Explore Virginia’s Orchards and Cideries This Fall
Nothing says autumn like sinking your teeth into a crisp apple, and some of the very best in the country come from Virginia soil. From U-pick orchards to cider festivals, there’s no better time of year (and no better place) to celebrate this fall fruit.
Healthy for Centuries
Apple orchards have been part of the Virginia landscape since the earliest colonial days. Settlers imported European apple varieties and leaned on naturally fermenting hard cider as a safer alternative to often-polluted well water. That cider also happened to encourage a pleasantly relaxed mindset, which surely didn’t hurt its popularity.
Founding Father trivia: John Adams drank a tankard of hard cider daily. George Washington’s first political campaign famously fueled voters with nearly 150 gallons of hard cider and other “motivating beverages.” And Thomas Jefferson crafted impressive batches from the orchards at Monticello.
Today, you can explore Virginia’s orchard heritage by visiting Monticello—or by following Jefferson’s advice and tasting heirloom apples like the Albemarle Pippin, still grown here.
The Virginia Apple Industry Today
What began with small colonial orchards has blossomed into a $235-million-per-year industry. Virginia’s more than 100 commercial growers harvest between five and six million bushels annually, with the season peaking from September through early November.
The Shenandoah Valley remains the heart of apple production, but you’ll also find thriving orchards in the Roanoke Valley, Albemarle, Rappahannock, Patrick, and Carroll counties. Foggy Ridge Cider, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is one shining example. With three orchards and apples ranging from Ribston Pippin to Graniwinkle, their award-winning ciders change subtly with each harvest—so every year brings something new.
Touring Virginia’s Apple Country
Fall in Virginia practically begs for an orchard visit. At Carter Mountain Orchard near Monticello or Marker-Miller Orchards near Winchester, you can spend the day picking apples. Carter Mountain even offers a Thursday Evening Sunset Series from mid-May through September, complete with dinner, live music, and hard cider under the stars. Be sure to stop by their Country Store for apple butter, fruit jams, or a slice of their famous apple pie.
For apple treats beyond the orchard, White House Foods in the Shenandoah Valley has been a staple since 1908, producing applesauce, cider vinegar, juice, and apple butter from their extensive orchards.
The Cider Comeback
Hard cider, once overshadowed by beer and devastated by Prohibition, is experiencing a true revival. Virginia is at the center of it, with standout cideries like Bold Rock and Castle Hill in the Appalachian countryside, or Blue Bee Cider in downtown Richmond.
Here are a few apple themed events coming up in Virginia:
Apples & Ales at Agecroft Hall (Richmond)- Thursday, September 25th 5PM – 7:30 PM
Apple Butter Makin’ Festival (Tyro)- October 4 & October 18
54th Annual Amherst Apple Harvest Festival (Amherst)- October 18 & 19, 11 AM – 4 PM
