MyWinePal: Taking A Weekday Trip to Taves Family Farms in Abbotsford

Trips do not need to be hours away, requiring you to get up early to be at the airport three hours before the flight, then to sit in economy, squished into a seat that doesn’t recline very well, for hours, while there are people around you sneezing and coughing. Sometimes a trip can be done in one day, with a short 1-2 hour drive in your car, getting into the country. That is what I did recently, getting up, enjoying my comforting cup of coffee and breakfast, before heading out to Abbotsford to visit Taves Family Farms.

This farm, started by Loren Taves in the early 1980s, has everything you want in one place. You have a large orchard of apple trees, a pumpkin patch, a petting zoo with farm animals galore for kids, light snacks, two corn mazes, a hayride through the orchard, a long slide that is fun for children and adults, and much more. Depending on your level of energy, you could spend the entire day at Taves Family Farms.

Plus, with all the apple trees around, Loren has a cider maker to make a wide range of ciders, from dry to sweet, some apples only, and others infused with other fruits like blackberries. Below are a few pictures of what I experienced at Taves Family Farms with commentary, followed by my review of a flight of dry ciders I tried at the end of my visit.

Sights at Taves Family Farms

A bIlly goat on the roof and young goats at Taves Family Farms — A billy goat on the roof and young goats at Taves Family Farms (don’t stick your fingers through the wires as goats bite)

Lots of pumpkins at Taves Family Farms (there are many colours and sizes of pumpkins. These are the standard orange ones.)

A large play area for children at Taves Family Farms (on the right side of the photo you can see the edge of the slide, which is quite large.)

Go for a hayride in the apple orchard and pick some apples at Taves Family Farms (you can get dropped off at the pumpkin patch or at the large corn maze)

My Cider Tasting Notes

A flight of ciders at Taves Estate Cidery (hard cider. You can also order a flight of soft, non-alc cider to sample.)

Taves Estate Cidery Vintage (11.2%) – took the traditional batch of cider and refirmented it, then put it in bourbon barrels for around 1 year. It has a light apple aroma. Dry with a lean, lighter body. Crisp apple and some bitter apple skin. A light acidic prickle in your mouth.

Taves Estate Cidery Gander Gooseberry (6.5%) – This cider is off-dry with a round, medium body. Tart fruit, mainly apple. I can’t quite pick out the gooseberry flavour. Medium acidic prickle.

Taves Estate Cidery Tux Treasure Blackberry Vanilla (6%) – This cider is very popular lately, making 60% of sales, the last time I spoke with Loren. It was my favourite of the flight. Maybe it has a bit more structure, reminding me of a light red wine. It has a sweet blackberry fruit and vanilla flavour. A light acidic prickle. Some drying tannins on the finish.

Taves Estate Cidery Pete’s Pumpkin Perry (6%) – made with perry pears and pumpkin. My second favourite cider. Light pear aromas. Dry with a medium body. Floral and pear flavours. Light acidic prickle.