Albemarle CiderWorks has taken home top awards at CiderWorld, the prestigious international cider competition held annually in Frankfurt, Germany. All three ciders submitted by the Virginia-based cidery earned gold medals, with their standout cider, Brut d’Albemarle: Orchard Blush, taking first place in the Sparkling Cider category.
This year’s CiderWorld competition took place on April 25th and featured entries from over 15 countries, with ciders judged on a rigorous 120-point scale. To earn a gold medal, entries must score between 109 and 120 points, placing them among the best in the world. The Brut d’Albemarle: Orchard Blush was awarded 119 points, and was top in its category. Crab Medley and Brut d’Albemarle: Harrison were also awarded gold medals.
Brut d’Albemarle: Orchard Blush, is a sparkling rosé cider crafted from rare, red-fleshed crab apples grown on-site at Albemarle CiderWorks. The apples — which have a naturally pink interior — lend the cider its striking coral hue and distinctive character. The cidery grows over 250 vintage apple varieties, including the Bruguiere’s Red-flesh, Dolgo Crabapple, Geneva Crabapple and Redfield, which are all featured in the award-winning blend.
“This is our fourth vintage of Orchard Blush,” said Associate Cidermaker David Timmerman. “We blended our Orchard Blush base with GoldRush and Arkansas Black cider to get the right balance of color and flavor. Then we went big — using traditional bottle fermentation to create a sparkling champagne-style rosé cider. This is one of my favorite ciders to make, and I’m proud of how well it was received at CiderWorld in Frankfurt!”
“We are beyond grateful,” added Cidermaker Chuck Shelton. Chuck began making cider in a barn as a hobby in 1996, which evolved into a commercial operation in 2008—though no longer in a barn. Albemarle CiderWorks now focuses on small-batch, heirloom apple ciders. The award-winning Orchard Blush was produced in a limited 1,100-liter batch, reflecting the cidery’s philosophy of quality through craftsmanship and experimentation.
Albemarle CiderWorks continues to push the boundaries of American cider-making, combining traditional methods with heirloom fruit and innovative techniques. The CiderWorld recognition highlights the cidery’s commitment to quality, craft, and celebrating the unique terroir of Virginia.
Charlotte Shelton (Owner of Albemarle CiderWorks and Sister to Chuck) says, “We started planting apples as a hobby. We were interested in collecting apples for flavor and knew that many of the older, heirloom varieties that had been disappearing over the last century were grown for cider production, which until the mid-nineteenth century was what most Americans drank. Founding Albemarle CiderWorks grew out of our horticultural and farming background and interest in sharing something special and rare”
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