So you’ve decided to make the leap from amateur to professional winemaker. Your fondness has grown so great for the prominent stone fruit flavors of La Crescent or the well-balanced Itasca, that you’ve been coaxed into putting your name onto a bottle and getting it into the hands of grape-indulgent gallivants. The road to professional … [ Read more]
Out Picking: Harvesting with Urban Forage Winery and Cider House’s Jeff Zeitler
August 30, 2019 by
Jeff Zeitler is tireless. The co-owner of Urban Forage Winery & Cider House has a vision—to create high-quality small-batch hard ciders, meads, and wine from local, crowd-sourced fruit, flowers, and honey—and he uses his trailblazing attitude to carry it out. “We make stuff that is real [free of artificial chemicals and preservatives] and it’s … [ Read more]
The Johnny Appleseed of South Minneapolis: Jeff Zeitler is planting a neighborhood urban orchard
May 4, 2018 by
Jeff Zeitler, co-owner of Urban Forage Winery & Cider House, isn’t your typical farmer. With a focus on what he calls “urban agriculture,” he strives to crowdsource all of his ingredients from the landscape around him. But urban areas have limited green space to grow fruit on a large scale, which is how he came … [ Read more]
Urban Forage Winery & Cider House’s long-awaited taproom opens in Nov.
October 30, 2017 by
Since January, Urban Forage Winery & Cider House has been equal parts winery and construction zone. On their way to opening a taproom at their production winery and cider house, owners Jeff and Gita Zeitler spent months replacing the building’s roof, remodeling the front entryway, installing a new HVAC system, hanging drywall, and building the … [ Read more]
Got cherries? Urban Forage Winery wants ’em.
June 15, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Cherry season is upon us, and Urban Forage Winery wants them. All of them. If you have a cherry tree and aren’t planning on using the fruit, and/or if you want to help the winery by picking cherries, email them at [email protected]
Got dandelions? Urban Forage Winery wants them.
May 5, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Urban Forage Winery & Cider House wants your dandelions. In fact, they want all the dandelions. Why? They’re making their first commercial batch of dandelion wine soon. The winery is looking for any and all dandelion and/or lilac donations, and will even come pick them up from you. Just email [email protected], and they’ll put you on the … [ Read more]
Urban Forage adds pear cider, bottle returns to the fold
April 19, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Urban Forage Winery and Cider House in South Minneapolis announced today it’s adding a pear cider to its lineup. The new cider joins Urban Forage’s Dry Apple Cider, Semisweet Sparkling Cider, and Cherry Apple Cider. Like the Cherry Apple Cider, quantities are limited, although they anticipate having it in stock for several months. Look for it … [ Read more]
Now Open (Or Damn Close): September 2015
September 3, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Spotlighting four Minnesota breweries getting close to opening their doors 10K Brewing Brother and sister Jesse and Ashley Hauf are about to open the first brewery in Anoka, Minnesota, but the siblings aren’t the only ones contributing to the family affair that is 10K Brewing. [Read more…] OMNI Brewing Company “Omni” means “all” or “of … [ Read more]
Now Open (Or Damn Close): Urban Forage Winery & Cider House
August 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment
A featureless, white stucco storefront along East Lake Street in Minneapolis’ Phillips neighborhood will find its way into the history books this fall as home to the first winery in Minneapolis–St. Paul since before Prohibition. Husband and wife Jeff and Gita Zeitler are the founders of Urban Forage Winery & Cider House, which will be … [ Read more]
Apples to Apple Cider: Minnesota’s craft cider takes root
November 4, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Minnesota’s craft cider scene is growing. The sweeter cousin of craft beer contains a similar alcohol by volume, but with the nose-tickling bubbles of dry champagne. While not out of place next to Surly or Indeed’s latest seasonal on draft, cider is actually created in a process that has more in common with making wine than … [ Read more]
