This Farm Cider is made from fruit grown in our high elevation, regenerative orchard at Oakley Farm, located in Bath County, Virginia.

Site
Oakley Farm - Warm Springs, Bath County Virginia 2400’ elevation
-High-density orchard on G11 rootstock planted in 2019 located in the ‘hay field’, site of the farm’s original 19th century orchard planted by the Francisco family.
-Soil composition: Hayter loam on top of Ordovician limestone.
-Practicing regenerative organic farming. Bio-intensive rotation of poultry and sheep, rotational cover crops within drip lines. No use of heavy metal sprays, no cultivation. Biannual biological mowing only.

Fruit
69% Piel de Sapa, 9% Redfield, 8% Dolgo, 7% Wickson, 7% Solarina

Vinification
The bulk of the fruit was harvested in late September with Dolgo being the exception, harvested on the 9th of August. The September fruit was ground and pressed directly to a neutral French oak barrel in the following weeks. The Dolgo crabs were cold macerated for several days prior to pressing in August. An uninoculated, native primary fermentation carried out over the fall and the barrel was topped up with a finished Dolgo cider. The barrel was left undisturbed for nine months before it was racked off its gross/fine lees in July of 2023 and bottled traditional method sparkling. Bottles were rested for five months prior to being hand disgorged in December of 2023. No additions of SO2 were made at any stage of this wine.

Notes
One of the most rewarding gambles we made in the orchard at Oakley has been the varietal Piel de Sapa (“Toad Skin”). Only having been released from the USDA germplasm repository a few years prior to us planting, we had limited knowledge of what this Austurian apple was like. After visiting the cider regions of Austurias and Basque Country on our honeymoon, we felt their coastal mountain climate was somewhat similar to ours at home and could yield some successful cross over in regards to apple varieties. Piel de Sapa grows like a weed (almost too well) and has beared early and heavily. The fruit is russeted and showcases fairly good pest resistance. As it related to cider, it offers great acid and gentle aromatics. Up front there is a surprising soft, savoriness. The purity of fruit begins to show with air, showcasing beautiful aromas of Peach-O gummies and Cara Cara orange in the pallet. The tight bubbles compliment the pillowy body, resulting a finessed finish.

22 cases produced. 8.5% Alc. by Volume, 750ml

Label artwork by Molly Reeder.

*Available for shipments in Virginia & Washington DC OR pick-up at Oakley Farm. Ship to other states here. Shipments may be delayed based on temperatures.