Fall is one of the best times to enjoy a trip to the cidery, and luckily for us there are more and more popping up around Northern Virginia these days. Autumn in Virginia is perfect for sipping some refreshing cider on warmer afternoons. Here are five great options for some flavorful ciders in Virginia.
Lost Boy Cider
Owner Tristan Wright was inspired to open his cidery after a health scare. Wright began a “brief love affair” with cider while on a trip to Ireland a dozen years ago. Back home in the U.S., he reverted back to drinking whiskey and beer before he was diagnosed with serious soy and gluten allergies. After that, his road to becoming a cider maker was born. Don’t miss October’s seasonal Grape Expectations, a cider made with red and white grapes. 317 Hoofs Run Dr., Alexandria
Winchester Ciderworks
Winchester Ciderworks all started with local bluegrass concert in 2011. An Englishman (Stephen Schuurman) homesick for good cider met a local orchardist (Diane Kearns) of German descent and as they say, the rest is history! Winchester Ciderworks is unique in that it combines the old-world tradition with more modern know-how from the apple-heavy Shenandoah Valley. Four generations of orchardists have cared for the soil and trees where the apples for Winchester Ciderworks’ delicious ciders are grown. 2504 N. Frederick Pike, Winchester
Wild Hare Hard Cider Pubs
A small, locally owned cidery with fruit directly from an orchard in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, Wild Hare is a place that truly makes you feel at home. Heritage apples are pressed and juice is cool-fermented to dry and age for over a year. Ciders are authentic and simple like Hatch, Wild Hare’s flagship Heritage Dry cider. Many refer to it as apple “champagne,” as it’s a classic dry cider with hints of citrus and stone fruit, a crisp tart body with a clean finish. Pair it with various cheeses like goat, Manchego, and fontina. Fredericksburg, Leesburg, Middleburg, Warrenton
Cobbler Mountain Ciders
Laura McCarthy Louden’s father bought Cobbler Mountain in 1959 back when it was just a mountain, with the dream of one day making it a family farm. Almost 50 years later, Laura and her husband visited the land realizing they shared the same dream. They wanted to raise their family there but additionally, they knew it was a great place to launch Jeff’s interest in cidermaking.
Cobbler Mountain Cidery opened out of the family’s basement just over a decade ago. They at first made wines as well but by 2015, their growing popularity allowed them to focus on ciders only. Visit the shop for their traditionally fermented, small-batch ciders, hard lemonade, and sangrias, and a selection of hard seltzers. The cidery is opened weekends from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and by appointment only on weekdays. 5909 Long Fall Ln., Delaplane
Corcoran Vineyards & Cider
This family-owned winery and cidery in Loudoun County makes you feel like family. No reservations are required for groups under 10 people and Sundays from noon-3 p.m. are “Yappy Hours” for dogs — bring along your furry friends and they get a treat and humans get a discount, too. Corcoran’s ciders are carbonated and crisp, making it the perfect refreshment for warm fall afternoons. You can really taste the perfection of the apples chosen for its ciders, as they are chosen for tannis, sugar, and acid, creating the best of each variety for a sophisticated taste. 14635 Corkys Farm Ln., Waterford
Feature image courtesy Lost Boy Cider
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