Virginia Cider - by Gregory J Hansard (Paperback)

About the Book

"With fifty cideries in the commonwealth at the time of publication, the cider industry in Virginia is not nearly as developed as those producing wine and beer-yet the beverage has been made in the Old Dominion at least as long-that is, since the late seventeenth or early eighteenth century. Apple orchards were a staple of plantation life, and cider was made and consumed by almost everyone-men, women, and children of all socioeconomic orders, both Black and white. By the mid-nineteenth century cider was slowly being eclipsed in popularity, and it reached its nadir around the time of Prohibition. Recent decades, however, have seen its rebirth, and today cider-making is a small but thriving craft-beverage industry, and it continues to gain fans as more cideries spring up anywhere a few apple trees are gathered together. This concise volume charts the history of cider-making in Virginia and provides an in-depth guide to cideries throughout the state, with digressions covering everything from home cider-making to the storied Taliaferro apple and Laird's distillery"--

Book Synopsis

Your guide to the remarkable history, and ongoing popularity, of cider in the Commonwealth

A cultural phenomenon with surprisingly deep roots, cider has been one of Virginia's favorite beverages for more than four hundred years, representing a time-honored ingredient of the cultural heritage that the first English settlers brought with them to America. Since the seventeenth century, apple orchards have been a fixture of the farming landscape, and cider was made and consumed by almost everyone--men, women, and children of all socioeconomic orders throughout the state's history. Recent decades have witnessed a renaissance of cider culture and cultivation, and today cider-making is a thriving craft-beverage industry, gaining ever-greater numbers of enthusiasts and connoisseurs as more and more cideries spring up every year.

An essential title for the Virginian bookshelf, and for all readers interested in American cider:
- The definitive history of making and drinking cider in Virginia
- An in-depth guide profiling the cideries throughout the state, from Bold Rock to Big Fish, with "Try This" suggestions for each location, and a comprehensive map to help plan excursions
- Brief descriptions of the varieties of apples preferred by Virginia's cider makers
- In-depth overviews of everything from Home Cider Making to Laird & Company to Wassail

Review Quotes

Hansard slices through the history and the craft. [His book] explores cider's background in Virginia and dives into contemporary commonwealth cideries. . . Whether to look at Virginia history from a new perspective or make the most of exploring commonwealth cideries, Virginia Cider shows the way.--BOOMER

About the Author

Gregory J. Hansard teaches history and museum studies at Brightpoint Community College.