Blossoms, Blessings, and a Bushel of Fun: Spirit Tree Estate Cidery holds official grand re-opening

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After officially announcing their rebranding back in April, Spirit Tree Estate Cidery invited the Caledon community to see for themselves the changes they've made to their beloved cidery.

Spirit Tree Estate Cidery has been open for over a decade at its property on Boston Mills Road in Caledon, and has rebranded for the new season to debut its elegant new business.

Moving towards the ideas of a classic winery, the Cidery introduced a new logo, a new look inside the building, and, most of all, a new feel.

For the grand re-opening, owner and operator Thomas Wilson says it was an invitation for everyone to come back and see what they've done, what they've changed, and how they revamped their look and style.

Overall, a true introduction, he said.

The grand re-opening also provided Spirit Tree Estate Cidery with the opportunity to host the traditional Wassail performance by Orange Peel Morris, which they usually hold in the Spring.

The traditional Wassail performance is to “encourage the spirits into ensuring a good harvest the following season.”

The Orange Peel Morris held a procession into the orchard, where they blessed this year's blossoms.

Also, at the event that day, there were lots of samples.

Wilson said they wanted to ensure the community could try their brand-new menu items, including a special apple cake made specifically for the celebration.

Wilson said people have already noticed the new look and told him they were “amazed” by the new logo and renovations.

“I'm just really amazed with the new look,” said Wilson. “It definitely has a more warm, elegant look to it.”

One of his favourite parts of their rebrand actually came about by accident.

In the middle of their building is a pergola on the roof, and during renovations, they decided to add a small light.

The light now shines directly onto the entire roof and looks exactly like the star shown in their brand-new logo.

And with the light is a small copper apple weather vane.

“Our logo is the pergola,” said Wilson.

As everyone gathered outside for the official ribbon-cutting, Wilson filled the crowd in on the work that had brought them to this point.

“Spirit Tree has been a lifelong vision of ours. My family goes back six generations,” he said. “My wife Nicole and I came here to this site back in 2005 with a vision of what you see here behind me. We opened in 2009 trying to be one of the best cideries in not only Ontario, not only Canada, but one of the best in the world. That was our vision.”

“We wanted to bring those more European, those more true classic ciders that are in Europe, we wanted to bring them here to Caledon for everyone to enjoy, and that's what we built here,” he added.

And with their cidery came their bakery, restaurant, farm shop, and more.

“We wanted this to be a true special place for people to come and enjoy food and drink,” said Wilson.

Their vision was also to make their business truly environmentally friendly, and they did just that.

The building itself was grown in Caledon, put together by straw bales that were farmed just down the road from the building itself.

“It was a vision that we believed in and we wanted everyone to experience,” said Wilson. “It's been quite a few years supporting the community, them supporting us, and then we're supporting back.” 

“Thank you everyone for supporting us for this revitalization of Spirit Tree,” he added. “A new look, a new style that is really part of our main vision that we started with at the start of this.”

“This is what happens when a really good entrepreneur has a vision, and in 2005, they had a vision,” said Regional Councillor Christina Early at the ribbon cutting. “This is a true testament of what agritourism is for Caledon, and it is a place for the community to come with their families to enjoy.”

The celebration fell during Local Food Week in Ontario, and as the ribbon was cut and the Wassail performance was held, the community was invited back to try all that local producers have to offer right here in Caledon.