspect she's particularly grateful to her family for is their insistence on presence and awareness at the dinner table, encouraging her to be mindful of the meal and its pairings. In many ways, Olivia always felt a gravitational pull towards the food and beverage industry.

Following some experimental home brewing and fermenting during college, Olivia's father recruited her to work summers, furthering her career in the cider world immediately after graduation. For four and a half years, she honed her skills at Brooklyn Cider House, guided by her father's expertise and her own hands-on experiences in the orchard, tasting room, and cidery. With a Pommelier certification under her belt, Olivia now seeks to deepen her knowledge of cider and apples while reconnecting with her roots by delving into traditional Korean fermentation techniques.

Currently on a three-month stay in Korea, Olivia is immersing herself in classes on traditional Korean food, visiting makgeolli producers, and exploring meju factories, absorbing all she can before returning to the States. Her current aspiration is to gain a deeper understanding of fermentation while continuing to support cider makers and heirloom apples.

Adrian Luna

Adrian Luna's journey into the world of cider began in 2016 during a visit to the UK, where he encountered his first taste of the beverage. Prior to that, cider had been a completely unfamiliar concept to him, but he was immediately captivated by its flavors. Four years later, Adrian's interest in cider was reignited when he and two friends decided to host an Instagram Live show reviewing alcoholic beverages, stumbling upon cider once again. The positive feedback they received from the cider community prompted them to turn their live show into a weekly event.

Eager to delve deeper into the world of cider and connect with its community, Adrian and his friends embarked on a journey across the country to visit various cideries. They launched a YouTube series where they interviewed cider makers, showcased their products, and shared their stories. As their popularity grew, Adrian's passion for cider and its community intensified. While his friends pursued different paths, Adrian remained dedicated to cider and kept their brand alive, adopting the online persona of the "Hard Cider Guy."

In 2023, Adrian's dedication and enthusiasm for cider was recognized when he was awarded the Cider is for Everyone scholarship by the American Cider Association. Attending CiderCon® that year allowed his cider network to expand exponentially. In January 2024, Adrian's journey in the cider industry reached a new milestone when he was hired by the New York Cider Association as the Membership and Communications Coordinator, enabling him to fully utilize his passion for cider.

Adrian feels honored not only to have achieved the rank of Pommelier but also to be among the first 100 Pommeliers in history. He plans to actively engage with this certification, further refining his palate. His future plans include hosting cider and food pairings, judging at cider events, raising awareness about cider, and co-curating cider competitions in the East Coast.