Australian Cider Awards now open!

6 Aug 2015

The Australian Cider Awards are forging ahead in 2015 with new style guidelines and new classes to support a booming national cider industry that is fast becoming a key player in global market growth.

Cider Australia today opened entries for this year’s national show and is expecting record numbers of entries from local and international cider producers.

Cider Australia President Sam Reid said, “The Awards gives cider makers an unparalleled opportunity to have the quality of their products evaluated and benchmarked by some of the best judges in the nation”.

Cider Australia has this year released comprehensive style guidelines tailored specifically to the Australian market that define how products in each class should present in terms of aroma and flavour, appearance, mouthfeel and overall impression.

“The style guide is a valuable resource for the Australian cider industry and will no doubt become a go-to reference for producers and anyone that markets, buys, serves or drinks cider.

“Release of the guidelines is a proud achievement for Cider Australia and a huge step towards our goal of enhancing and standardising cider judging across Australia”, said Mr Reid.

Entries will be assessed by a world class judging panel comprising chair Gary Baldwin, renowned international expert Claude Jolicoeur from Canada, Behn Payten, Karina Dambergs and Bradford Tetlow.

There are 19 award classes with standard cider and perry classes delineated as either a modern and fruit driven “New World” style, or a ‘Traditional’ style which shows comparatively more complexity, texture and structure. ‘Cider or Perry with fruit’ and ‘Apple or Pear Spirit’ have been added to the schedule.

“Consumers are looking to try great examples of ciders across the ever growing spectrum of styles on offer, but are often not quite sure where to start.

“Participating in the Awards is an excellent way for producers to showcase their products and foster continuous improvement in the category”, Mr Reid said.

Winners of the awards will be announced at a dinner on the evening of Friday 9 October at Ormond Hall at The Village Melbourne, while cider lovers from far and wide are invited to attend the Australian Cider Festival being held at Ormond Hall from 12-8pm on Saturday 10 October.

You can enter the 2015 Australian Cider Awards online via Cider Australia’s website at www.cideraustralia.org.au.

Entries close on Friday 18 September 2015.

2015 Australian Cider Awards – Key dates

Media representatives are invited to attend the judging in central Melbourne, but this is closed to the public.

Photo and interview opportunities with judges will be available on request.

FULL DETAILS ON AWARD CLASSES AND RULES ARE IN THE COMPETITON INFORMATION AND STYLE GUIDE 2015 ATTACHED TO THIS MEDIA RELEASE.

For more details or media enquiries contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on 0434 559 759 or visit www.cideraustralia.org.au.