If you ventured outside last Saturday night within earshot of an apple orchard, you might have heard the raucous sounds of caped revelers banging pots, ringing tambourines, and raising joyous voices skyward in song.
The occasion for this hoopla is an ancient English custom among cidermakers called wassail. This pagan spectacle–complete with costumes and merriment fueled by lots of cider imbibing, is believed to drive out evil spirits and bless the apple trees for a fruitful harvest in the coming year. It’s also just plain good-natured fun!
As tradition dictates, wassail takes place every January 17th on old Twelfth Night, and this year I was lucky enough to experience my virgin wassail at Devoto Orchards in Sebastopol. For the past three years, husband & wife cidermakers Jolie Devoto and Hunter Wade have hosted this festive celebration on the 20-acre Devoto family farm owned by Jolie’s father, Stan.
Cidermakers Jolie Devoto & Hunter Wade
In that short time, their amazing journey into the cider business has seen the launch of not one, but two successful cider brands. Their award-winning farmstead Devoto Orchards Ciders are an artisan blend of several organic heirloom cider apple varietals grown on the farm.
In August 2014 Hunter teamed up with friend and fellow cider enthusiast Nils Reid to launch a new joint endeavor: Golden State Cider. With their sights set on the larger commercial market, Hunter & Nils crafted a California-inspired Mighty Dry Hard Cider from 100% West Coast apples. It is now available in cans and on draft in a growing number of restaurants across the state.
Twilight was falling as we pulled into the already crowded driveway at the farm, and followed the sound of laughter down the path to the cider barn. Guests were sipping glasses of cider on the deck outside overlooking the surrounding orchard as rustic twinkle light chandeliers provided ambience against the gray sky overhead. There would be no stars for tonight’s wassail, which seemed somehow befitting of the occasion.
Nearby, Stan Devoto hovered over a large steaming cauldron of paella while inside, just past the wassail altar, a spit-roasted pig crowned a buffet table heaped with salads, bread, and cheese. It was a feast worthy of the celebration!
Stan Devoto’s famous Paella
Golden State Cidermaker Nils Reid did the carving honors
By the time dinner was finished, a velvety darkness had enveloped the farm. Spurred into action by Queen Jolie & King Hunter, we filled our cups with bourbon-spiked brew from a large communal wassail pot and set out into the orchard. The noisy procession slowly made its way to the heart of the field and surrounded a naked apple tree whose branches were adorned with candle lanterns.
Hunter Wade stirs the Wassail pot
Wassail pot; Photo courtesy of Devoto Orchards Cider
Wassail Queen Jolie & King Hunter call for the revelry to begin
A spirited volley of incantations and songs followed as we serenaded the orchard in unison: “Oh apple tree, we’ll wassail thee in hope that thou will bear. To grow well and to bear well so merry let us be. Let every man drink up his cup; Wassail! Here’s health to the old apple tree!” A palpable excitement swelled as the rousing refrains awakened the trees from their dormant winter slumber and dispelled any evil spirits lurking in the darkness.
Check out this video clip of the Wassail Song. How many apple varieties can you name?
Our job well done, we made our way back to the barn where dessert and live music awaited. I guess we’ll have to wait and see if our wassail will indeed bring a bountiful apple harvest this year. At the very least, it’s a great excuse to gather friends, eat good food, and drink great cider.
Hail Jolie & Hunter! Here’s to health and the prosperity of your orchard in 2015!
FARMINISTA'S FEAST 
That sounds like so much fun. How do you find out about these awesome food events in the Bay Area? I need to attend some. BTW, your photos are always so beautiful.
It was a blast! Thank you so much for your kind comment. I wrote about Jolie Devoto in two magazine pieces last year, and got to know she & Hunter pretty well in the process. I was so excited to receive an invitation to their wassail. As far as events go, I’m on several mailing lists and am always on the lookout for more to showcase. In the North Bay, check MALT.org and Marin Organic. Don’t miss the California Artisan Cheese Festival in Petaluma in March. You’d also love the National Heirloom Expo in Santa Rosa each September. We are lucky to live in the midst of such a vibrant artisan food culture! Hope we meet one day 🙂
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I’ll try to attend some of these. I found the California Artisan Cheese Festival Facebook page just now and have marked the event on my calendar. I hope we bump into each other 🙂
Of course! Also, do you know about the Farm to Fermentation Festival in Santa Rosa in August? Another great event! I should try to get my act together and post an “upcoming events” calendar on my website–adding that to my ever-growing to-do list 🙂
No I didn’t know about that. Thank you! My daughter will be home from school then and would also love to attend. She sent me a video this morning of her gurgling, bubbling krautchi 😉 I will keep an eye out for your events calendar (no pressure). I would love to go to more of these.
Also, if you haven’t already, be sure to “like” my Facebook page as I often post about upcoming events there! So glad to have made this connection with you.
I’m also glad to have made the connection with you 🙂 I’m now following you on Facebook and Instagram.
Me too! I’ve got to try your recipe for candied orange peel. Those look delish! Will that work with Meyer Lemon peel too?
Sure! I think that would be delicious. It should work with any citrus peels, I just happened to have lots of mandarins when I made them.
How fun! Next year I will sing to my little apple trees here in Garden Farms!
Sing and watch them thrive Anne! It’s a lovely tradition.
What a fun post and experience! Thanks for sharing.
Always a pleasure to share highlights from our wonderful Bay Area artisan cidermakers Peggy. Thanks for reading!
Looks like a fun time.You certainly had your pick of lots of things to eat.
It was definitely an evening of delicious food and great cider Jovina!
Sounds such a pommie thing to do! Perhaps i should start such celebrations around my Anna! Sorry I couldn’t resist.
Perhaps you should Penny! Thanks for reading 😉
Brilliant as always, Karen! Looks like you had a ton of fun!
It was a total blast Nancy. Every bit as fun as it looks! Thanks for reading 🙂