Erie County Fair Hard Cider

2026 Best in Show Hard Cider Winner

Best in Show Cider | Chuck Privitera of Eden, NY
Winning Cider: Black Cherry Vanilla

Chuck Privitera of Eden, NY has been named the 2026 Erie County Fair Best in Show Cider winner for Black Cherry Vanilla, a semi-sweet fruit cider that combines crisp apple character with rich black cherry flavor and smooth vanilla notes. Inspired by a friend’s request for a black cherry cider, Chuck crafted the award-winning recipe using high-quality natural flavorings to create an authentic fruit-forward taste.

Chuck has been making cider for eight years and has been homebrewing and winemaking since 1997. A member of the Stumblin' Falls Homebrew Club, he is no stranger to the winner's circle, having also earned Best in Show Cider honors at the Erie County Fair in 2023 and 2025.

The Best in Show cider will be professionally reproduced by Blackbird CiderWorks, and will be available on tap at the 2026 Erie County Fair and sold in retail stores.

Celebrate the Winners at Hamburg Gaming on July 21

Join the Erie County Fair for a special sampling event featuring the 2026 Best in Show Cider and Home Brew on Tuesday, July 21 at Hamburg Gaming. From 4 to 7 p.m., guests 21 and older are invited to enjoy samples, light snacks, and live music from Brother James. Don’t miss this chance to raise a glass to local talent and taste the Fair’s award-winning brews!