Cider Australia is the peak body for the cider and perry industries in Australia.
A national celebration of cider made from Australian grown apples and pears will be held across the country this Saturday 11 March 2023.
Australian Cider Day is an annual event that draws attention to Cider Australia’s 100% Australian Grown trust mark – an industry-led and owned initiative launched in 2018 to boost understanding about product origin.
Cider producers mark this annual day by organising cider events, tastings and other fun activities to educate drinkers about quality Australian cider.
Cider Australia President Warwick Billings said the trust mark and Australian Cider Day highlight what makes Australian craft ciders unique – the fact they are made with Australian grown fruit rather than imported juice concentrate which goes into an estimated 90% of the ciders sold in Australia.
‘By choosing ciders that display the trust mark, drinkers are supporting Australian fruit growers and their communities and boosting Australian jobs in the craft cider industry’, Warwick said.
More than 80 Australian cider producers are now registered to use the trust mark.
Cider Australia features Australian Cider Day events on its website and promotes use of the social media hashtag #drinkaustraliancider so everyone can see what the Australian cider community is up to.
For more details visit www.cideraustralia.org.au/australianciderday or the Australian Cider Day Facebook page.
– Ends –
Media enquiries
Contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on 0434 559 759 or office@cideraustralia.org.au or visit www.cideraustralia.org.au.
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, and runs the national cider conference AusCider and the Australian Cider Awards.
About the trust mark and Australian Cider Day
Cider Australia’s 100% Australian Grown trust mark is an industry-led initiative to reinforce the premium quality of Australian craft cider and drive integrity in the market. The trust mark can only be displayed on ciders made from 100% Australian grown ingredients. The trust mark was developed with the support of the Australian Government’s $50 million Export and Regional Wine Support Package, and levy funds from the Australian Apple Marketing Levy managed by Hort Innovation.
Cider Australia has established an Australian Cider Day to fall on the second Saturday of March each year. The purpose of day is to raise awareness of the 100% Australian Grown trust mark and create an occasion to educate drinkers and celebrate Australian Cider.
The Australian cider industry’s national conference will be held in the Perth Hills of Western Australia from 3-5 May.
Organised by national industry body Cider Australia, AusCider brings together cider producers, fruit growers, researchers and cider industry representatives from across Australia and overseas.
Warwick Billings, President of Cider Australia, said the conference will deliver a unique program of technical, sensory, science, production and business-related cider education across 2.5 days of seminars, networking events and behind-the-scenes visits to local orchards and cideries.
“This year’s conference theme is The Business of Cider. Keynote speaker Ryan Burk from the United States will join Australian and international experts to discuss the hows and whys of running successful craft cider businesses.
“We are excited about holding our first event in Western Australia as it will allow us to forge stronger linkages with the Western Australian cider community and showcase the innovations and developments happening in Western Australia and beyond”, said Warwick.
AusCider 2023 is proudly presented by fermentis and Pomewest and generously supported by local partners and sponsors including the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
For more information visit www.cideraustralia.org.au/auscider
– Ends –
Media enquiries
Contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on
0434 559 759 or office@cideraustralia.org.au or visit www.cideraustralia.org.au.
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, and runs the national cider conference AusCider and the Australian Cider Awards.
About AusCider
AusCider is the cider industry’s annual information exchange and networking event connecting cider producers, fruit growers, researchers, suppliers and other industry representatives from Australia and overseas. The Batlow CiderFest committee and the NSW Department of Primary Industries organised and convened the first seven conferences (2012-2018) in Batlow, NSW. In 2019, Cider Australia and Batlow CiderFest agreed to transition management to the peak industry body to allow it to rotate between the key cider producing states of Australia.
About Ryan Burk – Keynote Speaker
From growing up in the epicentre of New York State apple production to leading some of the US’s most ambitious and industry defining cider programs, Ryan Burk (pictured right) has spent a life time with apples and cider. He helped establish and lead Virtue Cider in Michigan (acquired by ABI), and elevate America’s largest cider maker, Angry Orchard, taking the brand to new successes on both the national and local stage with the Innovation Cider House in Walden NY, where he focused on terroir driven ciders that have won awards around the world.
As dedicated industry advocate, Ryan has served on the board of The American Cider Association and is a founding board member of The Cider Institute of America, the US’s premier science-based education platform. He has been recognised for his industry advocacy, innovation and collaboration by Imbibe 75 People to Watch and Wine Enthusiast’s 40 Under 40.
Ryan is now making cider under his own label, Occam Cider Co. as well as co-founding Feel Goods Company, a full definition innovation pipeline development studio bringing beverage brands to life across categories.
Below: AusCider 2023 Keynote Speaker Ryan Burk
Cider Australia has announced the winners of the 2022 Australian Cider Awards at a gala dinner this evening at Lot 100 in the Adelaide Hills.
William Smith & Sons from the Huon Valley in Tasmania won Best in Show, the Best Traditional Cider and Most Successful Larger Producer trophies, with their Heritage Blend Apple Cider wowing the judges with its deep apple characters, balanced tannins and lingering, bold finish.
Hosted by Cider Australia and supported by a dedicated team of volunteers, the Awards promotes and rewards excellence in cider production. This is the 11th national show and the first presentation event to be held in South Australia.
President of Cider Australia Warwick Billings said running the 2022 Awards to its traditional Spring schedule and with an international guest judge – Yann Gilles from France – was a significant achievement in a climate of ongoing disruption and uncertainty.
A field of 212 Australian and international entries across 24 classes was judged by a panel of respected industry professionals led by chief judge Sebastian Crowther MS of Real Wines. Nine gold medals and eight trophies were awarded.
2022 Australian Cider Award Trophy winners:
Best in Show: William Smith & Sons with Heritage Blend Apple Cider (TAS)
Best New World Cider: The Hills Cider Company with Apple Cider (SA)
Best Traditional Cider: William Smith & Sons with Heritage Blend Apple Cider (TAS)
Best Perry: Core Cider with Perilous 2020 (WA)
Best Specialty Cider or Perry: Roleystone Brewing Co with Rosé Cheeks (WA)
Best Intensified / Distilled Cider or Perry: Carmel Cider Company with Apple Brandy (WA)
Most Successful Small Producer: LOBO Juice and Cider (SA)
Most Successful Larger Producer: William Smith & Sons (TAS)
Cider Australia also honours individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the Australian cider industry over a prolonged period of time through its Champion of the Industry Award. This Award was presented to Andrew Lea from the UK.
A full list of award and medal winners can be found here.
– Ends –
Media enquiries
Contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on 0434 559 759 or office@cideraustralia.org.au or visit www.cideraustralia.org.au.
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, and runs the national cider conference AusCider and the Australian Cider Awards.
About the Awards
The 2022 Australian Cider Awards is the largest cider competition in Australia and is leading the standardisation and improvement of cider judging across Australia. The judging of the 2022 Awards was held on 7-8 November 2022 at the William Angliss Institute in Melbourne. The panel comprised 7 full judges and 4 associates, bringing expertise from across the alcoholic beverage industry including:
- chair Sebastian Crowther (Real Wines)
- international guest Yann Gilles (Malus & Vitis consulting, France)
- Nyall Condon (Flying Brick Cider Co)
- Lucy Maddox (Forest Dweller Wines)
- Vanessa Altmann (Mighty Craft)
- Dr Soumi Paul Mukhopadhyay (NSW Department of Primary Industries)
- Dale Cooper (Wine Domaine)
- Jason Hirsch (Dan Murphy’s)
- Emma Penny (cicerone student)
2022 Best in Class Winners
| Class | Best in Class |
| Class 1 – New World Cider Dry | Lucidity Sturmer Pippin Apple Cider William Smith & Sons, Tasmania, Australia |
| Class 2 – New World Cider Medium | Apple Cider The Hills Cider Company, South Australia, Australia |
| Class 3 – New World Cider Medium Sweet | Perth Cider Funk Cider, Western Australia, Australia |
| Class 4 – New World Cider Sweet | Royal Apple Cider Mock Red Hill, Victoria, Australia |
| Class 5 – New World Cider Mt (Disgorged) | Bradys Lookout Cider 2018 Heritage Blend Mt Cuvee 12 Bradys Lookout Cider, Tasmania, Australia |
| Class 6 – Traditional Cider Dry | LOBO Lenswulf LOBO Juice And Cider, South Australia, Australia |
| Class 7 – Traditional Cider Medium | Heritage Blend Apple Cider William Smith & Sons, Tasmania, Australia |
| Class 8 – Traditional Cider Medium Sweet | Plenty Cornucopia 2021 Plenty Cider , Tasmania, Australia |
| Class 9 – Traditional Cider Sweet | Not Awarded |
| Class 10 – Traditional Cider Mt (Disgorged) | MC Cider Flying Brick Cider Co , Victoria, Australia |
| Class 11 – Speciality Styles Apple And Pear Blends | LOBO Apple And Pear LOBO Juice And Cider, South Australia, Australia |
| Class 21 – New World Perry Dry | Upside Down Miss Jane 3 Sons Cider, Australian Capital Territory |
| Class 22 – New World Perry Medium | Pear Cider The Hills Cider Company, South Australia, Australia |
| Class 23 – New World Perry Medium Sweet | Squashed Pear Cider The Barossa Valley Cider Company, South Australia, Australia |
| Class 24 – New World Perry Sweet | Spreyton Pear Cider Spreyton Cider Co, Tasmania, Australia |
| Class 25 – New World Perry Mt (Disgorged) | St Ronan’s Methode Traditional Pear Cider Edgar Pines, Victoria, Australia |
| Class 26 – Traditional Perry Dry | Old Twelfth Perry Old Twelfth, Tasmania, Australia |
| Class 27 – Traditional Perry Medium | Not Awarded |
| Class 28 – Traditional Perry Medium Sweet | Not Awarded |
| Class 29 – Traditional Perry Sweet | Not Awarded |
| Class 30 – Traditional Perry Mt (Disgorged) | Core Cider Perilous 2020 Core Cider, Western Australia, Australia |
| Class 31 – Speciality Styles Experimental Cider Or Perry | Bilpin Non Alc Apple Ginger Bilpin Cider Co, New South Wales, Australia |
| Class 33 – Speciality Styles Cider Or Perry With Fruit | Rosè Cheeks Roleystone Brewing Co, Western Australia |
| Class 34 – Speciality Styles Lighter Strength Cider Or Perry | Darkes Perry Glenbernie Orchard T/As Darkes Cider, NSW, Australia |
| Class 35 – Specialty Styles Cider Or Perry With Herbs\Spices | Galaxy Hopped Apple Cider Mismatch Brewing Co, South Australia, Australia |
|
Class 41 – Intensified And Distilled Styles Ice Cider Or Perry |
Not Awarded |
| Class 42 – Intensified And Distilled Styles Pommeau | Harcourt Pommeau Harcourt Perry & Cider Makers, Victoria, Australia |
| Class 43 – Intensified And Distilled Styles Eau De Vie | Eau De Vie Carmel Cider Company, Western Australia |
| Class 44 – Intensified And Distilled Styles Aged Spirit | Apple Brandy Carmel Cider Company, Western Australia |
There is just over one week left to enter the 2022 Australian Cider Awards!
Cider producers and brand representatives are invited to enter ciders, speciality ciders and apple & pear spirits in Australia’s largest and most prestigious cider show.
Entries will be assessed blind by an accomplished panel of beverage and food industry professionals led by chair Master Sommelier Sebastian Crowther and including international guest judge Yann Gilles from France.
President of Cider Australia Warwick Billings said the Awards create an opportunity for entrants to market their Award-winning products with a recognised and respected stamp of quality, helping customers choose great examples of the many cider styles available in Australia.
“We are looking forward to announcing the winners at Australian cider industry’s annual gala dinner to be held in South Australia for the first time, at Lot 100 in the Adelaide Hills”, said Warwick.
Registrations to the Awards close on Friday 14 October. Enter online via myaca.melbourneroyal.com.au
Tickets to the presentation dinner are available via Eventbrite.
FULL DETAILS ON AWARD CLASSES AND RULES CAN BE FOUND HERE.
2022 Australian Cider Awards – Key dates
|
Entries open |
Thu 8 Sep |
|
Entries close |
Fri 14 Oct |
|
Deliver entries |
Mon 17 Oct – Fri 28 Oct |
|
Judging (closed to the public) |
Mon 7 & Tue 8 Nov (William Angliss Institute, Melbourne) |
|
Awards presentation dinner |
Fri 18 Nov (Lot 100, Adelaide Hills) |
– Ends –
Media enquiries
Contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on
0434 559 759 or office@cideraustralia.org.au or visit www.cideraustralia.org.au.
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, and runs the national cider conference AusCider and the Australian Cider Awards.
About the Awards
The 2022 Australian Cider Awards will be held in Spring 2022. The Awards is the largest cider competition in Australia and is leading the standardisation and improvement of cider judging across Australia. Judging of the 2022 Awards will be held on 7-8 November 2022 at the William Angliss Institute in Melbourne. The panel comprises 7 full judges and 4 associates and brings expertise from across the alcoholic beverage industry including:
- chair Sebastian Crowther (Real Wines)
- international guest Yann Gilles (Malus & Vitis, France)
- Nyall Condon (Flying Brick Cider Co)
- Lucy Maddox (Forest Dweller Wines)
- Vanessa Altmann (Mighty Craft)
- Lisa Cardelli (Terroir Selections)
- Dr Soumi Paul Mukhopadhyay (NSW Department of Primary Industries)
Entries to the 2022 Australian Cider Awards opened today as national industry body Cider Australia celebrated a return to its usual Spring judging schedule.
Open to local and imported ciders, speciality ciders as well as apple & pear spirits available for sale in Australia, the Awards is Australia’s largest and most prestigious cider competition with 29 classes and 11 trophies.
President of Cider Australia and chair of the competition organising team, Warwick Billings, said the organisation is anticipating entry numbers to rebound to record levels after a disrupted few years for the industry.
“This year’s guest international judge is French cidrologue and cider consultant Yann Gilles who will bring a wealth of experience, expertise and his international perspective to the world-class judging panel”, said Warwick.
“Yann will also travel to visit producers in several cider regions during his time in Australia and we are confident he will not only inspire but be inspired by the Australian craft cider community”.
Enter the 2022 Australian Cider Awards online via this link.
Registrations close on Friday 14 October with the results to be announced on Friday 18 November at a gala dinner at Lot 100 in the Adelaide Hills (tickets are available now via Eventbrite).
FULL DETAILS ON AWARD CLASSES AND RULES CAN BE FOUND HERE.
2022 Australian Cider Awards – Key dates
| Entries open | Thu 8 Sep |
| Entries close | Fri 14 Oct |
| Deliver entries | Mon 17 Oct – Fri 28 Oct |
| Judging (closed to public) | Mon 7 & Tue 8 Nov (William Angliss Institute, Melbourne) |
| Awards Presentation Dinner | Fri 18 Nov (Lot 100, Adelaide Hills) |
– Ends –
Media enquiries
Contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on 0434 559 759 or office@cideraustralia.org.au or visit www.cideraustralia.org.au.
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, and runs the national cider conference AusCider and the Australian Cider Awards.
About the Awards
The 2022 Australian Cider Awards will be held in Spring 2022. The Awards is the largest cider competition in Australia and is leading the standardisation and improvement of cider judging across Australia. Judging of the 2022 Awards will be held on 7-8 November 2022 at the William Angliss Institute in Melbourne. The panel comprises 7 full judges and 4 associates and brings expertise from across the alcoholic beverage industry including:
- chair Sebastian Crowther (Real Wines)
- international guest Yann Gilles (Malus & Vitis, France)
- Nyall Condon (Flying Brick Cider Co)
- Lucy Maddox (Forest Dweller Wines)
- Vanessa Altmann (Mighty Craft)
- Lisa Cardelli (Terroir Selections)
- Dr Soumi Paul Mukhopadhyay (NSW Department of Primary Industries)
Yann Gilles – Biography
Yann Gilles is a cidermaking and distilling consultant and Founder of cider making consultancy Malus & Vitis. Born in Normandy, Yann’s grandparents made cider on their farm and he now has 25 years’ experience working in the cider sector. Yann launched his own consultancy in 2020 where he partners with cider producers to create apple juice, ciders, perries and spirits using a range of methods. Prior to this, Yann was scientific director at the French R&D cider institute (www.ifpc.eu) for 10 years, and before that he worked for more than a decade at Chambre d’Agriculture de Normandie (France’s main professional organisation for agriculture), consulting to 50 cideries and leading a team of oenologists working on cider.
Yann holds an engineering degree in agriculture and food industry from Ecole Supérieure d’Agriculture in Angers and a diploma of oenology from Institut Universitaire de la Vigne et du Vin Jules Guyot in Burgundy.
This year’s Australian Cider Conference officially opens in Batlow, New South Wales next Thursday as Batlow prepares to welcome thousands of cider enthusiasts to the region for its annual cider festivities.
Bringing together an expert line-up of Australian and international speakers, AusCider 2022 offers a unique mix of technical, business and sensory cider education.
President of Cider Australia and co-owner of LOBO Cider Warwick Billings said the organisation is pleased to have secured retail marketing and horticulture expert John Stanley as a keynote speaker and workshop lead.
“Participants have the opportunity to tour the Wilgro orchard and cidery in Batlow and participate in John’s interactive workshop The Devil is in the Detail that will drill down into the strategies needed to successfully develop new ideas in 2022 and beyond”, said Warwick.
The conference program also includes a dinner, supplier showcase and a full day of conference sessions enabling participants to meet, connect and engage with industry leaders and influencers or the first time since early 2020.
Tickets are available until midday on Monday via Eventbrite.
For more information about the conference and speakers visit www.cideraustralia.org.au/auscider
The conference leads in to the annual Batlow CiderFest street festival on Saturday 21 May – for more information visit www.batlowciderfest.com.au
– Ends –
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on 0434 559 759 or office@cideraustralia.org.au or visit www.cideraustralia.org.au.
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, and runs the national cider conference AusCider and the Australian Cider Awards.
About AusCider
AusCider is the cider industry’s annual information exchange and networking event connecting cider producers, fruit growers, researchers, suppliers and other industry representatives from Australia and overseas. The Batlow CiderFest committee and the NSW Department of Primary Industries organised and convened the first seven conferences (2012-2018) in Batlow, NSW.
In 2019, Cider Australia (CA) and Batlow CiderFest (BCF) agreed to transition management to the peak industry body to allow it to rotate between the key cider producing states of Australia. The 2020 and 2021 conferences were postponed and the 2022 conference moved from Western Australia to Batlow due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
About John Stanley
John Stanley (pictured below) is a Nuffield Scholar and an international consultant with agricultural clients in 35 countries. He is also the owner, with his wife Linda, of the award-winning Chestnut Brae, a 1,000 tree sweet chestnut farm near Nannup in Western Australia. This farm has become a recognised agritourism destination as well as focusing on value-added chestnut products.
National industry body Cider Australia has opened tickets sales for the national cider conference to be held in Batlow, New South Wales from 19-20 May 2022.
Internationally-respected retail marketing and horticulture expert John Stanley will present a keynote address and workshop at the AusCider 2022 conference focusing on the new post-Covid marketplace we find ourselves in.
John’s presentation It’s Time to Get Naked will discuss strategies to increase customer count and average sales per customer, and his interactive workshop will take this concept further and drill down into what individual businesses need to do to successfully execute new ideas.
President of Cider Australia and co-owner of LOBO Cider Warwick Billings said the conference program offers a unique mix of cider education in the areas of production, growing systems, science, sensory analysis and business & marketing.
‘We are running a hybrid event to manage the new Covid-normal and the silver lining to the cloud of disruptions we have faced over the past couple of years is being able to broaden the program of speakers to include leading cider experts from the United States, France and Japan’, said Warwick.
‘Our virtual guest speakers will join an impressive line-up of Australian producers, researchers and technical specialists in the only conference of its kind in Australia’, he said.
AusCider 2022 includes a cidery/orchard tour and conference dinner and coincides with the annual Batlow CiderFest on Saturday 21 May.
Tickets to AusCider 2022 are now available via Eventbrite.
For more information on the conference visit www.cideraustralia.org.au/auscider
– Ends –
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on 0434 559 759 or office@cideraustralia.org.au or visit www.cideraustralia.org.au.
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, and runs the national cider conference AusCider and the Australian Cider Awards.
About AusCider
AusCider is the cider industry’s annual information exchange and networking event connecting cider producers, fruit growers, researchers, suppliers and other industry representatives from Australia and overseas. The Batlow CiderFest committee and the NSW Department of Primary Industries organised and convened the first seven conferences (2012-2018) in Batlow, NSW.
In 2019, Cider Australia (CA) and Batlow CiderFest (BCF) agreed to transition management to the peak industry body to allow it to rotate between the key cider producing states of Australia. The 2020 and 2021 conferences were postponed and the 2022 conference moved from Western Australia to Batlow due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
About John Stanley
John Stanley (pictured below) is a Nuffield Scholar and an international consultant with agricultural clients in 35 countries. He is also the owner, with his wife Linda, of the award-winning Chestnut Brae, a 1,000 tree sweet chestnut farm near Nannup in Western Australia. This farm has become a recognised agritourism destination as well as focusing on value-added chestnut products.
John was recently employed by Tourism WA to help develop the cider trail in WA. He has authored a number of books about agritourism and has spoken at many of the global leading conferences.
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
The Australian cider industry’s annual information exchange and networking conference AusCider 2022 will be held in Batlow, New South Wales on 19-20 May.
Hosted by industry body Cider Australia, the conference connects cider producers, fruit growers, researchers, suppliers and others in the cider community from Australia and overseas.
Warwick Billings, President of Cider Australia, said the twice-postponed conference will focus on how craft cideries can scale up with integrity, with the conference program to be released next week.
“After such a long hiatus, we can’t wait to bring everyone together in the place where the conference was founded ten years ago”, said Warwick.
The conference leads into Batlow’s annual CiderFest on Saturday 21 May, a bustling celebration of Australian craft cider set among a blaze of autumn colours.
Chair of the Batlow CiderFest Committee Richard Breward said the community is gearing up to welcome thousands of people to Batlow for the CiderFest and Bushfire Recovery Sunday the following day.
Richard said, “Confirmation that the conference will be held in Batlow is really the icing on the cake”.
AusCider 2022 is proudly sponsored by Lallemand, Winequip, Midland Insurance and Konvoy Kegs and is supported by the Batlow CiderFest Committee and the Department of Primary Industries New South Wales.
For more information on the conference visit www.cideraustralia.org.au/auscider
For more information on the Batlow CiderFest visit www.batlowciderfest.com.au
– Ends –
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on
0434 559 759 or office@cideraustralia.org.au or visit www.cideraustralia.org.au
Contact the Batlow CiderFest via Karly Fynn on batlowciderfest@gmail.com or visitwww.batlowciderfest.com.au.
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, and runs the national cider conference AusCider and the Australian Cider Awards.
About AusCider
AusCider is the cider industry’s annual information exchange and networking event connecting cider producers, fruit growers, researchers, suppliers and other industry representatives from Australia and overseas. The Batlow CiderFest committee and the NSW Department of Primary Industries organised and convened the first seven conferences (2012-2018) in Batlow, NSW. In 2019, Cider Australia and Batlow CiderFest agreed to transition management to the peak industry body to allow it to rotate between the key cider producing states of Australia. The 2020 and 2021 conferences were postponed and the 2022 conference moved from Western Australia to Batlow due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cider Australia has announced the winners of the tenth Australian Cider Awards at a Virtual Presentation this evening.
The Barossa Valley Cider Company in South Australia won Best in Show, Best Specialty and Best Australian Cider trophies with The Barossa Cider Co – Cloudy Apple Cider made from a blend of 100% Australian grown apples and pears.
Hosted by Cider Australia and supported by Melbourne Royal and a team of volunteers, the Awards promotes and rewards excellence in cider production and is open to local and international cider products sold in Australia.
President of Cider Australia and co-owner of LOBO Cider in the Adelaide Hills, Warwick Billings said the 2021 Awards was an immense success and demonstrates the resilience and determination of the Australian cider community.
A field of 231 Australian and international entries across 27 classes were judged by a panel of respected industry professionals led by chief judge Loïc Le Calvez of wine consultancy Wine Truth.
A record 22 gold medals were awarded this year with a substantial shift up in performance across classes. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded based on points achieved, with gold medal winning entries in contention for trophies.
2021 Australian Cider Award Trophy winners:
Best in Show: The Barossa Valley Cider Company with The Barossa Cider Co – Cloudy Cider
Best New World Cider: Sidro Del Bosco (Cester Camillo) with Sidro Del Bosco
Best Traditional Cider: Daylesford Cider with Wild
Best New World Perry: The Hills Cider Company with Hills Cider Pear
Best Traditional Perry: Core Cider with Perilous
Best Specialty Cider or Perry: The Barossa Valley Cider Company for The Barossa Cider Co – Cloudy Cider
Best Intensified / Distilled Cider or Perry: Spreyton Cider Co with Fancy Apple Brandy
Best Australian Cider or Perry: The Barossa Valley Cider Company for The Barossa Cider Co – Cloudy Cider
Best International Cider or Perry: Sidro Del Bosco (Cester Camillo) with Sidro Del Bosco
Most Successful Small Producer: Sidewood Estate from South Australia
Most Successful Larger Producer: Spreyton Cider Co from Tasmania
For more information and a full list of award and medal winners visit: https://www.cideraustralia.org.au/past-results/2021-results/
Download 2021 Results here.
– Ends –
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
For more details please contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on
0434 559 759 or office@cideraustralia.org.au or visit www.cideraustralia.org.au.
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, and runs the national cider conference AusCider and the Australian Cider Awards.
About the Awards
The 10th annual Australian Cider Awards was held in Summer 2021/22 following its postponement in 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic. The Awards is the largest cider competition in Australia and is leading the standardisation and improvement of cider judging across Australia. It promotes and rewards excellence in cider production and bring together cider makers, industry suppliers, communicators, retailers, sommeliers and consumers.
This year, the Awards received 231 entries from 66 Australian and international producers. The 2021 judging panel included:
- Chief judge Loïc Le Calvez (Wine Truth)
- Nyall Condon (Flying Brick Cider Co)
- Mark Ellis (Pobblebonk Ciderworks)
- Alice Glare (4 Pillars Distillery)
- Tim Jones (RDS Partners)
- Tim Shand (Napoleone Cider)
- Kirrily Waldhorn (The Beer Diva)
- Jason Hirsch (Dan Murphy’s)
Cider Australia has revealed the judging panel for the tenth Australian Cider Awards, the first national show to be held since the pandemic reached Australian shores.
President of Cider Australia and chair of the Awards organising team, Warwick Billings, said despite many challenges an excellent team had been assembled to judge the 2021 Australian Cider Awards.
“233 entries have been received this year across 27 classes, including low and no-alcohol products for the first time”, said Warwick.
“Due to several pandemic-related postponements we will judge in the middle of the Summer holidays, a challenging time in hospitality at the best of times let alone this year, and we are ever thankful to the many volunteers who support our show.
Entries will be assessed blind by a team of judges with skills across the drinks spectrum including:
- Chief judge Loïc Le Calvez (Wine Truth)
- Nyall Condon (Flying Brick Cider Co)
- Alice Glare (4 Pillars Distillery)
- Tim Jones (RDS Partners)
- Tina Panoutsos (Carlton & United Breweries)
- Tim Shand (Napoleone Cider)
- Kirrily Waldhorn (The Beer Diva)
- Jason Hirsch (Dan Murphy’s) – Associate
“We will not hold our usual industry gala dinner this year as we know that orchardists and cider makers will be busy preparing for the year’s vintage”, Warwick said.
“Instead we will run a virtual Awards presentation on the evening of Wednesday 2 February to celebrate the 2021 Award winners and the prospects for a better year ahead”, said Warwick.
Registrations to the Virtual 2021 Australian Cider Awards Presentation are now open via https://webinar365.in/cideraustralia/
FULL DETAILS ON AWARD CLASSES AND RULES ARE ON THE CIDER AUSTRALIA WEBSITE.
Key dates
Judging (William Angliss Institute, Melbourne – closed to public) – Mon 17 & Tue 18 Jan 2022
Virtual Awards Presentation – Wed 2 Feb 2022 (8pm ADST/7.30pm ACST/5pm AWST)
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BIOGRAPHY – Loïc Le Calvez
Loïc Le Calvez is an Oenologist / Wine Consultant. Growing up up in Brittany, France and working in his father’s premium bottle shop from a young age, he discovered a fascinating variety of cider styles and characteristics. With his father also being the owner of a small apple orchard and an amateur cider maker, cider was often the drink of choice at home. A former Chief Winemaker and Chief Operating Officer at Taltarni in Victoria and Clover Hill in Tasmania, in 2016 Loïc started his own business ‘Wine Truth’. With ‘Wine Truth’, Loïc consults to wineries but also delivers unique wines to individuals whilst sharing the story behind these wines. Loïc is also an agent for French cooperage ‘Tonnellerie Vicard’ in Australia and a regular judge in Wine Shows.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
For more details please contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on 0434 559 759 or office@cideraustralia.org.au or visit www.cideraustralia.org.au.
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, and runs the national cider conference AusCider and the Australian Cider Awards.
About the Awards
The 10th annual Australian Cider Awards will be held in Summer 2021/22 following its postponement in 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic. The Awards is the largest cider competition in Australia and is leading the standardisation and improvement of cider judging across Australia. It promotes and rewards excellence in cider production and bring together cider makers, industry suppliers, communicators, retailers, sommeliers and consumers. This year, the Awards received 233 entries from 66 Australian and international producers.
