Under The Burr Oak: An Apple Winemaking Legacy Paperback – March 15, 2026

Beneath the wide branches of ancient burr oaks on the north shore of Lake Edith in Afton, Minnesota, a quiet tradition has endured for decades. Each autumn, friends and neighbors gather to press apples, share food, and begin the slow transformation of fresh cider into wine.But this tradition began far from the lake, in a St. Paul basement where an engineer named Mac Hewett carefully studied the science of fermentation and built his own apple press. What started as a curious experiment grew into a yearly ritual—one that survived changing homes, new generations, and the steady rhythms of Minnesota seasons.Under the Burr Oak traces the living history of this apple winemaking tradition. Through stories, conversations, and reflections, Robert French recounts the people who built it, the landscapes that shaped it, and the friendships that kept it alive. From Valley Creek trout ponds and early pressings to the open clearing overlooking Lake Edith where the harvest continues today, the book captures a craft that is as much about community as it is about cider.Part oral history, part memoir, and part celebration of making things by hand, Under the Burr Oak is a story about stewardship—about returning each year to tend what others began.It is a story about apples, patience, and the quiet magic of gathering under the trees. Read more