New Cider House Taps Tasting Room in Scripps Ranch

Joining the growing ranks of San Diego’s artisanal alcohol producers is a new cider house concept, which follows Vista’s recently opened Twisted Horn in the craftsmanship of locally made cider. Cyderists and distillery experts Rusty Figgens (a 25-year winemaking industry veteran) and Rick Moreno (certified SIPS distiller and co-owner of Toronado, Seattle) are gearing up for the grand opening of Newtopia Cyder on Saturday, January 21.

Inspired by Victorian-era botanists, Moreno incorporated herbs, spices and botanicals from around the world for use in Newtopia’s ciders, all of which are made with apples sourced from private crushes and held at orchards across the West Coast before being shipped to Newtopia’s cellar farm for a two to three week fermentation process.

Headquartered in Scripps Ranch, the 6,000-square-foot facility houses a 750-square-foot tasting room and 400-square-foot garden patio. Newtopia's flagship four ciders include an Indian Pale dry-hopped version produced with a blend of tropical hops; an off-dry Semi-Sweet Cyder with hints of elderberry flower and eucalyptus; an off-dry fruit iteration made with marionberry, dubbed Wyld Cyder, plus an international Belgian Cyder made with pineapple, cardamom and Belgian spices. Growler fills will also available for takeout.

Newtopia Cyder hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. Bites will be provided courtesy of a rotating roster of food trucks yet to be determined.