428: Winchester Ciderworks: English Inspiration and Virginia Apples

428: Winchester Ciderworks: English Inspiration and Virginia Apples

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist October 9, 2024 Duration: 45:26

From Suffolk to Virginia: Stephen Schuurman's Cider Journey

In Episode 428 of Cider Chat, we meet Stephen Schuurman, owner and cider maker at Winchester Ciderworks in Winchester, Virginia. Originally from Suffolk, England, Stephen has brought his deep love of English cider to the northern portion of the Shenandoah Valley. What started as a passion project has grown into a successful business, blending English cider-making techniques with Virginia-grown apples.

Cider Chat Ep: 428 Stephen Winchester Ciderworks, VA

Ciders tasted in this Episode

At Winchester Ciderworks, the focus is on producing hard ciders that are not overly sweet nor dry ciders. Expect a wide range of cider offerings and the option for a tasting flight at the Ciderhouse or go directly to the flagship cider, Malice.

Malice is a classic, off-dry cider with a clean, crisp finish and just the right amount of residual sugar. Made with a blend of Virginia apples. At 6.5% ABV, it's sessionable and easy-drinking — perfect for enjoying with friends or pairing with a meal.

522, a cider infused with black currant. Named after the road where Winchester Ciderworks was originally located, this cider blends the tartness of black currants with the brightness of local Virginia apples. At 5.9% ABV

Cider Chat Ep: 427 Winchester Ciderworks 522

Support Cider Chat and Keep the Stories Flowing

If you're a fan of learning about the stories behind great cider makers like Stephen Schuurman, consider supporting Cider Chat. Your donations help keep the podcast on the air, allowing us to continue sharing stories from the world of cider. To help us continue to bring you these amazing episodes, hit the donate button at CiderChat.com.

Contact for Winchester Ciderworks and Ciderhouse

Mentions in this Cider Chat


There’s a whole world in a glass of cider, and Cider Chat is your invitation to explore it. Hosted by award-winning cidermaker and writer Ria Windcaller, this podcast travels far beyond the bottle to meet the people who make the global cider culture so vibrant. Each conversation is a journey-you might find yourself in a heritage orchard learning the history of forgotten apple varieties, in a bustling taproom with an importer explaining regional traditions, or in a kitchen with a chef pairing cider with unexpected foods. The discussions get into the delightful nuances, too, whether that’s the semantics of what we even call this drink or how the concept of terroir translates from soil to sip. It’s not just about production; it’s about the community, the travel, and the stories that fermentation unlocks. This is for anyone curious about the craft, history, and sheer enjoyment of fermented apple juice in all its forms. So, pour a glass and settle in for a series that feels like a wide-ranging, informative, and genuinely good-humored chat with friends who happen to be obsessed with cider. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for every effervescent, tart, or sweet sip, hearing directly from the growers, makers, and enthusiasts who are shaping this drink’s exciting present and future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Cider Chat
Podcast Episodes
450th Roger Wilkins - The Cider King [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:01
Looking back at Season 9 and Forward with Roger Wilkins In this season ending episode we visit Roger Wilkins at his Lands End Farm. Cider King – Roger Wilkins Roger Wilkins, is known globally as the "Cider King," and is…
449: Exploring Hereford's Museum of Cider with Elizabeth Pimblett [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:05
The Role of the Museum of Cider Elizabeth Pimblett's background and her journey to the museum The history of the museum, founded in 1887 by the Bulmer brothers The significance of the building and its historic cider cell…
448: Cider Institute: New Name, New Reach, and More Cider Education [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:31
The Cider Institute: Training the Next Generation of Cider Makers The Cider Institute, formerly known as the Cider Institute of North America (CINA), is the premier resource for cider education. Founded in 2016 at CiderC…
446: Monica Cohen, the New CEO of the American Cider Association [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:58
Monica Cohen on Leading the ACA Monica Cohen, the new CEO of the American Cider Association (ACA), stepped into her role at CiderCon 2025 in Chicago. With a background in dairy marketing and a passion for helping craft i…
445: Unspoken Creed | Stories in Ciderville /Denmark [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:06
An Unspoken Creed By Sune Kroghansen Enjoy this special Story in Ciderville from Denmark! "Roedding The restart of the cider adventure in Rødding. In the mid-00s, the villagers of Rødding had begun making cider. It faded…
444: Worleys and Honey's: Somerset Cider Makers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:07
A sit down Cider Chat with the makers behind Worleys and Honey's Cider! Neil Worley was last on this podcast back in 2016 on episode 26! He and Ria met up at CiderCon which was being held that year in Portland Oregon. Ne…
442: Bob Cork: 40 Years in Cider | Shepton Mallet, England [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:03
Bob Cork's Cider Career Bob Cork Bob Cork has 40 years of experience in cider making, starting in 1980. Initially an apprentice engineer, he transitioned to cider making, thanks to his engineering background. He now work…
441: Wilding Cider and the Rural Method | Somerset, UK [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:21
Wilding Cider, founded by Sam and Beccy Leach in 2019, uses Regenerative farming practices and a "rural method" to cider making. Based in Somerset the culinary skills of Sam blend with Beccy's Sommelier palate. Their ded…