Sixteen North Carolina cideries unite to create the first ever NC cider trail at CiderNC.com (https://cidernc.com/) to capitalize on the growing resurgence of hard cider. The website features an interactive map which allows visitors to type in their location and see which cideries are nearby. The digital platform also allows guests to find information about each spot, including offerings like food, pet friendliess, tours, and live music.
“We’ve all been so focused on our craft and serving customers that we never took the time to pull it all together until now,” says Lyndon Smith, President of the North Carolina Cider Association and owner of Botanist & Barrel. “It’s remarkable how many cideries there are across the state and how distinct each cidery is — so this endeavor is long overdue,” Smith adds. “We’ve seen several new cideries open in the last few years but we feel the renaissance is just beginning,” says John Clowney, CEO of Bull City Ciderworks.
North Carolina is the 7th largest apple growing state in the United States. Participating cideries in the trail aim to showcase the incredible diversity of cider as a beverage. Some producers are terroir-driven and use native yeasts while others are fruit-driven and may add other fruits to compliment the apples. Many also focus on the clean, bright, classic apple ciders that are familiar to consumers.
While cider currently makes up 1% of alcoholic beverage sales in the U.S., this percentage is rapidly rising. “I think we will continue to see huge increases in the coming years and decades,” says Rick Benfield, of GoodRoad Ciderworks. “In the United Kingdom, cider sales are 15% percent of beverage sales — and this is our future goal in the U.S.,” Benfield adds.
The growing popularity of hard cider can be attributed to both traditional and experimental producers. “We are seeing producers create both serious and playful ciders with the bounty of locally-grown apples,” says Josie Mielke of Urban Orchard Cider Co. While cider is made like wine, some attribute its revival to its more beer-like experimentations that have become increasingly common in the market. “People love trying new things that have some familiarity in a category,” says Amie Fields — North Carolina’s first certified Pommelier. “You’ll see many beer drinkers seeking fruited ciders, hopped ciders, sour ciders, and barrel-aged ciders,” she adds, noting cider’s appeal to both wine and beer drinkers alike.
The goal of the NC Cider Trail is to educate consumers about North Carolina’s cideries and showcase the diverse range of different ciders within the state via an interactive website. “We are excited to revive one of the state’s most prized beverages in a whole new light,” says Smith.
The sixteen participating cideries are:
● Appalachian Ride Artisan Cidery in Hendersonville
● Barn Door Ciderworks in Fletcher
● Black Mountain Ciderworks in Black Mountain
● Bold Rock Cider in Mills River
● Botanist & Barrel in Asheville/Cedar Grove
● Bull City Ciderworks in Durham/Greensboro/Lexington/Cary
● Chatham Cider in Pittsboro
● Flat Rock Cider in Flat RockJames Creek Ciderhouse in Cameron
● GoodRoad CiderWorks in Charlotte
● McRichie Ciderworks in Thurmond
● Molly Chomper Cider
● Noble Cider in Asheville
● St. Paul Mountain Vineyards in Hendersonville
● Red Clay Ciderworks in Charlotte
● Urban Orchard Cider Company in Asheville
For more information, visit https://cidernc.com. The new site was created by the North Carolina Cider Association.
