Black Diamond Cider was started in 2014 by Jackie and Ian Merwin, owners of Black Diamond Farm, a family-owned orchard on the west slope of Cayuga Lake in Upstate NY. After moving to the Fingerlakes region from the Bay Area in the 1980s, we took up root in Trumansburg and started planting trees in our yard. As the legend goes, once we put our toes in the waters of Cayuga Lake, we’ve been bonded to this place ever since. Today, with the help of our daughter, Erica, we own and manage 3 orchards growing over 145 varieties of apples and pears—many of them rare heirlooms and European varieties selected especially for their cider-making qualities. All of the fruit that goes into our cider is grown right here on our farm.

With the help of a few dedicated employees, family members, and friends, Black Diamond Farm has been producing high-quality heirloom, modern, and European cider apple varieties for over two decades. Although we only began producing hard cider commercially in 2014, cider-making has been a passion of Jackie and Ian’s for more than 30 years.

Rosie, the farm dog, keeps us company during our days in the orchard and is also our top defense against voles, mice, and rabbits, which can all harm the trees, especially during the winter months.

Many of the heirloom varieties are not only good for cider but are also excellent for eating and baking.  Each fall our market stand is full of many of the apples we grow, many with a flavor unlike any other. The farm also produces many other fruits including peaches, European and Asian plums, sweet and tart cherries, apricots, blueberries, table and wine grapes, pawpaws, and hardy kiwis.