Albemarle CiderWorks
Cidery
in
North Garden,
Virginia,
United States 🇺🇸
Associated Venue: Albemarle Ciderworks
Established in 2009
Contact
2545 Rural Ridge Ln, North Garden, VA, 22959, United States
Description
Vintage Virginia Apples was founded in 2000 by the Shelton family. In our orchard, we grow a variety of tree fruits that are becoming increasingly rare. Many of these are older varieties that have fallen into obscurity or just do not fit the needs of today’s commercial marketing and distribution systems. Cast aside in the search for perfectly saleable, shippable and storable fruit are hundreds of heirloom and local varieties, a vibrant universe of texture, flavor and scent.
Our most ambitious project is Albemarle CiderWorks, which we opened in July 2009. The first year, we fermented and bottled three distinctive ciders which were very well received: Jupiter's Legacy and Ragged Mountain comprised our blended offerings, and Royal Pippin became our first single varietal. Since then, we have introduce other single varietals and blends including our first "Special Reserve," Virginia Hewe's Crab, a small batch that quickly sold out. We plan to continue finding inspiration from the 2500 varieties of apples found in the United States.
We currently offer tastings of our distinctive ciders at our Tasting Room in North Garden, VA. Plan to visit us! We look forward to welcoming you to Rural Ridge Orchard for a tasting, a workshop or one of our events. Click here for directions to our location.
Our most ambitious project is Albemarle CiderWorks, which we opened in July 2009. The first year, we fermented and bottled three distinctive ciders which were very well received: Jupiter's Legacy and Ragged Mountain comprised our blended offerings, and Royal Pippin became our first single varietal. Since then, we have introduce other single varietals and blends including our first "Special Reserve," Virginia Hewe's Crab, a small batch that quickly sold out. We plan to continue finding inspiration from the 2500 varieties of apples found in the United States.
We currently offer tastings of our distinctive ciders at our Tasting Room in North Garden, VA. Plan to visit us! We look forward to welcoming you to Rural Ridge Orchard for a tasting, a workshop or one of our events. Click here for directions to our location.
7.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 9
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8
Bottle sample at the source. Clear golden yellow color, still. Nice citrus and apple skin aroma. Taste is starts sweet, dry finish. Lots of apple flesh. Very tasty.
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Mar 2015
at 18:43
7.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottle. Crystal clear golden yellow color, white coca cola head that settles to champagne bubbles. Aroma of tart apple skins, subtle lemon. Taste is herbal, bright apple, slight tinge of medicine. Decent.
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 Jan 2015
at 18:31
7.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
750 mL bottle from Whole Foods Charlottesville, 10/4/14. Pours a pale yellow color with lots of evident carbonation. Aroma of green apple, tannins, earth and melon. The taste is tart, dry apples, pineapple, tannic finish. Medium bodied, spritzy, strong carbonation, crisp texture, bone dry.
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Nov 2014
at 18:59
3.6/10
—
Appearance 2
Aroma 3
Flavor 5
Texture 2
Overall 4.5
Rubber smell. Clear and virtually colorless. Tart apple. Fizzy. Not much of an attraction.
Tried
on 01 Nov 2014
at 20:13
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 4
Overall 6
Bottle. Very clear very pale yellow color, flat. Aroma of tart apple skins. Taste is tart apple. Decent.
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 Nov 2014
at 19:54
5.2/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 4
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Refrigerated 75 cl bottle, 8.5% abv, poured into a white wine glass. Pours clear extremely pale yellow (almost clear) with small white head which dissipates fairly quickly. Very light dry apple aroma (almost devoid of aroma), light body, light carbonation, and litttle lacing. Taste is vinous (white wine), lighter tart apple, and dryer finish. Might like this if you like dry ciders, alcohol is well covered, but regardless the aroma is really bland.
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 Jul 2014
at 17:46
6.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
750ml bottle pours a clear gold with green shimmers, zero head and some light carbonation. Nice nose, crisp fruit, apple, apple skin, honey, pears champagne. A little bit of funk in the flavor, lightly sweet, lightly tart, apple, some candle wax, straw, light lemon. Dry finish. Hides the alcohol well. Fairly nice overall.
Tried
from Bottle
on 31 Jan 2014
at 15:18
7/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
750 mL bottle from Beer Run. Pours a clear pale golden color. Aroma of tart apples with sweet floral notes, mild tannins, faint bits of vanilla. The taste is tart apples, vanilla, tart berries. Medium bodied, peppery booze, slightly hot.
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 Oct 2013
at 15:17
7/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 6
Bottle at maniac’s. Clear pale yellow color, champagne bubbles. Aroma of fresh crips apples and light spice. Taste starts with sweet fruit, drier finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 14 Sep 2013
at 19:03
7.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
750 mL bottle shared at the Baltimore Late Late Summer Gathering, 9/14/13. Pours a clear golden color with a thin ring of white head that lasts. Aroma of dry apples, mealy notes, vanilla. The taste is tart apples, earthy notes, vinous notes, mild earthiness. Medium bodied, lingering tartness.
Tried
from Bottle
on 14 Sep 2013
at 18:59