Rootstock Ciderworks

Rootstock Ciderworks is a farmstead cidery located in Williamson, NY — 25-miles east of Rochester, NY near the shores of Lake Ontario. Established in 2012 by David DeFisher, Rootstock Ciderworks — the first post-prohibition farmstead cidery in the Rochester region — is dedicated to using only locally sourced ingredients in crafting premium ciders and perry. The all-natural ciders are made from fresh fruit grown on the fourth generation DeFisher Fruit Farms — over 500 acres of orchards within the largest apple producing county in the U.S.–Wayne County.
With a commitment to sustainability, we use the organic byproducts from the cider making process on the farm, so there are no waste products and we have a solar energy system, producing green energy. We also believe in supporting the local community and U.S. based companies — 95% of our equipment is made in Upstate New York or the U.S.
In the words of founder and owner, David DeFisher “We take great pride in the fruit that we grow, and in the fact that we are a TRUE craft beverage maker. We own the land, we grow it, we press, ferment and bottle it here on site.” We utilize only estate grown, fresh-pressed fruit and use no fining agents or chemicals, which strip the juice of its color, flavors, and aromas. We have grown from 6,000 gallons produced in 2015, to nearly 28,000 gallons in 2016.