Two of Vermont's wine- and cider-making businesses are joining forces in a merger, aligning their shared values and commitments to the state's working landscape, according to a news release.

Shelburne Vineyard in Shelburne and Eden Specialty Ciders in Newport announced the merger on Monday, saying each company would retain its existing name.

"Since both businesses have a long history and established brands, we are not creating a new company name," Eleanor Leger, founder of Eden Specialty Ciders, said in a statement. "This merger combines our forces behind the scenes, allowing us to sell each other's products, reach new markets, and leverage the strengths of all of our team members."

Leger will become chief executive officer of the combined company, while Ken and Gail Albert, founders of Shelburne Vineyard, will "ease into retirement," according to a news release. The Alberts will continue to support the new company as "brand ambassadors," and will retain partial ownership of the combined business.

Cider and wine, wine and cider

To kick off the merger, Shelburne Vineyard has added an expanded collection of Eden's sparkling and still ciders, ice ciders and canned ciders to its tasting room. The vintner will also offer Eden's ciders for tasting and purchase at its Lincoln Peak Tasting Room in New Haven, when it reopens in mid-May.

Shelburne Vineyard acquired Lincoln Peak Vineyard in 2021, after taking over management of five of Lincoln Peak's 12 acres of vines the previous two seasons. The two companies had been friendly competitors, according to Ken Albert.

Eden will soon offer Shelburne Vineyard wines and the vineyard's line of Iapetus natural wines through its ecommerce and distribution channels, according to a news release.

More: New restaurants in Vermont: Here's a look at what opened this summer.

"This year marks the 25th anniversary of our very first vineyard plantings, and it felt like a fitting time for us to entrust our pioneering Vermont winegrowing venture to a team that is firmly committed to the same values," Ken Albert said in a statement. "It was extremely important to us that the company stay local and continue to be owned by Vermonters, so the opportunity to work with Eleanor and Eden just made sense."

Contact Dan D’Ambrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosio@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDambrosioVT. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Shelburne Vineyard merges with Eden Specialty Ciders