Western NC cidery among 12 best in country, according to travel site

From apple picking to enjoying apple-filled desserts, the fruit really shines as the weather gets colder. Apple cider — both the non-alcoholic and the alcoholic types — also takes the spotlight.

For hard cider lovers, travel site Fodor’s recently published its list of the best cideries in the country. Among them is Appalachian Ridge Artisan Cidery, located in Hendersonville in the mountains of western North Carolina.

“Come for the views and live music, stay for the cider,” Fodor’s list says. “Utilizing a ‘cider as wine’ approach, this beloved mountainside property allows its beverage’s flavors to layer and develop over time by incorporating fermentation techniques from Normandy, France. This means guests sip on something that’s not only sweet and delicious on a crisp autumn day, but also a piece of tradition and history that’s been passed down for generations.”

The options offered by the cidery are also inclusive to discerning diets. According to Appalachian Ridge’s website, their hard ciders are all gluten free and vegan, with most being either no carb or low carb. They pride themselves on marrying this with tried-and-true techniques, creating drinks that “combine tradition and innovation” that can be sipped in an idyllic mountain setting.

“Enjoy a sparkling tasting or glass of cider on the deck overlooking the orchard or inside our antique barn,” Appalachian Ridge says on their website. “After two years of renovating and preserving an apple barn from the 1920s, it is now the perfect home for our carefully crafted hard ciders and spirits.”

Appalachian Ridge Artisan Cidery is owned by Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards and is located at 749 Chestnut Gap Road in Hendersonville. The cidery is open four days a week: From noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays and Thursdays and from noon to 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Fodor’s 12 Best Cideries in the U.S.