The first stop on any wine or cider trail often sets the tone for the rest of the day. Lucky for us, our first stop on our Virginia vacation was at Coyote Hole Ciderworks. After four plus hours in the car, we were both thirsty and famished when we arrived and Coyote Hole more than rose to the occasion. First of all, the food – pulled pork macaroni and cheese and the southwestern chicken wrap - was fresh, warm, and delicious. As for the hard ciders, Coyote Hole's selection was both substantial and creative, offering something for everyone. Beer drinkers will relish the dry-hopped HPA. If Margaritas are more your style, they got you covered with Ciderita. If Sangria's your go to beverage then you’re really in luck – Coyote Hole offers three different flavors of Sangria cider. Heck, they even have hard ciders infused with coffee, chai tea, and birthday cake!
My top three favorite ciders were the Sixteen-thirty, a semi-sweet blend of apples and pears, the Oma Smith’s, their flagship semi-sweet cider made from granny smith apples, and the Slopeside, a Fruitopia of apples, pears and blackberries. While we could have easily spent the entire afternoon at Coyote Hill kicking back to live music in their outdoor picnic area, the road was calling. We reluctantly bid adieu to this friendly, fun cidery but only with the promise that we will indeed be back!