Cider Australia announces 2018 Australian Cider Award winners

6 Oct 2018

Cider Australia has announced the winners of its 2018 Australian Cider Awards, indicating a very strong future for the local craft cider movement. Willie Smith’s Kingston Black Cider from William Smith & Sons in Tasmania won ‘Best in Show’, ‘Best Traditional Cider’ and ‘Best Australian Cider’ with a score of 93 in the Traditional Medium Sweet Cider class. Of the 13 gold medals awarded this year, nine were won by Australian cider producers.

“This is an exciting time for the cider industry in Australia,” commented Jane Anderson, executive officer, Cider Australia. “It’s great to see more Australian producers and their ciders scoring higher than ever before in this year’s judging. While fewer entries scored medals, the cider making profession in Australia is becoming more skilled and competitive with more gold medals awarded.

“With the quality of cider produced in Australia constantly improving, our Australian producers have also been winning medals at international shows in the US, UK and the World Cider Awards,” added Ms Anderson.

Prior to the Awards dinner held in Sydney on Friday, October 5, cider producers from around the country and international guests were invited to attend an industry forum where a world-first Australian craft cider trust mark was unveiled by Cider Australia. Designed to identify ciders made with 100% Australian grown fruit, the trust mark will help consumers to make more informed choices when buying cider. Current labelling laws make it difficult to identify from where fruit in a cider has been sourced. Less than 15 per cent of Australia’s cider market comprises craft ciders made with 100% Australian grown fruit.

A field of 260 Australian and international entries were judged across 25 classes by a panel of local industry professionals and visiting experts from the US and New Zealand. Within each class, bronze, silver or gold medals were awarded based on points achieved, with the highest score winning best in class and the overall category trophy.

2018 Australian Cider Award winners:

Best in Show:William Smith & Sons – Willie Smith’s Kingston Black Cider
Best Traditional Cider:William Smith & Sons – Willie Smith’s Kingston Black Cider
Best New World Cider:Westons – Caple Road
Best Perry:Fils De Pømme – L’Épatant
Best Intensified / Distilled Cider or Perry:Small Acres Syder – Small Acres Cyder 2010 Pommeau
Best Australian Cider or Perry:William Smith & Sons – Willie Smith’s Kingston Black Cider
Best International Cider or Perry: Westons – Caple Road
Most Successful Small Producer (less than 50,000l per year):Small Acres Cyder
Most Successful Larger Producer (more than 50,000l per year):William Smith & Sons
Champion of the Industry Award:David Pickering, researcher and apple orchardist, NSW

For more information and a full list of award and medal winners visit: https://www.cideraustralia.org.au/2018-cider-awards-announced/

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About Cider Australia

Cider Australia is an independent, not-for-profit organisation funded by cider businesses and sponsors, established in 2012. It aims to build a sustainable cider category by undertaking activities that improve the quality of ciders produced and marketed in Australia. The organisation represents the interests of the cider industry to policy makers, calling for regulations and policies that support a diverse and evolving cider industry.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

To interview Cider Australia spokespeople or award winners, please contact:

Adrienne Pearson or Roberta Marcroft, Write Away Communication + Events

Ph: 02 9978 1400, Email: adrienne_pearson@writeaway.com.au  roberta@writeaway.com.au