Virginia Cider Week

Cider Worth Celebrating

Virginia Cider Week takes place November 11 - 20 and offers a chance to experience Virginia cideries and cider firsthand through festivals, tastings, pairing dinners, workshops and open houses at venues throughout the state. Find events below.

Cider Week Events

Friday, November 11

Cider Smackdown: Attack of the Crabapple at Albemarle Ciderworks

6-8pm | Virginia cideries go head-to-head in this annual competition to showcase our state's best ciders. This year’s theme: Crabapples. Join us for a night of tasting, tapas, and a chance to chat with cider enthusiasts across Virginia.

Heirloom Cider Tap Takeover at Sage Bird Ciderworks

Come taste 4 heirloom apples from our Age Old Apples Series. All week, while supplies last.

Potter’s Craft Cider Guest Tap at Kardinal Hall

11am-11pm | Celebrate VA Cider Week at Kardinal Hall with a Potter’s Craft Cider guest tap event! Taste 4 limited release ciders on draft and “Take the Tulip” logo glass when you’re done.

Saturday, November 12

Heirloom Apple Tasting at Albemarle Ciderworks

1-2pm | Join Charlotte Shelton on a journey through culinary history and the apples that made the cut. While you taste a variety of unique and heritage apples, Charlotte will treat you to the story of each fruit, its origin, development, and how each shines best on the table (and in the bottle).

Lake Anna Cider Festival at Coyote Hole Ciderworks

12-6pm | Celebrate the start of Cider Week with the inaugural Lake Anna Cider Festival. Enjoy ciders from all over Virginia, food trucks, craft vendors and more!

Sunday, November 13

Cider & Seafood at Castle Hill Cider

10am-4:30pm | Cider Maker tasting & short talk with Don Whitaker on the Art of Blending featuring Serendipity & Terrestrial releases. Fares include Lobster Rolls from Get Maine Lobster of Portland, ME, and Salty Bottom Blues Oysters.

Thursday, November 17

Albemarle Ciderworks Cider & Apple Tasting Class at Be Just Classroom

6-7:30pm | Join Charlotte Shelton on a journey through culinary history and the apples that made the cut. While you taste a variety of unique and heritage apples, Charlotte will treat you to the story of each fruit, its origin, development, and how each shines best on the table (and in the bottle).

Friday, November 18

Harrison Comparison at Sage Bird Ciderworks

7-9pm | Virginia cideries go head-to-head in this Virginia Cider Week competition to showcase our state’s best Harrison single varietal ciders. Join us for a night of tasting, charcuterie, and a chance to chat with cider enthusiasts across Virginia.

Hewe’s Crab Apple Cider Release at Buskey Cider

12-10pm | Announcing Buskey Cider’s 2022 Hewe’s Crab Apple Cider release. It will be dropping in 500ml bottles and on tap.

Saturday, November 19

Alexandria Cider Festival at Lloyd House

1-5pm | Enjoy a selection of ciders from 10 Virginia cideries. Ticket includes cider tastings, a souvenir glass, live music, and a little history too!

Cider & Sides at The Reserve Tasting Room at Bluemont Vineyard

6:30-8:30pm | Think Thanksgiving dinner, minus the turkey! This foodie-inspired 5-course dinner highlights all of your favorite holiday sides. Each will be paired with Henway Hard Cider.

Extraordinary Orchards

Cider is a centuries-old tradition in Virginia, first imported from England as a way to stay hydrated when safe water was scarce. From those humble beginnings, the industry has matured and today, approx. 50 cideries across the Commonwealth are crafting ciders of uncommon diversity and sophistication.

Virginia cider production is unique, with variation among each producer and each cider bottled. Cider makers highlight fresh and inventive flavors through infusions, blends and co-fermentations and carefully balanced tannins, acidity and sugar levels with each vintage. Seventh in U.S. apple production, Virginia cider makers are committed to bringing out the best in their apples.

Experience Virginia's Extraordinary Orchards Nov 11-20