June 20, 2019
Wilderness Run Vineyards is a combination vineyard-and-brewery family run business located on a historic property in Spotsylvania, Virginia. 1781 Brewing Company is the sister company to Wilderness Run Vineyards. Wilderness Run prides themselves on French style wines using new age and old world techniques. Both brands use local ingredients wherever possible to create a truly Virginian beverage.
Dr. Penningbottom's is the newest line of ciders co-created by the team at Wilderness Run Vineyards and 1781 Brewing Co. that launched in late 2018. They brought this oak rested cider to the market with an old-timey design style featuring fun graphics and a unique shape around the top and bottom of the custom product label.
The combination of vineyard and brewery located on our historic property has allowed Wilderness Run to serve their mission of spending time with family, to serve their patrons as if they were family, and to give back to the community.
The idea for Wilderness Run Vineyard was planted when Robert and Denise Pagan looked across the farm where they they had raised their family. With the help of their children and friends, the Pagans started reclaiming what were once dairy pastures and started planting long rows of vines. Now they are growing beautiful fruit on one of the most historic vineyard sites in the country, and they are able to share the same views and tastes with the local community. Civil War buffs meander through nearby battlefields and visitors of all kinds stop by the tasting room for a sip or for musical events on the weekends.
The beer business has grown since 2017, and they have increased production from 100 barrels of beer in the first year to 270 barrels in 2018. Their 2019 targets are looking at reaching the 700 barrel mark, experimenting with the addition of more fruits and vegetables to their beer, and new beverages like hard cider. The brewery’s staff has begun sourcing some of the produce from the Pagan family’s 170-acre farm where the the brewery and vineyards call home. This vision and execution landed 1781 on the Brewers Association’s recent list of the 50 Fastest Growing U.S. Craft Breweries, and they were the only Virginia craft brewery to make the trade group’s list.
By embracing a sense of place on their farm, creating community around local culture and designing an experience around a throwback visual identity, Wilderness Run Vineyards and 1871 Brewing custom labels help Dr. Penningbottom's Hard Cider stand out amongst the rest of Virginia's cider scene, just like its forebears in fine grape and hop beverages. There's the apple presence, the use of bold lines to create text highlight areas and then economy of space to get in the essential product and governmental information. The label stock features a matte finish for a smooth, satiny feel and they will stand up to refrigeration and indoor use. When customers see this drink out in the world, they'll know that a quirky cider adventure awaits.