This series focuses on expression of single orchard ciders.

Fruit
A mix of apple and pear trees. Those identified include Virginia Winesap, Grimes Golden, Russets, Northern Spy, and Kieffer Pear.

Orchard Site
The late Victor Gaines’ home orchard - Bolar, Virginia, 2200’. Mature, vertically sprawling trees planted ~40 years ago. Located at the top of the Colelaw Stretch along the upper Jackson River, this is onne of our favorite sites to pick. The trees are not maintained nor sprayed yet yield substantial annual fruit. This “yard blend” year to year creates an incredibly distinctive profile.

Vinification
This single orchard blend is comprised of several “shake and sweeps” in early and late October. Each lot of fruit was sweated for several weeks and directly pressed to neutral French oak barrels. After uninoculated, native primary fermentations the barrels were topped up with Kieffer Perry and sat undisturbed for nine months. The cider was racked off its gross/fine lees in early August of 2022, bottled sparkling via traditional method undisgorged, and rested for an additional five months in bottle before releasing. No additions of SO2 were made at any stage of the cider.

Notes
After taking a year off from harvesting in 2020, we were able to make up the slack with what amounted to our largest Victor Gaines harvest to date. New owners of the property kindly allowed us to keep harvesting and we doubled down on our efforts to make a substantial harvest. Making multiple light shakes and sweeps of varying trees through out October provided us larger quantities of fruit and subtle differences between barrels; earlier fruit showcased less intensity but coveted acid and nimbleness. The later barrel of the two yielded more concentration and the hallmark aroma that we associate with this site. A larger than year’s past addition of Kieffer influences all aspects of this cider including its texture and body. 

72 Cases Produced, Alc. 7.44% by Volume, 500ml

*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.