Cheers Y'all

Pair of bubbly new flavors entice wine drinkers over to hard cider

Traditional rosé and prosecco have become symbols of Sunday brunch and days at the pool, and now cider fans can get in on the fun too.

Woodchuck Hard Cider, the brand that brought the pre-Prohibition beverage back into America's consciousness, has developed two new varieties that are designed to appeal to wine drinkers. The drier taste and extra carbonation are just another side of a company that's been forging its own path since 1991, when Vermont-based winemaker Greg Failing began experimenting with apples.

Megan Skinner, brand director for Vermont Cider Company, offered up a little more about these two new innovative hard ciders.

CultureMap: What inspired you to create Bubbly Rosé and Bubbly Pearsecco ciders?

Megan Skinner: At the core of Woodchuck, we have always believed that hard cider is a bridging beverage between beer, wine, and spirits. In the past we have crafted ciders such as Belgian White or Hopsation for beer drinkers, and with our newest offering we are inspired by wine.

CM: Describe the look and taste of the ciders.

MS: Bubbly Rosé has a fresh apple aroma with a fruit-forward, crisp, smooth finish. It is pink in color and medium-bodied with carbonation. Bubbly Pearsecco has a subtle pear aroma with a dry, crisp pear taste. It is a light straw color and is bubbly with high carbonation.

CM: For those who are new to cider, where do these ones fall on the taste scale?

MS: On the dry to sweetness scale, Bubbly Rosé is a traditional cider,that is semi-sweet. Bubbly Pearsecco is a fruity cider that falls between dry to semi-dry.

CM: Tell us a little about the design of the cans.

MS: Both packages are meant to speak to the wine drinker, with bubbles on the cans to convey their higher carbonation. Bubbly Rosé's packaging is bright pink, which is meant to convey its color and personality, while Bubbly Pearsecco's packaging is light blue.

CM: What are some serving tips?

MS: We recommend drinking these at a cool temperature in stemless Champagne glassware to truly enjoy the effect of the bubbles. Italian food goes great with Bubbly Rosé, while seafood is a good match with Bubbly Pearsecco.

CM: How are the ciders made?

MS: Woodchuck's Bubbly Rosé is crafted using a blend of red apples and then back-sweetened with fresh juice to deliver a balanced cider. Woodchuck's Bubbly Pearsecco variety is a dry, bubbly pear cider with a crisp clean finish, taking inspiration from sparkling wine.

CM: Tell us a fun fact about cider.

MS: Both varieties are naturally gluten-free with no high fructose corn syrup and no artificial ingredients.

CM: What kind of cocktails can you make with these?

MS: Here are two terrific mixology recipes for Bubbly Pearsecco:

Pearsecco Mojito
Combine the juice of 2 limes, 1 tsp. of caster sugar, and 1 oz. of rum in a glass and gently muddle.
Top with Woodchuck Pearsecco and fresh mint.

Fizzy Spiked Pear Cider Punch
Combine 2.5 oz. pear juice, ½ oz. vanilla vodka, ½ oz. simple syrup, and Woodchuck Pearsecco.
Add fresh pears for garnish.

Bubbly Rosé and Bubbly Pearsecco are Woodchuck Hard Cider's two newest flavors.

Photo by Ashley Gongora

Bubbly Rosé and Bubbly Pearsecco are Woodchuck Hard Cider's two newest flavors.

drinks promoted

Taking the field

Dak Prescott-backed Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux kicks off in Wylie

Photo courtesy of Walk-Ons

Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux is opening in Wylie on August 10.

A Louisiana sports bar chain that counts Cowboys QB Dak Prescott as a partner continues to build its fan base in Dallas-Fort Worth: Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux is set to open a new location in Wylie on Monday, August 10.

Announced earlier this year, the restaurant is at 906 FM 544, near the intersection of Highway 78 and FM 544. The opening marks the chain's 20th Texas location and its second operating restaurant in the DFW area.

Founded in Baton Rouge in 2003 by former LSU basketball "walk-ons" Brandon Landry and Jack Warner, Walk-On's has grown to more than 80 locations nationwide. The company is co-owned by former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (an Austin native), and franchise partners include Prescott, along with former NFL player Derrick Brooks, and college football coach Dabo Swinney.

Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux Wylie The new Walk-On's is at 906 FM 544, Wylie.Photo courtesy of Walk-On's

The menu is centered on seafood and classic Louisiana dishes: fried seafood platters, pastas, burgers, sandwiches, po'boys, fried oysters, gumbo, fried alligator, and boudin balls. Prices range from $10 to $20.

Starters include waffle cheese fries, fried pickles, boneless wings, cheeseburger sliders, spinach-artichoke dip, and venison nachos. They have a bread pudding made with Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

There's also a plentiful selection of beers on tap, plus margaritas and other crafty-ish cocktails.

The Wylie restaurant is owned by franchisee Cooper Thomson, who says the community made the city an appealing place to expand.

"I am thrilled to expand Walk-On's presence in Dallas, and particularly in the community of Wylie," Thomson says in a release. "To be a part of the growth in this area - to serve families and be a place where little league teams celebrate and football fans cheer on their team - is such a special opportunity."

Although Walk-On's has been in the DFW market since pre-pandemic times, Wylie will be its second restaurant in DFW open currently, joining a location at Grandscape in The Colony. Earlier Dallas-area locations in Irving and Arlington have closed, although the company has previously said it plans to reopen the Arlington restaurant at a new location.

The Wylie restaurant features a sports bar with dozens of TVs, a large outdoor patio, and a family-friendly dining room designed for game-day crowds.

Grand opening festivities will kick off at 10:30 am on Monday, August 10, with a ceremony featuring Walk-On's founder Brandon Landry, franchise owner Cooper Thomson, Wylie Mayor Matthew Porter, city officials, and representatives from Wylie High School and Wylie East High School.

The celebration will include donations to the two schools' athletic departments, followed by a ribbon-cutting at 10:45 am. Doors open to the public at 11 am, and the first 100 guests to dine will have a chance to win free Walk-On's for a year.

Walk-On's will be the second sports bar concept with celebrity cred to open in DFW within a few days' time. Shark Club, from Dallas Stars owner Tom Gaglardi, opened Friday, August 7 in Northlake.

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