The first time I had a legit Rome apple from a farm in North Georgia, fireworks went off in my head. Was this the same apple that I thought of as mealy, flavorless; one I’d pass on in favor of nothing? Most fruits have had their diversity and fascinating wealth of flavors trained out of them by corporate capitalism, a product of the need to prioritize visual appeal and easily shippable varieties to maximize sales. Apples are no different. Diane Flynt, of Foggy Ridge Cider and Orchards, has a new book out on the history of Apple-lachia, Wild, Lost, Tamed, Revived: The Surprising Story of Apples in the South. She spins out the complexities of a fruit that has as much terroir (environmental factors that affect flavor and more) as wine grapes, but far less recognition of those micro-regional subtleties. The South used to grow more than 2,000 kinds of apples. These days the list is much shorter, but practitioners like Flynt are working to revive the Limbertwig and the Yates, the Arkansas Black and the Grimes Golden. You can catch her here in conversation with Krista Slater of The Lark on some of these varieties and how they relate to cider, plus grab a copy of her book from Avid Bookshop. The event will also include a guided comparative flight of wines and ciders from France, California and Virginia.
WHO: Diane Flynt
WHEN: Friday, Mar. 22, 5 p.m.
WHERE: Fire Hall No. 2
HOW MUCH: $20
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