179: Southern Apples | James Creek Cider House, NC

The Tasty Southern Ciders of James Creek Cider House

A cider dinner recording from CiderCon2019 in Chicago with Ann Marie and David Thornton of James Creek Cider House in Cameron, North Carolina.

The main featured chat begins at 17 minutes into this chat.

Before this main feature hear an email from a Russian cidermaker, helping us learn a bit more about the cider culture in this region of the world. Maxim contacted me when he became a patron of Cider Chat via the Cider Chat Patreon page.

The Journey to James Creek Cider House

Ann Marie and David Thornton moved to North Carolina in 2002.

What got the Thorntons into cider? Ann Marie says, “It was the apples. And reading about Lee Calhoun” Then it turned out the Lee lived about 30 minutes from the Thorntons!

They began planting apples trees in 2009, putting in 60 classic southern apple varieties.

At CiderCon2019 David was elected onto the board for the United States Association of Cider Makers (USACM), now known as American Cider Association

Anne Marie & David Thornton

The Thorntons have an experimental orchard is based at their home site, and as of this recording they were in the midst of building a Tasting Room at an off site orchard in the area – which is now completed!

In the meanwhile, if you are in or headed to North Carolina go to this link to find out where you purchase some James Creek Ciders.

Two Cider labels at James Creek

James Creek Heritage Ciders, bottled in 750ML glass presentations!
Stargazer series
- Provides a compliment of modern style ciders. Read: fruit ciders and not just any fruit ciders but peaches and berries from their farm! We sipped on the Prowling Peach, a barrel aged cider with peach juice. I was over the moon for this cider. Plus, peach is not an easy fruit to work with!

All of James Creek Ciders were super tasty and you definitely can tell made with a ton of affection for the process. All the apples come from within an area of 100-150 miles and are North Carolina grown.

Newly elected Board members at CiderCon2019.
(ltor) Michelle McGrath, ACA, Eleanor Leger – Eden Cider, Ben Calvi – Vt Cider Co, David Thornton- James Creek Cider House