Middlebury, VT — Vermont Hard Cider Company, LLC — maker of Woodchuck Hard Cider — is happy to announce that construction is underway on a state-of-the-art cidery in Middlebury, Vermont. The $30 million project is being built less than a mile from the current Middlebury facility.
The new cidery will provide 100,000 square feet of production, warehouse, and office space. A post and beam barn will also welcome visitors to Woodchuck, with a gift shop, tastings, and tours.
“This is a new chapter for Woodchuck,” said President and CEO Bret Williams. “Hard cider in the United States is growing in popularity and this new cidery represents a brick and mortar commitment to continue to grow the cider category from Vermont. It’s an exciting step forward at this crucial time in our history.”
The current 62,000 square foot cidery will remain online. When both are up and running Vermont Hard Cider’s capacity will more than double. The expanded production will add 15 to 20 local jobs as well.
This announcement is the culmination of four years of work. A variety of expansion options were developed and vetted during that time. Constructing a new facility was the best fit in the end.
“Vermont is our home and the soul of Woodchuck draws from local community,” Williams said. “We are laying our roots down. To finally have a shovel in the ground is a proud moment.”
Construction crews are currently doing site work on the 27 acre plot of land. The hope is to have the building enclosed by winter and the project should be complete by spring of 2014.
About Woodchuck® Hard Cider
Woodchuck Hard Cider is a hard cider handcrafted with apples. Woodchuck Amber was developed in a Proctorsville, Vermont garage in 1991. Its recipe and creator, Greg Failing, remain at the core of the product. Woodchuck Hard Cider now operates in a state-of-the-art cidery in Middlebury, Vermont, and its lineup of styles has grown to include a variety of seasonal and limited releases. Distribution, which started in a single Vermont country store, now stretches across all 50 states. The Woodchuck family is dedicated to providing exceptional quality and premium taste in every bottle. A naturally gluten-free beverage, Woodchuck Hard Cider lends itself well to food pairings and recipes. More information is available at www.woodchuck.com.