Shiny Apple Cidery continues Hunse legacy

With some work to freshen up the Irvine Road retail store, the Shiny Apple Cidery has emerged to continue the Hunse legacy following the sale of the Small Talk Winery property.

Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits made the deal to take over Hank Hunse’s Shiny Apple brand last August, spearheading Diamond’s entry into the craft cider market, selling the cider through liquors stores and restaurants, which was produced by Hank Hunse on
Irvine Road.

Hunse has recently sold the property, including the vineyards and all the buildings, to Rob Enns, a neighbouring farmer and one of the original Twenty Bees grape growers, Enns is now partnering with Diamond to allow it to continue producing the cider on-site, and selling it at the retail store, which will sell VQA wines alongside the popular cider, explains Diamond COO Andrew Howard.

The retail outlet will feature Fresh Wines, crafted by Lakeview from 100 per cent Ontario grapes, and available in several popular varieties. It is “the first new wine being introduced,” says Howard, and “it’s kind of cool” that it will be sold alongside the Shiny Apple brand.

The cider too comes in several varieties, all made from a base of apples, with other fruits, including peach and pineapple, added.

Howard says Enns has continued with Lakeview Estates since it took over 20 Bees. The opportunity to partner with him on the retail of the cider came up about eight weeks ago. “It all happened very quickly,” he says. “It was great fortune” Enns wanted to continue to be involved. “We have a great relationship with Rob, and he wanted to continue the partnership.”

“A bunch of the Small Talk staff have stayed on in retail,” Howard adds, “and the growler program continues.”

When word got out the property was sold, there was some concern the popular growler club at Small Talk, which allowed people to fill and refill their favourite cider from the tap, would come to an end, but it hasn’t, Howard reassures those who love their Shiny Apple, and the club has continued through the period of the changeover.

Last week saw Diamond staff at a “team-building” event, with Howard himself at the the store, “hustling to put some added touches on the legacy of the Hunse family. There is so much history of the family, and the family farm,” he says, which over the years has included strawberries, tender fruit, a VQA winery, the original Stonechurch Winery, rebranded into Small Talk, and becoming Shiny Apple Cidery July 1. “Hank has been amazing throughout the process,” says Howard,” and we hope to do more work with him in the future. “We’re excited to continue the legacy of the Hunse family.”