Here we are at Apple Hill™ in the Sierra foothills east of Placerville, California. This is where Californians go to discover apples in their natural habitats. Over the years I’ve discovered that there is more to apples than it seems. Different types of apples are harvested at different times. A visit in late September, early in the apple season, feature Gravensteins, the favored apple for apple sauce, but no Winesaps, one of my favorites. In early November I obtained my Winesaps, but also an opportunity to sample some varieties new to me. Splendid Mutsu and Cameo apples were standouts.

Now I have added the Pacific Rose to my upper echelon of apples. It’s a juicy apple with a great fragrant and sweet cidery taste. The Pacific Rose is a cross between Gala and the Splendor apples. It’s available from New Zealand from June through December, and from the state of Washington from December through March. It’s not among the most common varieties, but I found them in supermarkets in the Phoenix area in February and in Northern California in March.

Apple Hill™ is where people in Northern California go each year to see apples and apple trees. In some places apple trees grow promiscuously, but in California it likely demands a trek into the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas. I’m among those who believe it is well worth it.