Diane Flynt, founded Foggy Ridge Cider in 1997 by planting one of the first 20th century cider apple orchards. Located at 3000 feet elevation in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains, the Foggy Ridge orchards include over 30 authentic cider apple varieties such as Dabinett, Tremlett’s Bitter, Ashmead’s Kernel, Harrison and Hewe’s Crabapple.

Since its first 2005 vintage, Foggy Ridge Cider has been recognized as producing high quality, orchard focused cider. By 2017, Foggy Ridge Cider was distributed in 15 states and produced 5,000 cases annually. Flynt has received James Beard Award nominations for “Outstanding Beverage Professional” in 2015 and 2016, and was a Finalist for this award in 2017. Diane is active in national and state cider initiatives and has played a leading role in promoting Virginia beverages. She is a member of the governor-appointed Virginia Wine Board, a Board Member of the Southern Foodways Alliance and she speaks on cider, farming and food culture in national and regional forums.

Diane’s vision was to “plant excellent ingredients” and to make fine cider using the same techniques and care that go into making fine wine. In early 2018, Flynt retired the Foggy Ridge Cider brand and now focuses full time on growing cider apples for the southern cider community.

Diane lives with her husband, Chuck, in Dugspur, VA on the site of the Foggy Ridge Cider orchards.