Grower Series: Blue Grass Valley 2024

Site
Hightown Orchard - Blue Grass Valley, Highland County, Virginia 3100’ elevation
Unsprayed 40-50 year old, MM111 semi-standard orchard designed by the late Tom Burford. Rich, sandy limestone soil. 

Fruit
100% Ashmead’s Kernel 

Vinification
Fruit was harvested October 1st and sweated at cellar temperatures for a week. Apples were pressed directly to a neutral, French oak 500L puncheon where upon an uninoculated, native fermentations carried into early December. The cider sat undisturbed until early July of 2025, where it was racked off its gross and fine lees and bottle traditional method sparkling. Bottles were rested for five months and left undisgorged upon their release. No additions of SO2 were made at any stage of this wine.

Notes
Ashmead’s Kernel tends towards biannualism, especially with minimum management, so it is only every other year we get the special opportunity to pick these apples at the Hightown orchard. This fruit holds a special place in our heart as it has Tom Burford’s thumb print on the orchard. Tom originally consulted on our first orchard planting in the last years of his wonderful life. High elevation limestone has so much to offer to a mature orchard with deep set roots, much of which you can experience in this cider. Grassy savoriness and flakey stone are present. Laser acid and tight bubbles provide a very cleansing aspect to this cider. Hallmark lemon meringue presents as the cider opens.

318 bottles produced, 9.06% Alc. by Volume, 750ml