Business Details
9 Years
experience
Family-Owned Craft Cidery & Winery in Westerly, RI
Founded in 2017, Tapped Apple Cidery & Winery continues a family tradition of crafting bold, innovative apple-based beverages that began in 2003. Our small-batch approach combines time-honored techniques with creative experimentation using local ingredients like cherries, elderberries, and hops. Located in Westerly, Rhode Island, we offer a curated selection of hard ciders and wines designed to bring people together through shared experiences. Our tasting room features nearly a dozen varieties, charcuterie boards, gourmet chocolates, and live entertainment in a space that reflects our commitment to quality and community.Third-generation winemaker John Wiedenheft III, his son Jay, and grandson John V personally oversee every step of production from orchard to bottle. We prioritize hands-on craftsmanship and seasonal innovation while maintaining the authenticity that earned us recognition as Rhode Island's favorite hard cider. Our Connecticut expansion demonstrates our dedication to making premium fermented apple products accessible across New England while preserving the family values that define our brand.
Services
Hard Ciders
Wines
Tasting Room
Charcuterie Boards
Gourmet Chocolates
Details
- Year established: 2017
Highlights and features
- Three generations of family winemaking expertise since 2003
- Small-batch production with locally sourced ingredients
- Innovative flavor combinations like Cherry Lime and Hopposite
- Award-winning tasting room with live entertainment
- Connecticut distribution expanding New England access
Services
Hard Ciders
Our signature hard ciders feature bold, innovative flavors using locally sourced apples. From the dry complexity of Crabapple to the citrus zing of Cherry Lime, each small-batch creation balances tradition with modern twists. Available in both still and sparkling varieties, our ciders showcase New England's apple heritage through contemporary fermentation techniques.
Wine Production
Crafting fruit-forward wines with apple bases, we combine classic techniques with experimental ingredients. Varieties like Cerise Noir (dark cherry with oak notes) and Respect the Elder (dry elderberry red) demonstrate our commitment to quality. Each vintage undergoes careful aging and blending to achieve distinctive flavor profiles unavailable elsewhere in southern New England.
Tasting Room
Our Westerly tasting room offers immersive experiences with nearly a dozen cider and wine varieties. Guests enjoy made-to-order charcuterie boards, gourmet chocolate pairings, and rotating local artwork. The space hosts live entertainment and special events while maintaining its core function as a showcase for three generations of family winemaking expertise.
Seasonal Flavors
We create limited-run seasonal beverages that capture specific moments of the year. Autumn favorites include Apple Pie (spiced with cinnamon) and Spice Pumpkin. Our innovation extends to barrel-aged varieties like Tap 37 (bourbon barrel-aged cider) and experimental combinations like Blueberry Vanilla, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to flavor exploration.
Retail Sales
Distributing throughout Rhode Island and Connecticut, our products include both core and seasonal varieties. The Westerly taproom serves as both production facility and retail hub, offering direct sales of bottled products alongside tasting experiences. Connecticut expansion demonstrates our commitment to making premium fermented apple products accessible across New England.
People
John Wiedenheft III
Founder
Third-generation winemaker with 20+ years of experience, started crafting wines in 2003 before establishing Tapped Apple in 2017. Oversees production and maintains family traditions.
Jay Wiedenheft
Co-Owner
Second-generation winemaker who transitioned from enthusiast to co-owner in 2005. Manages daily operations and continues developing innovative recipes with his father and son.
John Wiedenheft V
Apprentice Winemaker
Third-generation family member learning all aspects of winemaking from grape to bottle. Assists with production while mastering traditional techniques and modern innovations.
Questions
What makes Tapped Apple different from other cideries?
We combine three generations of family winemaking experience with innovative flavor combinations using local ingredients in small-batch production.
Can I visit the cidery for tastings?
Yes! Our Westerly tasting room offers samples and full pours Thursday-Saturday with extended hours for special events.
Are your products available outside Rhode Island?
Yes, we distribute throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island with special seasonal releases available only at our Westerly location.
Do you offer food pairings with your ciders?
We serve made-to-order charcuterie boards and gourmet chocolate truffles specifically selected to complement our cider and wine profiles.
How are your seasonal flavors developed?
Our family team experiments with local ingredients and traditional techniques to create limited-run flavors that capture specific times of year.
Reviews (6)
Amber Langanke
Jan 31, 2022
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Seasonal flavors and monthly rotating art on the walls make it a place that will have changed a little bit since the last time you went, unless you're like me and pop in all the time, even just to say hi. I have a long and growing number of memories here, all fond. The Wiedenhefts are wonderful, hardworking people and always choose lovely staff. Let your artist friends know that it's a great place to show your work for full profit with a cooperative set up and take down experience.
Erin D.
Jan 10, 2022
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Super cute! Preferred the ciders to the wines. The balsamic mixes are a MUST try! Love the build your own charcuterie board too
Danielle P.
Dec 14, 2021
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I brought my dear friends from Colorado and California here last week, and we were treated like family. This winery should open in CT, the best winery/cidery yet. We had an absolute blast with the owners and cant wait to go back. If you havent tried them, youre missing out.
Kris Fisher
Dec 12, 2021
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My friends and I came to this place on a Sunday evening. We had a flight and a few glasses of wine each. After closing time, we were able to meet the owners, share stories and honestly had a wonderful time. I'm not from the area and live in Colorado but this winery that we picked was fantastic. Will definitely make an effort to visit again in the future.
Amber Dilling
Nov 03, 2021
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Went to Tapped Apple Cidery & Winery recently and I gotta say I just loved everything about it. The bring your own food aspect is really clever and helps make the experience more you own. However they do have some charcuterie options that were just so yummy. The waitress seemed super knowledgeable and was so incredibly kind. The balsamic vinegar mixed into the cider was for sure my favorite!
N. W.
Sep 15, 2021
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We visited the Tapped Cidery today and thoroughly enjoyed it! We tasted six of the ciders and then brought some home with us. John IV waited on us and gave expert advice. Would recommend anyone visit !
