Oregon-based, family-owned craft cidery La Familia Cider has officially expanded its distribution to California, marking a major milestone in becoming a fully West Coast brand with availability now in Oregon, Washington, and California. True to its name, the company is operated by two generations of the Gonzalez family. La Familia celebrated its 8th anniversary on Cinco de Mayo,
“It took a lot of work to get here, and it feels a little like a homecoming,” said co-founder Shani Gonzalez, who was born in East Los Angeles. “Now, when I visit family and see our ciders on store shelves—it’s hard to explain how proud and happy that makes me feel.”
La Familia’s agua fresca-inspired ciders, including customer favorites like Jamaica (hibiscus) and Guayaba (guava), are now hitting California shelves through partnerships with three standout distributors:
Humboldt Beer Distributors is a 52-year-old, second-generation family beer and beverage wholesaler nestled among the Redwoods in Northern California. “Backed by great brands and employees, we’re proud to be the first California wholesaler with the privilege of selling La Familia Ciders,” said Scott Cooper, Managing Partner. “It’s inspiring to work with another family business committed to building a quality brand.”
Hardihood Distribution represents beverage brands throughout the state, and is serving the Los Angeles area with La Familia Cider. “We’re all about working with brands that bring something fresh and different to the craft scene,” said Steve Hernandez and Tim McBreen, Owners of Hardihood Distribution. “La Familia nails it with their agua fresca-inspired ciders—Jamaica and Guayaba are packed with flavor, totally crushable, and available year-round. We’re stoked to have them on board and can’t wait to help grow their presence across our California territory.”
Coast Beverage is bringing La Familia to Southern California retailers’ shelves.
To Gonzalez, these California distribution partnerships are a vital piece of La Familia’s long-term plans. “We’re incredibly grateful to our three distributor partners—they’re the reason Californians can enjoy our ciders. And we’re just getting started! We’ll be rolling out new flavors in the future, and are committed to serving this market consistently for many years to come. It’s about growing together and building strong foundations in each region.”
As La Familia Cider toasts to eight years in business, the team is eager to connect with retailers of all sizes throughout the Golden State. “We’re just getting started,” said co-owner Jose Gonzalez. “We invite retailers to reach out—we’d love to bring a little La Familia flavor to your shelves.”
Since 2017, La Familia has been known for its unique, Mexican-inspired ciders that reflect the owners’ own heritage. The idea was sparked when founders Jose and Shani Gonzalez were enjoying some cider, and Shani mused that it would be great to have cider flavors inspired by the fruity aguas frescas that they grew up with. The idea grew from there, and today La Familia Cider produces Guayaba (guava), Jamaica (hibiscus) and Tamarindo (tamarind) ciders year-round that are sold in more than 500 retailers across the Pacific Northwest and California, along with seasonal releases. The company donates cider and a percentage of its profits to local nonprofit organizations that help families navigate the legal immigration process.
In addition to its wholesale cider offerings, cider fans can enjoy the family’s creations at La Familia Cider House on Court Street in Salem, and La Familia Taproom on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard in Portland.
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