THE CHAMPAGNE APPLE: A Family's Tale From A Singular Wild Tree To The Bottle
from vinegar solutions to champagne and wine beverages, Cadott's Dixon's Apple Orchard & Harvest Winery is home to one-of-a-kind varietal
A golden treasure with a delicate blush and a spicy-sweet finish has blossomed into a singular local favorite in the Chippewa Valley. Within the hundreds of trees found at Dixon’s Apple Orchard (22404 20th Ave., Cadott) and Autumn Harvest Winery, the storied tradition of the Dixon family thrives through their exclusive, proprietary Champagne Apple variety.
The Champagne Apple has ascended to become one of the most versatile apple harvests for Becky Mullane and her family. As an owner of Dixon’s Apple Orchard, she has witnessed the evolution of this fruit; she traces its lineage from a solitary wild tree on their former New Mexico ranch to the highly sought-after treasures of the present day.
“It was started by my grandad and grandmother, they lived in the canyon in New Mexico in the The Jemez Mountains,” Mullane said. “He found (the Champagne Apple) as a wild tree growing in the canyon.”
In honor of her grandfather, Fred Dixon – as Dixon’s relocated from New Mexico to the Chippewa Valley in 2014 – the fruit remains exclusive to their goods and services.
“When the apples come in in the fall, there is a special feeling; There is just this excitement and drive that is totally different.” –Becky Mullane, owner of Dixon’s Apple Orchard & Autumn Harvest Winery
“He wanted that to stay exclusive for Dixon’s and for the area. We do have a corner on the market; we are honoring that (locally) by doing the same thing,” Mullane said.“I think (my grandfather) would be proud of the fact that our desire was to keep going and to keep that apple alive,” she continued.
“He would be extremely happy to see all the smiling faces that are enjoying them here and all the joy that it brings.”
Dixon’s Champagne Apple remains a sought-after product in New Mexico, where it originated on Mullane’s family farm. She noted the business continues to transport apples down to Albuquerque, NM., every year for family who remains down south.
Of course, the moment we are all waiting for: well, how does the apple taste? This golden variety – larger in size with a gold and green exterior – possesses a sweet-spicy flavor profile and, according to Mullane, has a firm, juicy texture which balances its sweetness and acidity.
While Mullane said the fruit is best enjoyed out of the glass, the Champagne Apple is used to make Dixon’s apple cider, cider vinegar, a specialty wine – titled 44 Reserve – and a bubbly champagne drink.
“Savor the rich, long complex finish of this decadent apple wine which is truly unlike any other,” the 44 Reserve description reads. The Dixon family was devoted to study the region’s topography and local climate – which affects the fruit’s ability to flourish – the resilient variety has proven it can endure every season.
As Mullane points out, these apples transition beautifully from autumn gifts in the orchard into comforting pie-filling during the colder winter months.
“When the apples come in in the fall, there is a special feeling,” Mullane said on behalf of the Dixon’s staff. “There is just this excitement and drive that it’s totally different. And we see it not only in ourselves, but in everybody.
“Everyone’s just excited to be a part of it,” she continued.
In addition to the harvest season at Dixon’s Apple Orchard, local residents can stop by in person to get a feel for the business’ wine offerings or connect with loved ones in a personalized environment.
Learn more about the story behind Dixon’s Apple Orchard (22404 20th Ave., Cadott) and their Autumn Harvest Winery in the Chippewa Valley, online at dixonsapples.com. The Champagne Apple and its offshoot products can be purchased directly in-person at the orchard.
