In the craft cider world, we simple humans like to pretend that we’re in charge. But alas, Mother Nature is the boss. And she can be mean.
We are preparing to say goodbye to Fanfare, our cider infused with wild mulberries foraged in and around Richmond. A late April freeze, coupled with record rainfall in May, caused many local mulberry trees to drop the entirety of their unripe fruit. The berries that toughed it out were picked off early by birds, meaning our mulberry harvest was essentially nil. It was a particularly bitter pill because we had significantly raised the profile and awareness of this cider over the past two years; we were even planning to collaborate with Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, home to two massive, beautiful mulberry trees.
No mulberries = no new vintage of Fanfare this year. But the silver lining? All of that cider set aside for Fanfare is now dedicated to new creations. We are thrilled to share the triumphant return of Rocky Ridge Reserve, an oaked cider that we first released in February 2014. Old-timers may remember Rocky Ridge Reserve as our first small batch release (roughly 350 bottles) and our first successful launch party. Okay, maybe “successful” depends on your perspective. “Overcrowded, understaffed whirlpool of insanity” may be more accurate. But we sure learned a lot!
Rocky Ridge Reserve will be released at our grand opening event in Scott’s Addition this fall, along with other new and rare ciders – and several top-secret collaborations, as well.
But first things first; we need a proper sendoff for both Fanfare and our original home in Manchester. Please join us to pay your respects at Fanfarewell on Saturday, August 27 from 12-7 p.m. We will find good homes for the final bottles, enjoy food from Camden’s Dogtown Market and music by The Concussion Theory. And with Mother Nature’s blessing, hopefully Fanfare will return in late 2017.
-Brian Ahnmark
