Wisconsin orchard grows about 200 apple varieties to eat, drink, and reminisce

BURLINGTON, Wis. (CBS58) – Weekends in October often mean going out and enjoying the last bit of warmth, with some fall fun. One apple orchard in Southeast Wisconsin has been around for 75 years, growing unique apples with a side of nostalgia.

Brightonwoods Orchard was started in about 1950 “as a weekend getaway farm” by a Chicago ophthalmologist who wanted a quieter setting, said Charles Mcgonegal, the general manager for Brightonwoods and the owner & Ciderwright for AeppelTreow Winery.

75 years later, the quiet setting remains, cultivating history through its apples. McGonegal explained that their apples are set apart from the rest in Wisconsin because of their “flavor, passion, aroma, (and) texture.” There are 170 varieties of apples in their orchard, from “old-fashioned English and European classics, American classics, university experiments, a real mix. And that is our market-distinguishing feature: 170 kinds of apples and pears and a few quince,” he said.

While a typical orchard might have around 20 kinds of apples, Brightonwoods offers 10 times that, including popular varieties from both the present and the past. “We get a lot of older folks to reminisce as to the things they grew up with,” shared Mcgonegal. That includes Dani & David Lockwood who come in from Kenosha for the wide range of options. They said, “it has such a fantastic variety. Not only the four varieties you usually get, but hundreds of varieties. It’s fun to see varieties developed in the 1700s and still taste great!”

One of those varieties developed in the 1700s is Thomas Jefferson's favorite, a Hewes crab! While it's grown on site, it's one of several that aren’t meant to be eaten. “A special of the orchard with 30 apples and wines you’ll never find at the apple store because they're essentially the red wine equivalent of apples. You don't drink Thompson Seedless, and you don't eat Cabernet, you won't drink Red Delicious,” explained Mcgonegal.

Those apples not meant to be eaten are then turned into hard ciders made at AeppelTreow Winery, which began in 2001. McGonegal said the ciders are “apple subtlety. This is likening it to wine, notes of apricots in their Rieslings. This is hints of strawberry, hints of fennel or anis, hints of spice, hints of tangerine. Different apples have different things.”

He claims they created the first winery and distillery combo in Wisconsin. “It fits into slowing down. We have a beautiful site here. It's quiet, we aren't a kiddy orchard. We're a foody orchard. So if we’re selling a rustic lifestyle, that also means taking a little time when you’re eating an apple to think about what you’re eating and appreciate it,” he continued.

Unlike other apple orchards, at Brightonwoods, you don't pick them from the trees themselves. That’s something that the Lockwoods appreciate in addition to the variety, “that’s what sets it apart for us.”

McGonegal said they look for a different market, “finding the foodies, finding people looking for the history, the flavors, or to recreate the recipes of their parents or grandparents, that only yellow transparent at the end of August is going to make grandma's sauce because nothing else will do.”

This allows visitors like Lenny Kotowski, who's been coming for years, to make his grandma’s recipe. Kotowski said he’s been coming to the orchard for a “long time. I’m 71, and I've been coming since I was about that high with my dad and grandpa. I'll make a pie when I get home. An apple pie. Why? Because my mom and grandma used to, and I just love apple pie. So does my wife.” He said his favorite apples, though, are Courtlands.

McGonegal's focus is always on the variety and the flavors you can't get elsewhere, allowing customers to find out what their unique flavor of the day will be.

Brightonwoods Orchard is located at 1072 288th Avenue, Burlington.