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Virtue Cider, a Michigan-based, solar-powered craft cidery, is proud to announce its latest small batch cider, Rosalita, will benefit World Central Kitchen, a non-profit that uses the power of food to heal and strengthen communities in times of crisis and beyond.
Rosalita is a dry rosé cider made from heirloom apples and rare Schaerbeek cherries, all grown on family farms within a 200-mile radius of Virtue Cider in Fennville, Michigan. This cider is released exclusively to benefit World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit founded by Chef José Andrés that provides fresh meals for communities affected by natural disasters or other crises, and also builds more sustainable food systems through its long-term programs. The majority of proceeds from the cider’s sales will be contributed to WCK.
“We first released this French oak barrel-aged rosé cider five years ago, and it was loved so much, selling out quickly,” said Gregory Hall, Virtue Cider founder. “What makes Rosalita so special is the fruit. Local farmer Peter Klein planted rare Schaerbeek cherry trees, known from traditional Belgian Kriek beer, for us many years ago. To honor the tart Schaerbeeks, we made this lovely small batch in 750ml bottles, and it’s a bonus that we are able to have it support the great work of World Central Kitchen.”
Virtue Cider is located among miles of orchards and vineyards in Southwest Michigan’s Cider Coast. The company has been purpose-driven since its founding in 2011, from sourcing cider fruit from local family farms, to becoming solar powered in 2019, to contributing proceeds of cider sales to hospitality and service industry workers. The cidery also has a long history with chef collaborations, including Chris Cosentino of San Francisco, Jason French of Portland, Ore., Edward Lee of Louisville, and Paul Kahan of Chicago. Rosalita’s launch and its charitable benefit are a natural extension of this story.
“World Central Kitchen and I, we are thankful to Greg and Virtue Cider for their support with this amazing new rosé cider Rosalita. I am originally from the Spanish apple-growing region of Asturias, so cider has always been near to my heart. I am happy to be sharing this love to help our work in feeding the people of America,” said José Andrés, chef and founder of World Central Kitchen.
Rosalita is a 6.9% ABV dry rosé cider and will be available in 750ml bottles starting July 1 only through virtuecider.com. The apples and cherries that make Rosalita all were sourced from Michigan farms. The Schaerbeek cherries, a Belgian cherry that’s often used in kriek beer, come from trees in South Haven, Mich., planted for Virtue Cider’s founder, Gregory Hall. Apples were pressed and fermented in Virtue’s cider houses, aged in French oak barrels, and aged a second time on the cherries to pick up a beautiful light hue, as well as just a hint of cherry in the nose.
Priced at a special fundraising price of $100 per bottle, this cider is released exclusively to benefit World Central Kitchen with the majority of proceeds from the cider’s sales being contributed to WCK. The proceeds will allow WCK to continue its work of providing meals for communities affected by natural disasters or other crises.
To find Rosalita, visit virtuecider.com/cider-club where consumers across 36 states can get all of Virtue’s ciders shipped directly to their home.
