Diane Flynt

Background

About Diane Flynt

Ingredients matter in the glass as well as on the plate—as founder of the first modern cidery in the South, I've grown cider apples in the southern Appalachians and endeavored to learn the best cider varieties for our elevation orchard in the Blue Ridge Mountains since 1997. After founding Foggy Ridge Cider in 2004, I crafted fine cider from carefully blended cider apples, all chosen for the complex flavor, tannin and crisp acidity needed for fine cider. Just like fine wine, Foggy Ridge Cider focused on flavor not expedience, complex blends not "batch cider", and cider that reflected nuanced apple flavors not additives like hops, berries or bourbon barrels. Foggy Ridge Cider was distributed in over 25 states. In 2018, Foggy Ridge Cider produced its last cider, Foggy Ridge Final Call. I now grow cider apples for sale to cidermakers throughout the South. Currently I am writing a book for the University of North Carolina Press that explores the history of apple growing in the South through stories about the people, places, and events surrounding this agricultural ingredient.