Jared Hardy is the newest member of the Albemarle CiderWorks family. Born in Santa Barbara, raised in Wisconsin, and educated in Virginia, he is thrilled to be in Cville. While pursuing his studies, a short stint in Europe marked the beginning of his journey into fermented beverages. Jared immediately fell in love with wine, food, and the culture of community that surrounds both. After receiving his WSET 3 Award in Wine and completing a B.S. in Cinematic Arts, Jared pursued various positions within the Virginia beverage industry that have developed his hands-on experience in wine production, sales, marketing, and events.
Recently, Jared has pivoted into the digital space as he pursues an M.S. in Marketing – Social Media. The last year found Jared working in sales for a distribution company, rounding out his wine business experience. As a new arrival to the cider community, Jared is excited to hit the ground running, expanding his understanding of the beverage's history, production, and culinary opportunities. He hopes to bring a new perspective, passion, and a unique approach to cider-focused experiences and community engagement. When not in the office, this enthusiastic home cook, foodie, and yogi is forever searching for off-the-beaten-track adventures Cville has to offer.