Woodchuck Cuts Ribbon at New Cidery

06 Aug 2014 --- Woodchuck Hard Cider, a leading purveyor of handcrafted hard apple cider in the U.S., is thrilled to announce the official opening of its new cidery in Middlebury, Vermont.

Late this morning, Woodchuck held a formal ribbon cutting ceremony at the site of its new state-of-the-art cidery. The $34 million cidery, which has been under construction for the last 15 months, represents Woodchuck’s commitment to Vermont and keeping the state at the forefront of the rapidly growing national hard cider movement.

Woodchuck first introduced the U.S. to craft cider from a two-car garage in Proctorsville, Vermont. Twenty-three years later, hard cider has caught on, and Woodchuck continues its leadership role in the craft cider industry.

“Through the years Woodchuck has had a couple different houses, but Vermont has always been our home,” said Woodchuck CEO, Dan Rowell. “We consider this cidery a $34 million investment in ensuring Vermont remains at the forefront of cider movement in the United States, because we ‘give a ‘chuck’ about craft cider, our people, our partners, and our community.”

The new cidery is unlike any other in the U.S. and encompasses several traditional Vermont architectural elements, while implementing the best and most efficient new machinery and equipment. The cidery is 100,000 square feet and houses 23 cider tanks and a brand new bottling line. In addition, a timber frame visitor center, gift shop and tasting center welcomes fans to Middlebury. The cidery allows the brand to grow while remaining rooted in Vermont and brings a boost to the local economy.

“The story of Woodchuck is representative of Vermont’s ethos, of a place known for craft and quality, “ said Vermont’s U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy. “From the early days in Proctorsville, to the move to Springfield and the remarkable growth and the innovation in Middlebury, it’s clear that a commitment to putting out a quality beverage has been at the center of Woodchuck’s vision throughout.”

Other speakers and key Woodchuck partners who attended the event include Lisa Gosselin, Commissioner, Vermont Department of Economic Development; Morgan Hood, Efficiency Vermont; Bill Suhr, Champlain Orchards; Kathleen Ramsay, Middlebury Town Manager; Andy Mayer, Addison County Chamber of Commerce; Ben Wilson, Better Middlebury Partnership; and Design Group, General Contractor for cidery construction.