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Albemarle Cider Works, Blue Bee Cider, Cider, Cider Week, Foggy Ridge Cider, Hard Apple Cider, Hard Cider, Potters Craft Cider, Thomas Jefferson cider, VaCider, Virginia Cider, Virginia Cider Week, Virginia Wine
Hard cider was once the daily drink in early colonial America and was especially popular with presidents like John Adams, George Washington and noted oenophile Thomas Jefferson. The Industrial Revolution and changing tastes influenced by a growing immigrant population that prefered beer led to a decline in fermented cider production and consumption in America. Prohibition dealt a final blow to many orchards — and cider consumption — throughout Virginia and the other colonies.
After a long respite, cider is making a comeback here in the U.S. This cider renaissance includes Virginia as artisan hard ciders are showing up in restaurants, in bottles shops and at tastings more and more.
A testament to the growing popularity of artisan ciders in Virginia, locally produced cider now has its own week — called Cider Week Virginia. Beginning on November 15, Cider Week Virginia is intended to raise awareness and recognize cider’s growing popularity in the Commonwealth.
Though the audience for artisan Virginia ciders is growing, many residents may be unaware of the cider revival throughout the Commonwealth. Below are a few basic facts about apples and Virginia’s growing artisan hard cider industry.
Ten Facts Virginians May Not Know About Virginia Hard Cider
- Thomas Jefferson, third U.S. president and Virginia’s second governor, cultivated eighteen varieties of apples in his orchard at Monticello (planted between 1769 and 1814) however, concentrated on two cultivars for cider production — Hewes’ Crabapple and Taliaferro.
- Though Hewe’s Crabapples are widely considered Jefferson’s favorite apples for hard cider, he wrote of the Taliaferro apple; “the best cyder apple existing . . . nearer to the silky Champagne than any other.” Unfortunately, the Taliaferro has disappeared from cultivation.
- Virginia is home to eight cideries. A complete list of Virginia cideries can be found on the Cider Week Virginia page.
- Hard apple cider is the fastest growing segment in the alcohol business, with over 60% growth in 2012.
- Cider is fermented like wine, not brewed like beer.
- One of the biggest differences between hard cider and wine — or, apples and grapes — is that apples must be ground before pressing. The entire apple is ground to a pulp called pomace and the juice is then fermented.
- There are over 30 different apple varieties grown specifically for cider production throughout Virginia.
- Artisan ciders are typically made from blending different apples. Many of the best apples for cider production are not ideal for eating. The primary types of apples are: Sharps (grown for high acid), Sweets (grown for high sugars), Bittersharps (grown for high tannins and acid), and Bittersweets (high tannins and high sugars).
- According to several cidermakers, one of the most common cider misconceptions amongst consumers is that hard cider is made in just ‘one’ style. Hard cider is produced in many different styles and levels of quality — from the commercial 6-pack grocery store brands that are chaptalized and diluted with water, to bottle fermented cider, to bone dry cider, to fruity cider and sweet, dessert-style cider.
- Based on current law, Virginia hard apple cider can be up to 10% alcohol by volume, without chapitalizing (adding sugar to the juice). Any fermented apple juice above 10% alcohol must be labeled ‘apple wine.’ A cider can not have more than 7% alcohol when chapitalized.
To celebrate the beginning of Cider Week, Virginia cidermakers will be sharing information about the past, present and future of Virginia cider tonight on Virginia Wine Chat (Thursday, November 14). To join the virtual conversation, open a bottle of your favorite Virginia artisan cider and log on to Twitter tonight and follow the #VAWineChat hashtag. The ‘chat will begin at 7:30pm.
Be sure to check out the Cider Week Virginia events page.
Drink what YOU like, with people you like!
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Sorry I messed the chat last night. I am sure I would have learned lots about cider. I have asked all my distributors here in SC if they carry any hard ciders from Virginia. Finally success!!! I have found Foggy Ridge and will be carrying it at the wine bar! Cheers!!!
Hi Jean, thanks for your comment. Wish you could have joined us – several cidermakers were on the ‘chat and shared a lot of great cider info. I’m not sure about distributors in SC, but I do know that Foggy Ridge Cider is distributed in SC. I’m not sure about Albemarle Cider Works, or other Virginia cideries. Please join us for the next ‘Virginia Wine Chat’ on December 12 – we’ll be talking about holiday bubbles.
I would love to. Will mark my calendar now or else I will never remember. Thanks!
SUPER post, Frank!! I keep missing #VAwinechat . . . dang teenagers and their activities! I’ve been drinking a lot more hard cider this fall and kicking myself for not getting on board the Cider Wagon earlier!! Virginia has some superb examples. Salud!
Thank you! I appreciate the feedback. I can understand the kids and activities. It’s great to see the resurgence of the hard apple cider industry here in Virginia. Hope you can join us on December 12 for holiday bubbles ‘chat. Cheers!
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Great post! I had no clue about Virginia Cidar Week. Now I need to find one to taste & make a trip to a ciderie. Cheers!
Do all of the Virginia cideries grow all their own apples? Are apples routinely bought from other states for cider here? Wineries have certain labeling rules if they use fruit from other states.Is this the same for cider?
Several VA cideries grow their own apples, notably Old Hill Cider, Albemarle Ciderworks and Foggy Ridge Cider. Castle Hill Cider has an orchard on the way, and even Blue Bee Cider has a small planting in Richmond. All VA cideries also purchase fruit from VA apple growers. In fact the cider industry has encouraged apple growers to plant apples more suitable for cidermaking than Granny Smith and Golden Delicious. Silver Creek Orchard in Nelson County planted over 3000 trees a few years back with grafting wood from Foggy Ridge Cider’s orchards, including plantings of Hewe’s Crab and Harrison, two great cider apples. There are no labeling rules about out of state apples used in VA cider. Unlike grapes, there are many apples in VA, though not as many cider apples best suited for cidermaking.
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