Photo courtesy of Virginia Wine
Celebrate Virginia Cider Week with a special tasting event at Lloyd House in Old Town Alexandria on Nov. 22.
Celebrate Virginia Cider Week Saturday, Nov. 22, with a special tasting event on the grounds of historic Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington St., in Old Town Alexandria. Event ticket includes cider tastings, a souvenir glass, live music, tavern games, access to a food truck and a little history too!
Constructed around 1796-1797, The Lloyd House is one of the best examples of Alexandria’s late eighteenth-century Georgian style, and one of five buildings of the Georgian style remaining in the city. Lloyd House is particularly important to the streetscape of Washington Street, part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
Tickets are $55 and $25 for designated drivers. Online sales end at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21. After that, tickets can be purchased at the door for $65.
Dress for the weather - the event is outdoors! The festival will take place Saturday, Nov. 22, from 1 to 5 p.m. Proceeds from the Cider Festival will benefit the Historic Alexandria Museums.
Lloyd House now houses the administrative offices of the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA). OHA is responsible for the stewardship and promotion of the historic City through the preservation of the City's historic and archaeological sites, artifacts and records, and for the use of these resources in accordance with professional standards of scholarship and museum procedures.
Virginia Cider Week started in 2012 when the Virginia House of Delegates and the state Senate passed House Joint Resolution 105 to designate the full week before Thanksgiving as Cider Week in Virginia.
Since then, cideries across the Commonwealth have celebrated Virginia Cider Week through festivals, tastings, pairing dinners, workshops, and open houses at venues throughout the state. Virginia Cider Week is a great time to celebrate the growth and variety of the Virginia cider industry.
Virginia cider is the state's original craft beverage, with a history dating back over 400 years, and has seen a recent renaissance with a thriving industry of over 20 cideries.
Modern Virginia ciders are diverse, ranging from dry to sweet and still to sparkling, and are made using a variety of apples, including traditional cider apples and modern varieties. Cider makers use innovative techniques like infusions and blending to create a wide range of styles.
Here's a little more information about cider and its history in the Commonwealth:
History
- Cider was a staple drink in colonial Virginia, brought by English settlers who were required to plant orchards.
- It was consumed by people of all social classes and was a favorite of prominent figures like Thomas Jefferson.
- After a decline, the cider industry has experienced a revival, with a new generation of makers reintroducing the beverage.
Modern cider production
- Virginia has a vibrant and diverse cider scene, with many new cideries.
- Cideries use a variety of apples, such as traditional cider varieties (sweets, sharps, bittersweets, bitter sharps) and modern apples, to create different flavor profiles.
- Techniques include blending different apple types, co-fermentation, and infusions to balance sugar, acidity, and tannins.
Styles and characteristics
- Sweetness: Ciders can be dry (low sugar) or sweet.
- Carbonation: Both still (non-sparkling) and sparkling ciders are produced.
- Complexity: Styles range from simple to complex, depending on the apples and production methods.
- Flavors: Some ciders are aged in barrels for unique flavors, while others are blended with ingredients like spices, fruits, or hops.
