Cider page 5

 Cider page 5 by ric gustafson

In 1642, the first governor of Virginia William Berkeley cultivated fruit trees at his estate. Thomas Jefferson and others grafted Virginia crab apples and Newtown Pippin apples and made cider from them. The first cider in the Southeast part of the US was plantation cider. Cider was made using leftover seedling apples. Farmers used half sweet and half sour apples. The recipe was simple. In the Southeast, cidermaking took place on individual farms. It was mostly women producing it. 

Throughout the 1700's, nurseries and commercial orchards began to appear. As a result, unique southern apples began to appear. Southern cider is marked by hot summers which translated to fruit high in sugar and cider. With an ABV more than 8 percent, cider exhibited sweet citrus and tropical flavors. This included lemon, guava and pineapple.

Today, Virginia cider producers include Albemarle Ciderworks and Castle Hill. In Western Virginia, the Black Twig and Arkansas Black apples are popular. In short, the cider of the Southeast US is different apple cultures that have evolved over time.

research help: ' American Cider' by Dan Pucci and Craig Cavallo

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric