Virginia's Hard Ciders

Margaret Houston

Castle Hill Cider, Keswick, Virginia

In addition to stunning surroundings, Castle Hill offers four food-friendly ciders, including its flagship sparkling variety, Levity, which relies on a 7,000-year-old method of burying terra-cotta vessels underground during fermentation. www.castlehillcider.com

Margaret Houston

Albemarle Ciderworks, North Garden, Virginia

Heirloom apples are the focus at Albemarle Ciderworks, which is located smack in the middle of the Shelton family’s heritage-apple-growing Vintage Virginia orchard. Worth noting is the Royal Pippin cider, made from the area’s legendary (and historic) Albemarle Pippin apple. pegandawlbuilt.com

Margaret Houston

Bold Rock Hard Cider, Nellysford, Virginia

Native New Zealander and cider master Brian Shanks is internationally renowned for his craft. Now that he’s been wooed to Virginia, he’s putting out sweet, crisp local ciders, the area’s only ones available in beer bottles. boldrock.com

Margaret Houston

Potter's Craft Cider, Free Union, Virginia

Operating out of a renovated horse veterinary clinic they found on Craigslist, twentysomethings Daniel Potter and Tim Edmond are focused on a more egalitarian (and less expensive) approach to cider. Just released is their Oak Barrel Reserve, which is aged in brandy barrels. potterscraftcider.com

Margaret Houston

Old Hill Cider, Timberville, Virginia

An offshoot of family-run Showalter’s Orchard, Old Hill is one of the new kids on the block. Its first variety, Betwixt, is already sold out, but you can expect Yesteryear (a mix of pippin, winesap, and stayman apple varieties) and Cidermaker’s Barrel (aged in bourbon barrels) to arrive in spring 2013. oldhillcider.com