08/27/2026
Inside the Making of Riviera
Riviera has been a long time coming.
Head Cidermaker Craig had been thinking about making an Italian aperitivo-inspired cider for nearly a decade,and the recipe itself has been in development for about two years.
Inspired by the bittersweet character of an Aperol Spritz, Negroni Spritz and traditional Italian amari, Riviera starts with freshly pressed apples fermented to dryness.
We then built our own bitter aperitivo blend using whole spices and herbs and infused them into the cider base.
The video shows the team prepping, measuring and blending the botanicals that make Riviera what it is. The cider is infused for about 24 hours with a blend of 15 ingredients, including Seville and Cara Cara orange, hibiscus, chamomile, lavender, rose petals, juniper, vanilla, turmeric, ginger, dandelion, gentian, marshmallow and rhubarb root.
Each ingredient plays a part—citrus, floral aromatics, earthy spice, natural color and layers of bitterness.
The result is a 6.5% ABV cider that’s dry, citrusy, herbal, floral and pleasantly bitter, with a ruby-orange color that feels right at home on a summer afternoon.
Drink it cold straight from the can, pour it over ice, or try blending it with Legendary Dry or Mass Appeal for a lighter variation.
Riviera is a seasonal release, and we made a limited amount, so once this batch is gone, it’s gone for the season.
Want the full story? Craig and Lead Cidermaker Jonny have a longer conversation on our YouTube channel about the inspiration, the recipe development and how Riviera came together.
Riviera — two years in the making, built from the roots up.
