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Orchard Wassail
Wassail – (\ˈwä-səl) from the Anglo-Saxon greeting Wæs þu hæl, meaning “be in good health.” A traditional English cider making ceremony and celebration of the cider orchard.
Join us in the orchard for an evening of merriment, including a bonfire, blessing of the apple trees, live music from Mark Clay, and food.
Roaming Bistro food truck will be there with options for dinner. Cider will also be sold outside at the bonfire.
The event is open to all, no tickets required.
VA Cider Week: Bonfire in the Orchard
We will be kicking off Virginia Cider Week with a bonfire in our orchard. Hang out with friends, or snuggle up to someone special under the stars.
Live music and food trucks will round out this special evening.
Bonfire Night
Back by popular demand (and cooler weather), our bonfires are a great way to enjoy a cider and the beautiful night sky. Another great excuse to snuggle up next to someone special.
Hope to see you there!
VA Cider Week: Cider Making Workshop
Craft your own hard cider under the tutelage of Winchester Ciderworks’ cidermeister, Stephen Schuurman!
During the workshop you will go through small batch processing. Participants will learn about pressing, commercial yeasts, natural fermentations, and additions to cider for added flavors.
Participants will take home two gallons of their own creations to ferment at home. One gallon with a commercial yeast added, and a second gallon to ferment naturally.
Tickets are limited and priced to sell, get yours today!
$60/participant
Cider Celebration at Winchester Ciderworks
Come celebrate the harvest at Winchester Ciderworks.
There will be ongoing orchard and cidery tours throughout the day, live entertainment, food, yard games, and of course, cider!
A cider making workshop will start at 11AM, tickets required. For more information, visit the Cidermaking Workshop page.
Apple Blossom Festival: Cider Tasting and Orchard Tours
New experience in 2024!
The Cider Tasting and Orchard Tours event offers a new experience this year. Enjoy hard cider tastings from the regions top cider makers on the beautiful campus of Our Health in Old Town Winchester then take a shuttle trip to the Glaize Apple facilities where guests will learn about four generations of growing apples in the Shenandoah Valley. Established in 1937, Glaize Apple has added to the history of premium fruit harvests between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. Glaize Apples of Winchester is optimally located to distribute fresh fruit on routes local, regional, and beyond. Shuttle tours of the orchards and facilities will follow an hour of hard cider tastings for each session beginning at at 11 am with the last session beginning at 3:30 pm. A limit of 48 tickets are available per session.
During the orchard tour, guides will dispense a wealth of information on the planting, growing, and year-round caring of fruit trees (primarily apple). The seasons of a tree are weather dependent and vary year to year, but there is a good chance the orchard will be covered with blossoms and the pollinator bees will be humming! On the tour, you will learn what it takes to go from blossom to apple to hard cider, all while sipping a hard cider yourself!
Delicious food options will be available for purchase from various vendors on site.
The Cider Tasting & Orchard Tours is an outdoor event, please wear appropriate footwear.
No refunds. Don’t Drink and Drive. Rain or shine event.
TICKET PRICE
$25 Tasting and Tour Ticket
WHEN
Saturday, April 20
Tasting times followed by bus tour:
11:00 am
12:00 pm
2:00 pm
3:30 pm