Guided tasting of Cider

The most appealing part of this private cider tasting is its setting: a working home and farm near Unterkirnach, surrounded by apple and pear trees, fruit, and herb gardens. Peter and Wendy host the evening with their own drinks, so you get a close look at small-scale production rather than a standard bar tasting.

I like the mix of tasting and conversation, and I like that a good-weather orchard walk is built into the visit. The main point to keep clear is that the description refers to both ciders and sparkling wines, so the exact lineup may vary.

Key points to know

• Farm-based tasting: Sample a range of ciders and sparkling wines made by Peter and Wendy.
• Personal hosting: Peter and Wendy lead the visit at their home and share background about the drinks.
• Orchard walk: If the weather is pleasant, you may walk through the apple and pear orchards.
• Private format: Only your own group takes part, which allows for a more relaxed pace.
• Evening timing: The two-hour activity runs Monday through Friday from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM during the stated operating period.
• Age and price: The minimum age is 16, and the listed price is $30.77 per person.

A two-hour tasting at a Black Forest farm

This is not a quick stop for one glass and a photo. Plan on roughly two hours with Peter and Wendy, tasting several drinks from their own production and hearing the background behind them.

The setting matters here. Mooslochweg is in 78089 Unterkirnach, in Baden-Württemberg, and the visit takes place at a private farm and home. You are not being led through a large commercial cellar or a busy tasting room. Instead, the evening centers on the people who make the drinks and the fruit growing around them.

That arrangement gives the tasting a personal feel. You can focus on how the drinks are made, what kinds of fruit are used, and why one bottle tastes different from another. The supplied information does not give a formal production tour or a detailed step-by-step process, so you should expect conversation and tasting rather than a technical factory visit.

The drink list is described in slightly different ways. The main outline says you will taste sparkling wines from the hosts’ own production, while the activity title and the detailed account of the visit focus on cider. I would book this for the farm setting and the chance to taste a range of house-made drinks, not for a guaranteed list of particular bottles.

Meeting Peter and Wendy at Mooslochweg

Peter and Wendy are the hosts named for this tasting. Their role is important because the visit is built around their own work, their home, and their orchard.

You can expect background information as each drink is served, along with a light and informal tone. This is suited to someone who enjoys asking questions and comparing flavors rather than simply ordering a drink and moving on.

The small private format should help. Only your group participates, so you do not have to compete with a large crowd or follow a fixed public-tour script. That can make a major difference during a tasting. You have more room to pause, ask about a particular cider, or spend time discussing the fruit and gardens.

The information does not state the maximum group size, so I would not assume this means a one-on-one visit. It does mean the booking is private for your party, which is a useful distinction from a shared tasting.

The activity is offered in English. That makes it practical for visitors who do not speak German, though the available details do not specify how much English Peter and Wendy use during every part of the visit. The clear point is that English is an offered language.

What you taste, and why the range matters

The tasting includes a number of drinks from the hosts’ own production. That phrase suggests variety rather than a single signature pour, and the account of the farm visit describes a broad range of ciders and creative ideas connected with them.

For you, the value is in comparison. One sample may help you notice fruit, sweetness, acidity, sparkle, or weight that you would miss if you tasted only one drink. A guided setting also gives you context for why the drinks differ.

The supplied details do not list the number of pours, the serving sizes, or the exact cider styles. You should not arrive expecting a published flight with named vintages. Think of it as a changing, host-led selection.

There is also a useful distinction between cider and sparkling wine. Cider is made from fermented apple or pear juice, while sparkling wine normally refers to fermented grapes with bubbles. Since the description uses both terms, you may encounter a tasting that reaches beyond traditional apple cider. Ask Peter and Wendy which drinks are being poured and what fruit or method shaped each one.

That lack of a fixed menu can be a strength for curious drinkers. It may allow the hosts to share what is most interesting from their current production. It can also be a drawback if you are booking specifically to taste one named variety. The available details do not promise particular bottles.

The orchard walk when the weather cooperates

When the weather is nice, the tasting can include a walk through one of the orchards. This is more than a scenic pause. It connects the drink in your glass with the fruit trees that help define the farm.

The orchard includes apple and pear trees, and the surrounding property also has fruit and herb gardens. A short walk gives you a better sense of the place behind the production. You can look at the growing environment, then return to the tasting with a clearer idea of the connection between land, fruit, and drink.

The walk is weather dependent. Do not treat it as a guaranteed part of the schedule, especially if conditions are poor. The core activity remains the tasting and the background information.

No walking distance or trail condition is provided. The details say most people can participate, but they do not describe the path, surface, seating, or accessibility of the orchard. If mobility is a concern, ask for current information before booking.

The farm setting is one of the strongest reasons to choose this activity. A drink can taste different when you know it came from a place with its own trees and gardens. You are not only sampling a product. You are seeing the setting in which the hosts grow, think about, and present it.

Why the private format changes the evening

A private activity works well for couples, families with older children, and small groups of friends who want to share the same pace. You are not placed with an unrelated crowd, and the hosts can keep the conversation suited to your group.

That format can also feel more intimate than a public tasting. If you are new to cider, you can ask basic questions without worrying about holding up a larger group. If you already know cider, you can focus on production ideas and comparisons.

The tradeoff is that a private booking does not automatically mean a highly structured class. The information promises background details and fun, but not a formal lesson, printed tasting sheet, or professional certification. I would choose this for a relaxed farm visit with guided sampling, not as a substitute for an advanced beverage course.

The activity lasts about two hours. That is long enough for several tastes and conversation without taking up an entire day. The evening timing also works well after daytime sightseeing in Baden-Württemberg, though the 6:00 PM start means you need to plan your route carefully.

Monday to Friday timing near Unterkirnach

The stated opening period runs from June 2, 2024, through July 12, 2026, with sessions listed Monday through Friday from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The tasting itself lasts about two hours, so the three-hour window likely allows for an evening start within that period.

Because the published hours cover a long date range and do not name individual start times, confirm the exact appointment after booking. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability.

The weekday schedule is useful if you are staying in the area and want an evening activity. It is less convenient if your trip is built around weekend outings. No Saturday or Sunday hours are given, so do not assume weekend availability.

The starting point is Mooslochweg, 78089 Unterkirnach, Germany. The activity ends back at the same meeting point. Transportation to the farm is not listed, and no pickup service is mentioned, so you should arrange your own way there unless the provider confirms something different.

The mobile ticket is handy. Keep the booking details accessible on your phone, and save the meeting address before setting out. Since the activity takes place at a home and farm rather than a famous public attraction, careful attention to the confirmed meeting instructions is sensible.

Is $30.77 a fair price?

At $30.77 per person, the value depends on what you want from a tasting. If you are paying only for liquid, the price may look high compared with buying a bottle at a shop. But this is a two-hour private visit with several samples, host-led explanations, and possible time in the orchard.

I consider the price reasonable for a small private activity, especially for people who care about local production and personal contact. You are paying for access to the hosts’ setting and attention, not just a flight poured at a counter.

The value is strongest when you take time to ask questions and compare the drinks. A rushed visit would not make as much sense. Since the exact number of pours and serving sizes are not stated, you should not judge the price by assuming a particular quantity.

The farm setting also helps separate this from a generic tasting. You get the chance to see the apple and pear orchards and fruit and herb gardens when weather allows. That connection between place and product is likely to matter more to you than a long list of technical tasting notes.

Who will enjoy this cider tasting most?

I would choose this activity for:

• Cider and sparkling wine fans who enjoy trying small-scale products
• Couples looking for a quiet evening activity
• Small groups who prefer a private visit
• People interested in orchards, fruit growing, and farm-based production
• Visitors who want an English-language experience near Unterkirnach
• Curious drinkers who like conversation more than a formal tour

The minimum age is 16. That makes it suitable for older teenagers with adults, though anyone under the legal drinking age should follow applicable German rules and the host’s instructions.

This may not be the best fit if you need a firm list of named ciders, a large production facility, a weekend appointment, or a detailed technical class. The details do not promise any of those things.

Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate. Still, the orchard walk and home setting may have practical limits that are not described, so ask ahead if you need specific accessibility arrangements.

Booking, cancellations, and small practical details

You receive confirmation within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. The activity requires a minimum number of participants, and if that minimum is not reached, you will be offered another date or activity, or a full refund.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund. If you cancel or change the booking less than 24 hours before the start, the payment is not refunded and changes are not accepted.

The cutoff uses local time. That matters if you are arranging the activity from another time zone.

Since the meeting point is a private farm address, I would keep the confirmed details close at hand and allow enough time to reach Unterkirnach. The published information does not include parking, public transport, driving directions, or hotel pickup, so those points should be checked directly if they affect your plans.

My call on the 1785 Cider experience

Book this if you want a personal, farm-based tasting with several house-made drinks, English-language hosting, and a chance to walk among apple and pear trees. Peter and Wendy’s involvement is central, and the private format gives the evening a more relaxed feel than a busy tasting room.

Skip it if your main goal is a fixed menu, a large winery-style tour, or a weekend activity. Also keep the cider and sparkling wine wording in mind, since the exact drink selection is not specified.

For $30.77, I see the best value in the setting, the conversation, and the connection to the orchard. If that sounds more appealing than simply buying a bottle, this is a sensible two-hour addition to a Baden-Württemberg itinerary.

FAQ

Where does the cider tasting take place?

The meeting point is Mooslochweg, 78089 Unterkirnach, Germany, in Baden-Württemberg.

How long does the activity last?

The tasting lasts approximately two hours.

What drinks are included?

The activity describes a number of sparkling wines from the hosts’ own production. The title and detailed description also refer to cider, so the exact selection may vary.

Who hosts the tasting?

Peter and Wendy host the tasting at their home and farm.

Is the activity available in English?

Yes. English is one of the offered languages.

Is the orchard walk guaranteed?

No. The walk takes place when the weather is nice. The farm includes apple and pear orchards, as well as fruit and herb gardens.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age is 16.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded or accepted.