Asterisk: The beverage you're talking about (cider) is effectively apple wine and can be stored and maintained in pretty much the exact way any other wine can.

When you hear most modern Americans say "apple cider" they mean unfiltered, unclarified fresh apple juice, which is sold fresh in the mid-fall, kept refrigerated because it isn't shelf stable, and often served hot and spiced.

You can thank the temperance movement for the confusion.