Bushels of fun: Chip checks out Brightonwoods Orchard & ÆppelTreow Winery & Distillery



BURLINGTON -- Brightonwoods Orchard was established in 1950 as a weekend retreat. An initial hobby orchard grew from 3 acres to 15 acres, with over 200 varieties on 3,000 semi-dwarf trees. The emphasis is on preserving existing heirloom varieties, propagating experimental varieties from Cornell University's Geneva Fruit Testing Station, and growing standard and newer commercial varieties.


A collaborative venture, begun in 2001, is an onsite winery specializing in sparkling apple and pear wines, plus several table and dessert wines.


ÆppelTreow Winery & Distillery is a producer of small batch cider, perry and spirits. Cider and Perry?  They use the pre-Prohibition meaning of ‘cider’, so they’re talking about fermented or ‘hard’ cider. Perry is the pear analogue to cider.  Click here to learn more.