Petite Cider 2024

Site
50% - Foggy Ridge - Dugspur, Carroll County, Virginia 2720’ elevation
Nutrient poor, ferrous clay soils. Planted on MM111 rootstock in the late 1990s by Diane Flynt as the first commercial cider operation south of Massachusetts post prohibition.  
30% - Hidden Valley - Warm Springs, Bath County, Virginia 1800’ elevation
Planted by the forest service in the mid 1990s alongside the Warkwickton Manor spring house. Unsprayed.
20% - Countryside Farm & Nursery - Crimora, Augusta County,  Virginia 1260’ elevation
A high density, dwarfing Orchard planted in late 2010s in rich clay and limestone soils at the foot of the western Blue Ridge Mountains by Raul and Mary Godinez.

Fruit
100% Virginia Hewe’s Crab

Vinification
Fruit was harvested in late August and early September and individual lots were pressed separately and directly to individual barrels. Uninoculated, native fermentations carried over early Autumn, finishing mostly dry with moderate amounts of Sorbitol preserved. The cider sat undisturbed over the winter until it  was racked off its gross and fine lees in mid February of 2025, blended, and bottled still. The cider rested in bottle for 10 months before their release. No additions of SO2 were made at any stage of this wine.

Notes
After a severely limited Virginia Hewe’s Crabapple year in 2023, this vintage brings back a 100% VHC ‘pommage.’ Although we still suffered early frost at Oakley Farm, other sites around the state rebounded with stellar fruit. This vintage is heavily influenced by Foggy Ridge, offering a little more reduction in the nose and high elevation refinemen - maybe even a slight sense of austerity. There’s less tropical bitter orange and more mineral tension. As the cider opens up, orange marmalade shows and the cider softens a bit. Acid is pronounced and accompanies tense structure. This is a more serious rendition of Petite, and we are truly looking forward to seeing how it ages in bottle.

527 bottles produced, 9.35% Alc. by Volume, 750ml