Columbiana small business featured on America 250-Ohio Hard Cider Trail
A locally owned and operated craft ciderhouse and winery is part of the Ohio craft cider trail celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.
Sundog Ciderhouse & Winery, at 145 Town Center Ave. in Columbiana, is owned by Cindy Bacon and her husband, Mike, who opened under their ownership at the beginning of 2024.
“While we’ve retained many of the things people have always cherished about Sundog, we’ve certainly infused our cider and wine with our own unique touch,” Bacon said. “We’ve introduced new cider flavors, expanded our fruit wine offerings, launched our signature hard teas and gradually phased out some older products. Our goal is to honor the established foundation while continuously innovating and presenting exciting new options to our customers.”
Sundog’s hard ciders are made from apple cider local to Columbiana.
“Representing Columbiana on the America 250 Ohio Cider Trail through is a tremendous honor,” she said. “It gives us the opportunity to showcase not only Sundog, but also the Columbiana community and everything that makes our area special. We’re proud to be part of Ohio’s story, highlighting our small-town values, local businesses and the people who make this community such a great place to live and visit.”
Sundog Ciderhouse & Winery was first founded in 2018.
“On a daily basis, we juggle a multitude of tasks. One day, we might be working on a new cider flavor, monitoring fermentation progress, making our cider and/or wine or bottling. The next day, we’re planning future releases, distributing our product and managing inventory. While it involves a significant amount of attention to detail and hard work, it’s also a very creative process,” Bacon said.
Bacon has a few favorite ciders on the menu she recommends, including the blackberry pear cider called Berry Peary, the Rockford Raspberry Hard Tea and a soon-to-be-released Apple-Peno, which is green apple and jalapeno Riesling.
“While we’re known for our handcrafted wines and ciders, our taproom has grown into much more than that. Guests can enjoy beer, hard teas, sangrias, slushies, craft cocktails, liquor, mocktails, and other options. It’s truly a destination where everyone can find something they enjoy,” Bacon said.
Through Dec. 1, residents 21 years and older are invited to visit participating ciderhouses on the Ohio Hard Cider Trail and bring along their Ohio Hard Cider Trail Passport.
Ask a bartender for a stamp. For each collected stamp from participating businesses across the state, residents will be entered into a raffle to receive cider-themed items from participating cideries.
Individuals who collect six or more stamps through December can redeem their passport to receive a limited-edition America 250-Ohio Hard Cider Trail bottle-opening commemorative coin, which is available while supplies last.
Completed passports can be redeemed online. Once passports have been received and verified to meet requirements, the coin will be mailed to eligible participants.
Participants aren’t required to consume any alcoholic beverages in order to get a stamp.
Jackie DeGenova is the Superintendent of the Division of Liquor Control in the Ohio Department of Commerce.
“The Ohio Hard Cider Trail offers a meaningful opportunity to connect Ohioans with a beverage that helped shape daily life in our state and across early America,” she said. “Hard cider has deep roots in our shared history, from the orchards planted by Johnny Appleseed to the craft cideries revitalizing the tradition today. We’re excited to invite Ohioans to explore this revival, support our local makers, and learn more about a drink that has been part of our story from the very beginning.”
Looking ahead, Bacon said one of the biggest goals for Sundog is to expand their statewide distribution.
“We also want to keep growing our lineup by introducing new cider varieties and unique flavor combinations that give customers something they can’t find anywhere else,” she said. “In many ways, the experience is sometimes more important than the drinks. We work hard to create events that bring people together, ranging from SINGO and karaoke nights, to paint-and-sip events and plant bingo, fundraising events, and other community gatherings.”
In addition to community engagement events and pop-up specials, Bacon said they’ve emphasized bringing local artists in for live music nights at Sundog.
“We regularly feature local upcoming artists, musicians and bands because we believe in supporting the talented artists throughout the area,” Bacons said. “Providing a stage for local performers not only creates a great atmosphere for our guests but also helps strengthen the local music community that makes this area unique, as area favorites like The Conkle Brothers and Andy Timko, continue to frequent our winery.”
