Cider Festival Countdown!

7 Oct 2014

The country’s best cider is about to be celebrated and the good folk of Melbourne are invited to the party.

More than 1500 people are expected to flock to this weekend’s Australian Cider Festival, which will be held in Melbourne for the first time.

Ormond Hall at The Village Melbourne will come to life on Saturday and Sunday, with over 20 stalls sampling dozens of cider and perry styles.

Cider producers at the festival include Apple Thief, Batlow Cider, Bilpin Cider, Endless Cider, Flying Brick, Franklin Cider, Hazeldean Forest Farm, Hillbilly Cider, LOBO, Lucky Duck, Mock Red Hill, Napoleone Cider, Cheeky Rascal Cider, Small Acres Cyder, Snakes and Ladders Cider, Spreyton Cider, Thatchers, The Hills Cider Company, Too Many Chiefs, Weston World Brands and Willie Smith’s.

Festival goers can make their way to The Village Melbourne Brasserie for live entertainment and cider-matched food offerings, with festival specials including veal cutlet with caramelised apple and cider jus and grilled baby octopus on soba noodle and wakame salad with apple balsamic.

Entry is from 1pm. Tickets will be $25 at the door and includes 20 x 50mL complementary tastings, a tasting glass, program and tasting notes.

Early-bird tickets at $20 per day are available online at www.cideraustralia.org.au A Producers Forum will also be held at The Village Melbourne Brasserie from 10-11.30am on Saturday. Tickets cost $65 ($25 for members of Cider Australia) and are also available on the website.

“The forum will be an interactive session hosted by international expert Malcolm Reeves and is a golden opportunity for professional and home cider makers alike to learn about the craft,” Cider Australia President Sam Reid said.

The festival fun will follow on from the industry’s major awards ceremony on Friday night.

The `Best in Show’ prize will be announced around 9pm on Friday night at the formal event, to be held at The Kelvin Club.

“This is the weekend to celebrate cider and all of the fabulous artisan producers from across the country who are making some wonderful products that are really highly regarded by industry experts,” Mr Reid said.

“The awards dinner on Friday night has attracted more than 100 people from the industry, and 1500 people will hopefully flock to The Village on Saturday and Sunday, making Melbourne the cider capital of Australia this weekend!”.

Media Note: A media call with the trophy winners and Cider Australia President Sam Reid will be held at The Village Melbourne at 12 noon on Saturday to discuss the awards and the development of cider in Australia.

For more details, please contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on 0434 559 759. You can also keep up to date with the latest news via twitter @cideraustralia or www.cideraustralia.org.au