My friend took me to this cute cidery when I was visiting Charlottesville in July. We parked in the grass lot and grabbed our drinks inside and went outside. The inside wasn't very decorated, and didn't have that many seats. It seemed a bit bare. I wanted to get the frozen drink, but they said they had run out. Outside had a few more seats, but our stay was cut short by some bees that were very interested in my drink, purse, and my friend's face. I might have to give it another try but it was just an average experience for me. read more

Castle Hill Cider - Inside - Cideries Near Me - Keswick, Virginia

I've never been here when the weather was nice enough to let us enjoy the full setting, which is the only reason its getting docked a star. There is very limited seating in the indoor wine bar--two small tables is just about it. If they don't have a wedding or other event, the large barn-like event space is open with seating, but its cool and drafty so if you're hiding from the weather it is not ideal. They have a very small food menu and offer a rotating menu of cider flights and cocktails. Generally, ciders are quite dry, not at all like angry orchard or redd's (for comparison). The cocktails are fun and creative. I loved having the option for a hot drink in late December. At some point, I'd love to be able to come when the weather is beautiful and can take advantage of their outdoor wine bar, fire pits, and view. Ample parking, though as you follow the road up to the winery, you move from gravel to packed dirt. Parking can get quite muddy as it is just grass/dirt, and there can be some deep tracks left from cars in previous weather. Definitely not a reason to skip this place, but something that we noticed as we were coming/going since we were in a very small car. read more

See all

Hello beautiful location!!! If I were to get married again, this may just be where I would want it to be! The inside and the outside are equally breathtaking and the ease of ordering not only inside but at the outdoor bar (weather permitting) is quite easy. They also have food you can order to nosh on when you imbibe...yes please When at a cidery, I always opt for the flights and this one did not disappoint - they have so many ciders on tap that you could do one of three different flight experiences and if I had planned on staying for the entire afternoon, I would have tried them all. read more

See all

Great views, great food and great service in a relaxing environment. If you are in the area it's a must stop. read more

See all

I was pleasantly surprised by this cidery. I normally go to wineries but decided to try some cider this time. I was able to try a variety of ciders by getting a cider flight. The ciders were all great. The building and the surroundings were also beautiful. The inside had a lovely event space and there was also seating outside with fire pits. I also had a charcuterie board to-go and it was delicious and probably one of the best charcuterie boards I've had. read more

See all

Not open to the public, used to love this place. Great place to get married now and nothing else

Castle Hill is a wonderful event space. We enjoyed celebrating a friend's destination wedding in the area and thoroughly enjoyed our experience! The venue is about 30 minutes from downtown Charlottesville and is an expansive property filled with sweeping well-kept lawns and apple trees. While we didn't get to learn much about the ciders during our visit, we loved their Mulled Hot Cider featuring mulling spices from Forrest Green Farms. The first course salads were constructed on their plates at each table with different staff members serving a different ingredient. For the main course we enjoyed a delicious chicken entrée that was slightly sweet with green beans and mashed potatoes. It was quite rainy during the wedding with a tropical storm passing through, and the indoor (due to poor weather) option was just as nice as the outdoor spaces available on site, which isn't usually the case at other venues. We really enjoyed our experience! Thanks for providing and maintaining a wonderful space with gracious staff that helped make our friend's special day that much more special. Highly recommend! read more

See all

We happened upon this place while traveling to another destination and got curious about it. After checking out the website, we decided to stop by and see what it was about. We really enjoyed the flights of cider! Very good selections and they also have a good menu. Highly recommend stopping by. The views are beautiful and they can even host events. read more

I finally made the long trek one Sunday afternoon - from Haymarket over to Keswick, VA - to visit Castle Hill Cider. As I entered the property, I was struck by how distinctly the landscape had changed in contrast to the surrounding area. I felt like I had entered a new land or region. On the trip over, I had been mulling over in my mind, the detailed intricacies of languages and geography of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth, particularly the geography of Beleriand from "The Silmarillion." And so, I named the lands around Castle Hill Cider - in Sindarin (the tongue of The Teleri - the Grey Elves of Middle Earth): Dor Cordof-Galadh (Land of Apple Trees) I sauntered into the tasting room, and took up a spot at the bar and expressed my interest in doing a full cider tasting - here is my tasting line up: Celestial (8.1% ABV) (4.5 stars on Untappd) Serendipity (6.3% ABV) (4 stars on Untappd) Gravity (8.0% ABV) (4 stars on Untappd) Levity (8.3% ABV) (4.25 stars on Untappd) Elder Cherry Rose (6.9% ABV) (3.75 stars on Untappd) Prickly Pear & Orange Blossom (6.9% ABV) (4 stars on Untappd) Classic Ginger (6.9% ABV) (4 stars on Untappd) Big Pippin (11.0% ABV) (4 stars on Untappd) All Hopped Up (6.9% AV) (4.25 stars on Untappd) Color me super impressed with all of the ciders at Castle Hill! The cider maker is super skilled at making interesting, delicious ciders, that express a lot of individuality and nuanced flavors. This is in stark contrast to some other cideries - that present you with a glass that tastes like Apples and sugar overload. Not so at Castle Hill Cider. The staff were very nice, and the ambiance of the building was very comfortable. I can't wait to come back and drag some friends along with me! #CastleHillCider read more

See all

This was my first time going to a cidery and it did not disappoint! We were a group of 5 woman on a trip and were hopping around to different spots. The space was beautiful and scenic! It's a great venue for holding private events both indoor and outdoor which they do all the time. They were actually setting up for a wedding while we were there. Melanie took care of our tasting while we were there and gave us all the history of the place and the different ciders and how they were made and their names. She was fabulous and funny! She made us very comfortable and welcome. We ordered bread, cheese, meat and nuts to go with our ciders. The bread was so warm and amazing!!!!! Overall, we had a fabulous time. The only complaint I have would be in regard to the lack of professionalism of the staff member Michelle. I'm not sure if she is a manager or what her role is there but she can use some help on how she enagages with her coworkers especially in front of the guests. While Melanie was pouring our flights, she rudely interrupted her and nastily told her she was over pouring the glasses. However, the manner in which she addressed her and continued to speak to her was highly unprofessional and unnecessary. She also continued to speak to her in that manner which made all of us feel uncomfortable. I hope an owner or upper management addresses it and commends Melanie for the way she maintained herself in that situation. When we left we went back in to thank the staff for a great experience and purchased additional bottles to go and were received with nothing but smiles and warmth and look forward to returning in the future! read more

See all

I really wanted to love this place but I think it just wasn't for me. The cider is definitely on the sweeter side, and most of it has a pretty high alcohol percent for cider. I'm sure some people would love it, but none of it was really my style. The views were amazing, but the staff seemed stretched very thin between trying to serve customers and set up for a wedding. I might come back if I was in the area, but probably wouldn't make a specific trip out here again. read more

See all

We don't usually go to cideries, but decided to try this place & were extremely impressed! The cider was delicious, the charcuterie board was the most beautiful we've ever seen, & the property was gorgeous. Such an enjoyable afternoon! read more

Castle Hill Cider - Cider - Cideries Near Me - Keswick, Virginia

See all

Castle Hill Cider is one of the most beautiful venues in Charlottesville! They have lots of grass for picnicking and outdoor tables under an awning. They are dog friendly and allow you to bring outside food. Their ciders are yummy and provide options for any taste. I love that their menu lists ciders from most sweet to most dry, so you can pick according to your preference. read more

Castle Hill Cider - Terrestrial cider (one of the drier ones!) - Cideries Near Me - Keswick, Virginia

See all

We stopped by this place on a day trip to the Charlottesville area as it had been recommended by a women we met in another bar. She said it was picturesque and she wasn't lying. It looks out over the mountains and has a nice outside bar with tables that was closed this time, it being cold out. We entered to a room with a. beautiful fireplace and we were given a choice between a classic flight and a special flight with fancier ciders. You don't get as many with the special flight so we stuck with the classic. When it arrived we noticed there was barely any cider in one of our glasses and we went back to the counter and they graciously refilled it. I enjoyed the classic ciders, one tasted sweet like raisin. If you are a cider person you will love this place. I would come back in the summer and sit outside. read more

Castle Hill Cider - Our classic flight - Cideries Near Me - Keswick, Virginia

Castle Hill makes some of the best ciders I've ever tasted. I stopped here on the way out to Shenandoah. The grounds were lovely (and social distance friendly). Bring a blanket and games. Plan to stay the day. There are no tastings offered due to the pandemic, but you will probably want to order by the bottle anyway. ;) We ordered the Celestial and it was everything you could ever want in a cider--cool, crisp, refreshing. Ended up taking home two additional bottles. TBH, I wish I bought a case. HIGHLY recommend! read more

See all

Castle Hill is what I call 'wine' cider, as opposed to 'beer' cider. The difference is 'wine' ciders tend to be more elegant, often dryer, while 'beer' ciders are more flavorful and have extra ingredients. I like both styles, but Castle Hill most definitely falls into the first category. Claire was my server, and she definitely put on the 'Claire show', full of funny antidotes, local gossip, and cider recipes. I thought this would be a quick tasting, but she was so entertaining I stayed a lot longer than I anticipated! The tasting menu was very extensive, but my favorites were the Library "Levity" and the Library "Celestial" (which I bought a bottle of). I wish I had time to stay on the property - the grounds were amazing! The orchards are still young and not yet bearing fruit, but eventually their ciders should be 100% estate-grown. read more

See all

We stopped here after a hike on a Saturday afternoon. It was pretty crowded but we didn't have to wait long at the bar. My husband and I shared the valentine's special chocolate and cider pairing. I think the idea was nice but we didn't think any of the pairings actually worked. We enjoyed the Serenity cider the best. Avoid Big Pippin if you don't like ginger. The mulled cider served warm was delicious. The grounds are pretty and we will certainly be back in warmer weather. read more

Castle Hill Cider - Cider and chocolate pairing - Cideries Near Me - Keswick, Virginia

This is an absolutely beautiful venue, I am so jealous of anyone who marries here. That being sad, as a visitor the service was very lacking and so is the seating. This place is huge they could add additional patio seats! The cider is also not what you consider a standard cider, and the menu is not friendly for all. Again, beautiful just wouldn't return. read more

Castle Hill Cider - Front of building - Cideries Near Me - Keswick, Virginia

See all

Very beautiful and amazing cider! The vibe is a bit pretentious for my taste, but I enjoyed my time.

The panini flight sounds good on paper, but we asked the outside bartender how big each panini was, and he made a comparison to maybe a half a sandwich size each. So we ordered it, and they came out on crostinis. Guys, if you're going to sell $18 panini flights then at least be honest about it. The cheeseboard was much better and the dry-hopped cider was very crisp. But the sleazy sale of the panini size left us a little irritated. Just beware you're not getting a lot for what you pay. read more

I'm not typically the biggest cider fan but Castle Hill proved me wrong! They have a great variety of ciders that aren't too sweet and all slightly unique in their own way. More importantly they have a beautiful space - both indoor and outdoor. Seating is plentiful, atmosphere is relaxed, and it's super clean and inviting. The staff is super helpful and make excellent suggestions! I went with a few friends and we each tried a tasting flight, then ended up buying a bottle of the ginger hard cider to share - which we all agreed was our favorite. Was a lovely way to spend a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon. read more

Castle Hill Cider - Cideries Near Me - Keswick, Virginia

I love sweet ciders so we went for a tasting. My girls loved running around on the lawn. The cider was good, a little pricey for the tasting. Nothing stuck out that made me want to grab a bottle but I'm glad we went to check it out read more

Castle Hill Cider - Sweet cider tasting - Cideries Near Me - Keswick, Virginia

Castle Hill was super kind to us and our little skittish dog. We were the only ones there when we showed up, but that's probably because of the day and time. We were able to try the tasting options and then get a flight with a cheese board, which was really good. The woman who helped us was super nice and I hate that I don't remember her name right now, but we really enjoyed ourselves. The venue is also really cool with a log cabin vibe and very open. They also have an entertainment space with a stage. Bathrooms were very clean and also stylish. I hope to come back whenever they're doing an event at the place so we can take another look around. Enjoyed that they were dog friendly and very knowledgable about their ciders they were offering. read more

If wine isn't your thing, then this place is perfect. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable and the ciders were delicious. You can order a flight or 3 or 4 ciders, or full pours of your favorite ones. The best part is probably the views. There is indoor seating, patio seating, and outdoor seating at their outdoor bar area. We also saw people picnicking on the grass. I'm giving four stars because the cheese plate was a little lackluster. Too much cheese and not enough bread, and we are bread people! read more

Castle Hill Cider - The Rolling Hills of VA - Cideries Near Me - Keswick, Virginia

Excellent cider and gorgeous location. We visited Castle Hill on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. The location of Castle Hill is perfect with a view of the mountains in the distance and lush, manicured lawns in every direction. We enjoyed our cider outside, but the interior was quite lovely as well. We sampled a tasting and got an interesting mix of flavors with a couple of truly excellent ciders among the 5. I would definitely recommend Castle Hill and I know we are going to try to go back when the wisteria is in bloom. read more

WAY overpriced. Save your money and go to Potter's or Bold Rock. Went with my parents recently and was not impressed. 2 stars instead of 1 because the grounds were pretty. read more

We arrived today, February 7, at 4:00. There is a welcoming sign at the driveway entrance showing that it is open until 5. We drove up the private roads, parked and walked about 200 yards to the door. The door was locked and no one was inside. We walked to the side where we found an unlocked door. However, no one was inside. We left not knowing whether or not we should venture that way again. read more

What a pleasant surprise! Went out to Castle Hill Cider on an overcast Saturday and we had a blast. Castle Hill Cider offers a beautiful venue (the roads can get a little muddy though fyi), delicious (wine) ciders, and pleasant and polite staff. My group had never been to a cidery before and we were all very happy with our experience. While we didn't quite have the palate to identify huge differences in the various ciders we enjoyed all of them equally. They over some cheese platters and similar fare but Castle hill seemed a little lacking overall. We eneded up buying a bottle of cider and wouldn't def go back in the future. read more

See all

Really pretty cidery with a lot of outside space. They weren't doing any seating inside which I didn't mind. It was great being able to be outside and social distance at the same time. The ciders were good but a little pricey for the flights. Employees were nice and did a good job at explaining all the ciders to me. Will definitely be back! read more

Castle Hill Cider - Cideries Near Me - Keswick, Virginia

See all

Visited on a Sunday afternoon and had a very enjoyable time. The drive to the cidery just added to the visit - it was beautiful. The hostess was very gracious and took all the time we needed to explaining each cider we tasted, what types of apples went into them, how the cider was produced, where they were grown, etc. They also talked about the grounds, the buildings, and the groves. Recommended a couple of places nearby - another nice touch to link good places together. And to top it off, they had a drone race going on that day. Something unusual that added to the ambiance. Bought a couple of bottles, looking forward to having them with the suggested parings read more

Castle Hill Cider - Outdoor bar - Cideries Near Me - Keswick, Virginia

I love this place. They are always trying new things with their cider to stay modern while maintaining their heritage ciders as well. I appreciate their ability to create fun an innovative ways to get customers involved, including cider fest, the rotation of live music and their cider club release parties. I enjoy bringing visitors in to experience the great views and wonderful tastes they have to offer. read more

With some unique tasting cider and beautiful indoor and outdoor facilities, Castle Hill Cider is a must visit, although casual cider drinkers may not enjoy most of the flavors. I'll start the review by saying that if you've never been to a cidery before, consider going to Bold Rock or Albemarle Cider Works first. The type of cider produced here has lower sugar and a different fermentation process; it tastes closer to a dry white wine than cider (which I believe accounts for some of the mediocre reviews). These ciders are much more artisanal and will offer you a unique tasting experience. The grounds and facilities of Castle Hill are beautiful - the modern tasting room has two floors with fireplaces (there is a spacious balcony upstairs) and is connected to a main social hall where they host weddings. Castle Hill sits in a rolling well maintained field that is perfect for summer picnics or letting your kids run around. The tasting consists of seven ciders with generous pours. My favorites were the Celestial (a dry cider that tastes like a white wine), the Levity (fermented in a large clay kvevri resulting in a natural sparkling cider), and the Celestial Merret (tastes almost like a wheat beer). I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention the Black Twig, which tastes like nothing I've ever tasted before; ultimately I wasn't a fan of the woody flavor, but points for creativity. Overall, it was an interesting tasting experience of ciders I never would've tasted otherwise. My girlfriend and I were also able to try the cheese plate (2 cheeses for $9 and 3 cheeses for $12), which was a nice addition to the cider. The only negatives I can think of is the price - $8 for a tasting is fine, but an additional $8 for the glass is a little absurd, and the tasting bar seemed understaffed (our poor cider pourer was jumping from group to group). However, Castle Hill is still a worthwhile experience and I'm sure I'll be back again. read more

See all

This place is amazing. Great variety of flavors for a cider spot. Beautiful location and wonderful staff. We will make every attempt to come back. read more

See all

Castle Hill Cider doesn't produce your typical cider beer. Their ciders are more along the lines of champagne/wine so they aren't overly sweet and they are higher in alcohol content...two plusses in my book. Their pride and joy cider is called Levity and is aged and fermented in large clay egg shaped vessels called "kvevris" that are buried underground behind the tasting room barn. Apparently this is an old world style of making cider and wine that is not used much anymore but since this cidery is going for a more European style cider, they use this style to produce their flagship cider. Overall, the grounds are very nice. The tasting room is inside a beautiful massive barn that used to be a cattle auction barn. It seems to be an ideal location for parties/weddings. The girl conducting our tasting was very friendly and knowledgeable. I highly recommend a stop here if you are into cider. But don't be surprised if their cider is somewhat different than what you are used to, that is if you are used to drinking cider beer, like I was. read more

Castle Hill Cider - Cideries Near Me - Keswick, Virginia

Attended a wedding at Castle Hill Cider. Loved the grounds....very picturesque. The grounds are well kept too. It rained little bit on the day, but the beauty of the place still came through. Did not try any of the ciders, so can't review those. The barn where the reception took place was beautifully decorated. read more

Castle Hill Cider - Cideries Near Me - Keswick, Virginia

We came here on our recent long weekend with a couple of friends. We were excited to try something a little different than wine with the ciders. We were the only people there when we went on a Friday afternoon. Their space is really nice, they have a beautiful bar and then also a large event space that is normally their operational space. The people walking us through our tasting were very knowledgeable and knew a lot about the ciders. The ciders were good and they had distinctly different tastes. We had brought a picnic lunch and ordered a bottle of cider to have with it. The day was so nice we were able to sit outside under the trees with our cider and lunch. We actually ended up purchasing some bottles to take with us as well. I would definitely come back here again if I am ever in the area. read more

Aw I so could have spent the whole day sipping cider by the fireplace here. This place is adorable! On a recent visit to see our Gordonsville friends they brought us up for a cider tasting & to see the property. The staff was knowledgeable & friendly. Each couple picked a bottle to split & we went with their aged cider that we were told was once only available to those with a membership. It was so tasty, it was like drinking champagne instead of a cider. I'll do the full sampling next time we visit. We sat by the fireplace & watched as a bride came in with her family and wedding planner for a tour. Lucky girl because this place is a beautiful wedding venue! We also walked around the property while we finished our cider. It made for a lovely visit. read more

Castle Hill Cider - Aged cider by the fireplace :-) - Cideries Near Me - Keswick, Virginia

I already want to go back! I went this past weekend with my boyfriend to celebrate our anniversary and it was stunning. It's definitely out of the way but worth the drive. The scenery is absolutely gorgeous. The area is very well kept and I definitely want to go back when the weather is nicer. The cidery is actually in this huge white barn/house but they have plenty of our door seating and you could actually bring your own seating/blankets to do a picnic, etc. They have a big event space as well which they were setting up for a wedding. This was our first time trying any of these ciders they each have a very unique taste and it was fascinating to learn how much goes into each cider. We did the tasting which was $8 for about 8 tastings and then for an additional $4 you could do the premium tasting. We passed on that and each got a glass - glasses are either $7 or $8 (in that range). My favorite was the Serendipity which was like a mixture of apple juice and champagne - yum! Like I said we definitely plan on going back, I will make more of an afternoon of it then just a stop by! read more

Castle Hill Cider - Cideries Near Me - Keswick, Virginia

Amazing craft ciders. Did not taste a bad one and purchased plenty. In particular the ports, big pippin, celestial. Ate lunch there and had the Croby sandwich (yum) with a side of applesauce. read more

Beautiful surroundings with views of the mountains. Poor service for women. Note that you can GPS your way into this place BUT you cannot GPS your way back, so WRITE DOWN directions back to wherever you need to be. You are very welcome. So the all lady staff must be working for tips and commissions and possibly is doing a lot better with male customers. I get it, no equal pay for women, you may get a lot of Gentry bachelor parties. But the staff still wants women to tip big after they treat them poorly. Our initial staff person failed to explain anything to us, not even how to figure out which of the ciders were in each glass for the flights. We got a regular guy to tell us how to figure out which cider we had. So bring yourself a big strapping heteronormative appearing man. Have him order and pay. Otherwise, the dry ciders were ok. Recommending the Celestial 2016. As noted by other yelpers, you will get super dry, difficult to distinguish ciders here. As also noted by other yelpers, this is a Virginia problem/nuance. If you are with me on Virginia red wine being historically underwhelming, yet improved greatly from 10-20 years ago, then use that mindset for the cider. It may also improve with time and critical pressure. For the fruitier ciders, would recommend Serendipity 2015 and the Big Pippin. Note that the Big Pippin has ginger juice in it and basically tastes like ginger cider. But it is interesting and drinkable. Had the artichoke spread with peppered water crackers to cleanse the palate. We brought a dog and had to keep him outside. If you are ordering flights and bottles, I urge you to bring heavier food and picnic. The drive in was taxing, the drive out can be beautiful yet a high speed frustration when the GPS fails. So fortify yourselves! Restrooms are difficult to find. Staff was generally unhelpful. Cider was pricey for what you get. You are apparently paying for the view and the lodge. They could do a much better job here. But they just were not trying. Tant pis. read more