Sonoma Cider

Sonoma Cider, operating under its parent company Sonoma Beverage Works, was a Healdsburg, California-based producer of organic hard ciders. The company was established in 2013 by the father-and-son team of David and Robert Cordtz. David Cordtz brought decades of experience to the venture as a veteran cidermaster and award-winning winemaker, having previously founded Cordtz Brothers Cellars, Sonoma Sparkler, and Vibranz Tea. His career included roles at notable wineries like Fetzer and Schramsberg, and he was instrumental in developing the Cider Expert Certification Training Program for the U.S. Association of Cider Makers. Robert Cordtz complemented his father's expertise with a focus on operations and a modern perspective on the beverage market.

The business focused on producing a full line of all-natural, gluten-free, and organic hard ciders from freshly squeezed apples, crafted in micro-batches. Their core products included "The Hatchet" (apple), "The Pitchfork" (pear), and "The Anvil" (bourbon-flavored). Sonoma Cider positioned itself in the premium segment of the rapidly growing hard cider market, targeting consumers directly through retail channels and its own taproom. In addition to its own brand, Sonoma Beverage Works offered contract production and packaging services, including fermentation, bottling, and kegging.

Just 17 months after opening a 5,500-square-foot taproom and restaurant in Healdsburg, the company faced a sudden financial crisis. In March 2018, Sonoma Cider ceased all operations after an unexpected loss of investor funding. Over its five years of operation, the company had raised over $6 million from various investors, including Sand Hill Angels, CircleUp, and Crimson Seed Capital. Following the closure, the company's assets, including the Sonoma Cider and Ahoy Wines brands (a wine-in-a-can venture launched in 2017), were transferred to a liquidator and scheduled for auction. In 2020, the brand was acquired by Full Circle Brewing Company, which later merged to become Circle of Crowns Brewing Group. Keywords: Sonoma Cider, Sonoma Beverage Works, hard cider, organic cider, craft beverage, David Cordtz, Robert Cordtz, Healdsburg, gluten-free cider, cider production, beverage manufacturing, The Hatchet cider, The Pitchfork pear cider, The Anvil bourbon cider, craft cider market, beverage startup, cidery closure, Circle of Crowns Brewing Group, Ahoy Wines, contract beverage production, artisan cider, premium cider