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August 3, 2021Boutique Wines and Spirits recently hosted the Sensory Evaluation Laboratory from Virginia Tech in an effort to conduct research on consumer preferences for hard ciders on Sunday, July 25th at their Fishkill store. The study’s purpose is to explore preferences and perception of hard cider leading to further sensory and economic research about the category.
“We are thrilled to have been chosen as a location for this research,” said Paige Flori, co-owner of Boutique Wines, Spirits and Cider in Fishkill. “The results of this research will prove beneficial to a ton of cideries in the Hudson Valley and throughout New York State. We have developed a very strong cider customer base over the last 4 years, and we feel their preferences are helping to shape the category of hard cider.”
The research is part of a USDA funded grant under Dr. Jacob Lahne of Virginia Tech and Dr. Clinton Neill of Cornell University, that applies to cider and cideries in Virginia, New York, and Vermont as a “snap-shot” of flavor preference in the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic. Research has already begun in VA and will continue in New York at Boutique and other locations, such as Orchard Hill Cider Mill in New Hampton on July 28th and Left Bank Cidery in Catskill on August 2nd, before moving on to locations in Vermont. The goal is that the results of the focus groups will be scientifically publishable and then made available to cideries across the nation.
The requirements for those that participated are individuals that consume at least twice ciders per week and are of legal drinking age. Industry professionals are excluded from this portion of the study. Participants were compensated $20 for 90 minutes of their time and taste 3 types of cider. Boutique Wines, Spirits and Cider at 18 Westage Drive, ¼ mile north of I-84 off or Route 9, behind Boston Market in the Hudson Valley Towne Center shopping plaza. Store hours are Monday-Saturday 10am – 9pm, Sunday 12-7pm.