Tuesday
Jun302009
Albemarle CiderWorks
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Albemarle Ciderworks ~ Albemarle County VirginiaVintage Virginia Apples, one of my favorite website sources for apple varieties and information put up an announcement last year publicizing their intent to make cider. Needless to say I was quite excited to read about the prospect. One would be hard pressed (no pun intended) to find a more better selection of vintage and heirloom apples in North America than at Vintage Virginia Apples. I absolutely convinced their knowledge, dedication, passion and artisanship will translate perfectly into a truly delectable craft cider.
Their time has come and the cidery has been named Albemarle CiderWorks. Their website claims they will be opening their tasting room to the public on July 15th. Being on the West Coast it'll be hard to lay may hands on their cider but I'm betting it will be worth a visit. From their pictures the tasting room and patio looks to be coming together nicely. If you are anyone you know are in the Albemarle County region I highly suggest you make a stop and support their efforts. We need more craft ciders like I'm sure Albemarle CiderWorks will prove to be.
Press Published after post date:
Daily Progress - Charlottesville VA - Published: July 5, 2009
Reader Comments (7)
Cider is awesome. What a cool story, I'm really interested to try. I sense a cider fetish developing...
I'm hosting a small private (blind) cider taste testing party soon with 9 ciders, including all three that I bought at the Albemarle Ciderworks tasting room over labor day weekend. Also included will be a bottle from Foggy Ridge in Virginia, and McRitchie in North Carolina.
Very cool. Since tasting is subjective and ciders can drastically range in quality more folks that are into ciders should subject their friends to tastings like these. Let me know how it goes please!
Edit: I should add that I had the Foggy Ridge which was pretty good. I am looking forward to one day having some Albemarle and some McRitchie one day... Hopefully soon!
We had 16 people (including the hosts), and ten ciders from a variety of artisan and commercial cider makers:
Albemarle Ciderworks (three varieties; first year; Virginia)
Foggy Ridge (Virginia)
McRitchie (North Carolina)
Etienne Dupont (France)
Samuel Smith (UK)
J.K.'s Scrumpy (Michigan)
Cider Jack (Vermont)
and
The Homebrew (first year...first bottle!)
It wasn't blind. I would just open a bottle, tell people where it was from, and go around the room pouring a little in each glass. People were surprised at how different many were from each other, and from their expectations. There was no consensus winner -- each person seemed to have their own favorite. A couple people chose Ragged Mountain from Albemarle, while of their ciders I preferred the Royal Pippin. J.K.'s Scrumpy has more apple flavor, and is less dry than all the others -- but people had individual opinions on whether or not that was a good thing. Foggy Ridge and McRitchie were both popular, and I may be my worst critic, but I think people were much more polite about the home brew than they would have been in a blind taste test!
I plan on hosting another such party for my next vintage.
I'd love to do a blind taste test some time myself. With a group of varying experience however I'd say it wouldn't have as much impact on folks as relating the bottles and labels with the ciders would.
Foggy Ridge Cider was good I need to get to try again ona bottle that hadn't had the cap compromised. The McRitchie Cider is at the very top of my "wish list". I think that all cider makers are their own worst critic. In fact I'd love for someone to sneak one of my ciders in front of me for a blind tasting... Hmmmm.
You've got me inspired to host a tasting party sometime Albert... I'm trying to develop a tasting/rating sheet for my own use but I bet that would be fun and a big help in evaluating. When I get it done I'll post a link for download.
We live about 60 miles from Vintage Virginia Apples, and visit them each fall for their wonderful apples. I had no idea they were making cider, and have tasted the Ragged Mountain and Royal Pippin. They are both lovely, with the Royal Pippin having a champagne-like taste with a lasting hint of apple. I have purchased 2 cases to serve at parties and to give as gifts over the holidays.
I am planning my second year cider tasting, with my home brew and a variety of ciders. I'll be going to Hauser Estate Winery in Biglerville, PA, which says they have a Rome varietal cider, and to Albemarle Ciderworks near Charlottesville, VA again to try out their second vintage (pommage?). I am also looking forward to trying the new cider distillery in Maryland that opens in just over a week: http://www.ciderapples.com/.