Date: May 3, 2022

Georgia-Based Farm Winery Will Also Showcase Other Farm Winery Products Along With A Variety Of Ciders From Around The World

Blue Duck Cider, specializing in making craft hard cider and mead from local orchards, is pleased to launch Georgia’s newest farm winery. The tasting room and production facility is located at 30 Industrial Park Drive, Suite 114, in Dawsonville, Georgia behind the North Georgia Premium Outlets. Blue Duck, who also plans on serving beer and wine, will focus on home-grown tastes and quality. They also aim to educate consumers by letting them know that there is more to cider than the widely available sugary sweet mass-produced variety. 

A common misconception is that producing hard cider is akin to brewing beer. However, the process is actually similar to that of making white wine. Though methods vary, apples harvested once a year are crushed, then fermented to the cider maker's preference. Blue Duck Cider is committed to using at least 40 percent of Georgia fruit in order to generate a variety of different styles of cider. These ciders are also gluten free and vegan, showcasing the flavor of the fruit - not a general sugary sweetness.

For their initial opening, the farm winery will offer an orchard blend of hard cider apples - a taste similar to that of dry white wine with light fruit aromas. Blue Duck Cider is also currently offering light peach- and strawberry-flavored cider. Additionally, the company is sourcing barrels from Kentucky and Tennessee in order to age some of their ciders for release later this year. 

"The experience of having spent a couple of years living on my cousin's farm in Ohio really shaped my views on living. I was always happiest when driving a tractor or walking the orchard next door. I would rather fix a fence post or hay instead of sitting in front of a computer any day. I’ve even helped coral loose cows, in addition to harvesting and producing my own maple syrup,” said Jim Matzek, owner of Blue Duck Cider. “It was so rewarding and I wanted to get back to that feeling. Life pulled me down a different path for years, but here we are finally making cider.”

Matzek was inspired by a trip to Normandy in France where he had the good fortune to meet renowned cider maker, Eric Bordelet. Bordelet allowed Matzek to tour his orchards, production and tasting facilities as well as his kitchen. Matzek knew, then, that he wanted to turn his passion to making cider at home. With an extensive background in wine production, Matzek leveraged his knowledge into creating cider and began by entering cider-making competitions. After garnering a number of medals over the years, he has finally realized his dream by opening the Blue Duck Cider facility.  

“Up until last summer, doing anything regarding alcohol production in Dawson County was extremely restricted. With all the growth in North Georgia and the modernization of county ordinances, we thought it would be great to open a farm winery specializing in making craft hard cider and mead,” adds Matzek. “We will employ all our wine production and alcohol industry experience to bring the area limited release craft cider, and for the long term, we’ve planted a mini cider orchard that will provide us stock for our planned orchard.”

Customers who want a bit of nosh can enjoy a charcuterie board with a variety of meats, cheeses, and fruit. Matzek will expand upon these options later this year, including having their own Blue Duck Cider honey available for purchase. Additionally, future cider releases include a four pack of tall boys that has been in production for two years as well as bottle releases available in the tasting room. Currently, customers can imbibe in the cider with 2 oz taster as well as 8 oz and 10 oz glasses