Address: 6320 CA- 128 Philo, Ca. 95466
Gowan’s Cider tasting in the Orchard is California’s first ever cider tasting orchard. It is located in Philo, California which is about 2 hours and 45 minutes from San Francisco via 101 North and CA-128 West. Gowan’s Orchard are renowned for rare, exceptional heirloom apples and established in 1876. Apple wine is fermented apple cider similar to the wines made from grapes which are simply fermented grapes. Gowan’s Family Orchard famous apple wines cider are Heirloom, Gravenstein, Macintosh, Rose, Spiced Apple and Sierra Beauty.
We found Gowan’s Family Orchard by accident while we were driving on CA-128 coming from Mendocino County. As we passed through a few wineries along CA-128, we immediately saw the big sign of Gowan’s Apple wine tasting on the side of the road. We were curious as this is our first-time apple wine tasting on an old apple tree orchard. There were a lot of clean picnic tables set up underneath an apple tree all over the Orchard. It was a very nice and relaxing setting that made me want to just enjoy and drink apple wine underneath an old apple tree. We proceeded to a tent with all their famous apple wines displayed on the table. We were immediately warmly greeted by the owner herself Ms. Sharon Gowan. She recommended a few apple wines to my wife and provided my daughter their popular apple cider slushies(non-alcoholic beverage). I tried my daughter’s apple cider slushies which were so refreshing and soothing on a warm beautiful day.
We then proceeded to the orchard and selected a nice picnic table near an apple tree with some sunshade to keep us cool. Sharon educated us about the apple wine, its history, the different flavors available and served the apple wine on the glass to my wife. My wife loved, enjoyed the Rose and the Sierra Beauty Heirloom apple wine cider which she later purchased. We felt a relaxing ambiance just sitting or standing underneath an old apple tree while drinking our favorite refreshing apple wine cider.
Overall, it’s our first time experiencing an apple wine tasting on an apple tree orchard. It was a very memorable, unique experience for us and a family-friendly place to just enjoy and drink some apple wine tasting on an orchard. Super friendly owners and delicious apple ciders.
Tips: They have a few portable porta-potties available onsite for customers. The parking area is on a dirt area composed of sand and gravel. There is also a great winery close to the Gowan’s Family Orchard called Navarro Vineyard and Winery. Be careful and cautious while driving as CA-128 has a lot of switchbacks and very winding roads in some areas. They also accept walk-ins such as in our case.
Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about the Gowan’s Family Orchard apple wine tasting after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, comment, and share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you