The Commonwealth celebrates Cider Week.
Photo courtesy of Nicole Lang
Photo courtesy of Nicole Lang
The tasting room at Blue Bee Cider.
Photo by Brandon Hambright
Since 2012, cider makers (and lovers) across the Commonwealth have been celebrating what has lately been called the “hard cider revival” sweeping the South. Virginia is the first state to have an official cider week, and it’s no wonder: we currently have 18 cideries operating around the state, which makes for some good sipping.
Cider Week kicks off Nov. 11 and ends Nov. 20, and features tastings, workshops and …more tastings.
For a complete list of all the cider goings-on, visit CiderWeekVA.com
Competitions
North Garden Albemarle Ciderworks in North Garden is offering a special “Virginia vs. the Midwest” blind tasting where participants can compare ciders from Virginia, Michigan and Wisconsin. Tickets are $15. Nov. 19. AlbemarleCiderworks.com Roanoke Foggy Ridge Cider is hosting a city-wide contest in Roanoke to see which restaurants and bars can make the best cider cocktail using its brands. Participating in the show-down are Local Roots, River and Rail, Fortunato, Blue Apron and Lucky. Whichever location sells the most cider cocktails, wins. Nov. 11-20. FoggyRidgeCider.com
Pairings
Harrisonburg Shenandoah Valley Organic (SVO) in Harrisonburg is partnering with Bella Luna Wood-Fired Pizza, Old Hill Cider (of Timberville), and Project Grows (of Verona) to host a cider-week version of their collaborative dinner event, The Valley Dish. Nov. 17. SVOrganic.com, BellaLunaWoodFired.com, OldHillCider.com, ProjectGrows.org Richmond Comfort in Richmond will be offering a chef’s menu each day, pairing three different ciders from Potter’s Craft Cider in Earlysville with three different varieties of Virginia country ham hand selected by chef Jason Alley. Nov. 11-20. ComfortRestaurant.com, PottersCraftCider.com Wytheville Chef Travis Milton will host a dinner at Graze on Main in Wytheville, featuring selections from Foggy Ridge Cider in Dugspur paired with Southern comfort-food classics. Nov. 11. BollingWilsonHotel.com
Takeovers
Charlottesville FIREFLY in Charlottesville hosts a regular cider tap takeover on the last Wednesday of each month starting at 5 p.m. For Cider Week they’ll be offering selections from Castle Hill Cider (Keswick), Potter’s Craft Cider (Earlysville), Blue Toad (Afton) and Albemarle Ciderworks (North Garden). Nov. 16. FireflyCville.com Richmond District 5 in Richmond is replacing their beer with cider selections from around the Commonwealth. Bar-goers will have the chance to try multiple ciders on tap from Potter’s Craft Cider (Earlysville), Buskey Cider (Richmond) and Bold Rock (Nellysford). Nov. 16. District5RVA.com
Tastings
Alexandria The Lyceum at Alexandria’s History Museum is hosting a special Virginia cider tasting and meet and greet with Virginia cidermakers. Adding to the entertainment will be a live performance by Cigar Box Band. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served. A souvenir glass is included in the ticket price. $50. Nov. 19. HistoricAlexandria.org Norfolk The Birch in Norfolk has hand-selected some of the best ciders Virginia has to offer and will be highlighting them on draft and in bottles! Nov. 18. TheBirchBar.com
Workshops
Dugspur Sammy Malavarca, from Stem Cidery in Colorado, will teach a basic workshop on cidermaking from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m at Foggy Ridge Cider in Dugspur. $25. Space is limited. Nov. 20. FoggyRidgeCider.com Richmond Blue Bee Cider is hosting a home cidermaking workshop from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. $30. Includes class and homebrew supplies. BlueBeeCider.com Timberville Shannon Showalter, cidermaker at Old Hill Cider in Timberville, will host his cidermaking workshop from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Registration starts at $35 and includes takeaway cider. Nov. 12. OldHillCider.com
