Cider Australia is the peak body for the cider and perry industries in Australia.
Cider Australia has announced the winners of the 2021 Australia’s Best Cider Selection of the Year Awards.
Gurneys Cidery in Gippsland, Victoria has been crowned National Winner of the inaugural competition, and also takes out the Best Cidery award, impressing the judges with a cutting edge cider selection that pushes the bounds on experimentation, collaboration and education while retaining a ‘super serious intent’.
Willie Smith’s Apple Shed in the Huon Valley, Tasmania was awarded the Best Cider + Food Venue in Australia. The judging panel noted that Willie Smith’s is a fabulous cidery that ‘nails it’ with its excellent range of ciders matched with a finely crafted restaurant menu, cementing itself as a ‘must visit’ stop in southern Tasmania.
President of Cider Australia, Warwick Billings, said the Best Cider Selection Awards are designed to identify and reward venues that go the extra mile to present their customers with interesting, unique and delicious cider choices.
“The high standard of entries received from across Australia was really encouraging and shows us that the competition has a bright future.
“Launching a new competition in the midst of a pandemic came had its challenges, not least that the judges were constrained to a virtual assessment of entries, but we still have plenty of learnings and ideas for next steps”, said Warwick.
The 2021 panel of three independent judges comprised drinks writer and backyard cider maker Max Allen, wine + drinks writer/presenter Mike Bennie and Master Sommelier and director of REAL Wines Sebastian Crowther.
Entries were assessed on the quality, diversity and suitability of the ciders on offer, as well as efforts to educate and assist customers to select products.
WINNERS – 2021 BEST CIDER SELECTION OF THE YEAR AWARDS
National Winner
Gurneys Cidery
Category Awards
Best Cidery: Gurneys Cidery
Best Cider + Food Venue: Willie Smith’s Apple Shed
Highly Commended
Cidery Category (in alphabetical order):
Daylesford Cidery
Napoleone Orchard Bar & Cidery
Small Acres Cyder
Willie Smith’s Apple Shed
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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 Best Cider Selection of the Year Awards
This competition was launched in 2021 to identify and acknowledge venues that offer customers an excellent selection of ciders. It expands Cider Australia’s existing efforts to benchmark and promote the cider industry.
Cider Australia has opened entries to the 2021 Australian Cider Awards!
President of Cider Australia and chair of the Awards organising team, Warwick Billings, said the tenth annual show will go ahead for the first time in more than two years with the judging to be held in Melbourne in January.
Record numbers of entries are anticipated in Australia’s largest ‘blind’ cider tasting which sets the benchmark for cider shows across Australia.
“This year’s Schedule has 29 classes including a new Herbs/Spices class and provision for low and no-alcohol products to enter for the first time, keeping the Awards contemporary and in line with the market”, said Warwick.
“The team has been ready and preparing for the Awards despite Covid-19, and the window of opportunity is now here.
“We are glad we hung in there and the show is finally going to happen as it will bring a lot of festive spirit to the Australian cider community”, Warwick said.
Registrations open today via myaca.rasv.com.au and close 3 December.
FULL DETAILS ON AWARD CLASSES AND RULES CAN BE FOUND HERE.
2021 Australian Cider Awards – Key dates
|
Entries Open |
Tue 9 Nov 2021 |
|
Entries Close |
Fri 3 Dec 2021 |
|
Deliver Entries |
Mon 6 – Fri 24 Dec 2021 |
|
Judging (closed to the public) |
Tue 18 & Wed 19 Jan 2022 |
|
Awards Presentation |
To be advised |
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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 late 2021/early 2022 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. In 2019 the Awards received a record 276 entries from 84 Australian and international producers.
Entries are now open to the 2021 Australia’s Best Cider Selection of the Year Awards.
Cider Australia established this competition to reward venues and retailers that have great cider selections. Entries are invited in three categories:
- Australia’s Best Cider Selection – Pub/Restaurant
- Australia’s Best Cider Selection – Liquor Retailer
- Australia’s Best Cidery/Cellar Door
Full competition details including the judging criteria, Terms & Conditions and entry form link can be found here.
Entries will be open until 29 October with the winners announced in mid-November. Winners receive a trophy, marketing collateral and social media opportunities.
Who is eligible to enter?
Any licensed venue or liquor retailer is eligible to enter. By liquor retailer, we mean an individual bricks and mortar liquor store (not a chain of stores) or an online retailer.
What information is needed to enter?
Entrants need to list the ciders available at the venue/store and provide supporting information to show how the judging criteria are met. This could be a copy of the menu or drinks list, images of the venue, shelf displays or other descriptive information. Answers can be typed directly into the entry form and any documents, images and video uploaded.
The video is intended to give the judges a feel for the customer experience and provide an alternative means to explain the cider offering. To be fair to all entrants, video should be taken on a mobile device – professional videos will not be accepted. The maximum length of video is 45 seconds for a Pub/Restaurant, 30 seconds for a Liquor Retailer and 2 minutes for a Cidery/Cellar Door.
What are the judging criteria?
Judges will assess cider selections against the following four judging criteria:
- quality
- ciders of known provenance (i.e. Australian ‘craft’ cider made from Australian grown apples, or French cider made from French apples)
- ciders that represent a particular cider style well
- breadth of styles
- balance of cider styles, apple varieties and regions (if suitable, for example, a venue specialising in regional produce would be expected to feature local ciders)
- suitability
- to the type of venue and cuisine
- education
- identifying provenance and/or style
- providing product information, tasting notes and food matching suggestions
- promotional activities
Questions?
If you have any questions please get in touch at awards@cideraustralia.org.au.
Cider Australia is launching the Best Cider Selection of the Year Awards to identify and acknowledge venues that offer customers an excellent selection of ciders.
The Best Cider Selection Awards will accept nominations from licensed establishments and liquor retailers across Australia in three categories – Pub/Restaurant, Liquor Retailer and Cidery/Cellar Door.
President of Cider Australia, Warwick Billings, said the new competition is an important progression for the cider industry as cider palates evolve and consumers seek out new tasting and food matching experiences.
“Our aim is to reward the venue owners, managers and sommeliers that go the extra mile to present their customers with interesting, unique and delicious cider choices”, said Warwick.
“The Awards will help people find venues that serve great cider, whether they are looking to have an after-work drink, casual weekend lunch or a high-end restaurant meal.
Entries will be assessed on the quality, diversity and suitability of the ciders on offer, as well as efforts to educate and assist customers to select products.
Category winners will receive a trophy, marketing collateral and social media opportunities.
Entries open next week and close on 29 October.
COMPETITION DETAILS ARE ON THE CIDER AUSTRALIA WEBSITE.
Best Cider Selection of the Year Awards – Key dates
| Entries Open | Early October 2021 |
| Entries Close | 29 October 2021 |
| Winners Announced | Mid November 2021 |
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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.
The Best Cider Selection of the Year Awards expand Cider Australia’s existing efforts to benchmark and promote the cider industry and from 2022 will be incorporated into the annual Australian Cider Awards program. The Australian Cider Awards were postponed in 2020 and remain on hold in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cider Australia is gearing up to launch the 2021 Australian Cider Awards next month giving producers the opportunity to benchmark their products against the best local and imported ciders available in Australia.
President of Cider Australia and chair of the Awards organising team, Warwick Billings, said the tenth annual Awards will go ahead despite the challenges of Covid-19 which prevented the show from running last year.
“An incredible team of judges is getting ready to assess hundreds of entries in Australia’s largest “blind” cider tasting”, said Warwick.
“We will be announcing some changes to the Schedule to keep the range of products that can be entered contemporary and in line with the market.
“Record numbers of entries are expected as producers look to evaluate their tried and tested products as well as some lockdown creations”, said Warwick.
Registrations will open in early August.
FULL DETAILS ON AWARD CLASSES AND RULES ARE IN THE 2021 STYLE GUIDE.
Key dates
| Entries Open | Early August |
| Entries Close | Fri 24 Sept |
| Deliver Entries | Mon 27 Sept – Fri 8 Oct |
| Judging (media representatives are invited to visit the judging but this is closed to public) | Tue 19 & Wed 20 Oct (Melbourne) |
| Awards Presentation | Fri 29 Oct (to be confirmed) |
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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 Spring 2021 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. In 2019 the Awards received a record 276 entries from 84 Australian and international producers.
Australian Cider Day on Saturday 13th March is the perfect opportunity to seek out and celebrate Australian craft ciders.
Industry body Cider Australia established this annual event to highlight product origin and help consumers learn more about authentic Australian cider.
Cider Australia President Warwick Billings said the events of the past year have focused the minds of consumers on authenticity and products made by locals with ingredients they understand and trust.
“Cider made with 100% Australian grown fruit continues to outperform the rest of the category”, said Warwick.
“Cider Australia launched its 100% Australian Grown trust mark to help consumers identify and buy local products, and it is now displayed on hundreds of ciders across Australia helping them to buy local”, Warwick said.
“With the apple harvest upon us and cider makers beginning to press and ferment thousands of bins of fruit across Australia, Australian Cider Day is the perfect opportunity to salute 100% Australian craft cider”.
Cider producers will mark this day by organising cider events, tastings and other fun festivities with events published on Cider Australia’s website as they are announced.
Everyone is encouraged to share news and photos about Australian Cider Day events with the hashtag #drinkaustraliancider to ensure the country’s cider cheer is spread far and wide.
For more details visit www.cideraustralia.org.au/australianciderday
#drinkaustraliancider
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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.
A new President will lead the Australian cider industry body into the new year as cider producers celebrate a renewed sense of allegiance to locally grown produce.
Sam Reid of Tasmania’s Willie Smith’s Cider Makers will step down after six and a half years as President of Cider Australia and one year as Vice President.
“I am proud to have led the charge to establish a sustainable craft cider category in Australia, navigating the ongoing challenge of policy and legislative reform while establishing a marketable 100% Australian Grown cider brand.
“Joining forces with Wine Australia through the Export and Regional Wine Support Package Cider Program has been a highlight over the past few years and has enabled our vision for the industry to come to life.
“I feel the industry is now at a point where people recognise and value quality Australian craft ciders, and that is immensely rewarding”, said Sam.
“I am pleased to announce that Warwick Billings of LOBO Cider in the Adelaide Hills will take on the role of President of Cider Australia from 1 January 2021″.
Warwick joined the Executive team in 2014 as Vice President and chair of the policy and technical working group and more recently also took on the role of Chief Steward of the Australian Cider Awards.
“He is astute and highly motivated and I and the Executive team have great confidence that his guidance will serve the industry well”, said Sam.
“Warwick has been making fantastic, interesting ciders for some time now and is well placed to continue to take us cider tragics on a great journey into the future”.
Incoming present Warwick acknowledged Sam’s achievements in uniting the industry and educating and inspiring others to embrace Australian craft cider.
Cider Australia 2021 Executive Committee
President – Warwick Billings, LOBO Cider (SA)
Vice President – Gus Kelly, Kelly Bros Cider (VIC)
Secretary – Richard Feyn, Sydney Brewery (NSW_
Treasurer – Shane McLaughlin, Hillbilly Cider (NSW)
Category Development – Andrew Carruthers, Carmel Cider (WA)
Digital – Mark Ellis, Pobblebonk Cider Works (VIC)
Committee members – Jo-Anne Fahey (Darkes Cider, NSW), Doug Inwood (3 Sons Cider, ACT), Tim Jones (RDS Partners, TAS), Peter Ross (Incy Wincy Cyder, NSW)
#drinkaustraliancider
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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.
Cider Australia has released a Cider Labelling Guide to help its members comply with Australian cider labelling rules. The Guide covers mandatory and non-mandatory labelling elements and includes checklists for single unit, multi-pack and carton packaging.
Members may download the new Guide from the Cider Australia website (Members Area) or request a copy at office@cideraustralia.org.au. We encourage you to review the document and share it with your marketing teams and designers.
If you have any comments or questions, please get in touch at office@cideraustralia.org.au.
Cider Australia thanks the Endeavour Drinks Group and Multi-Color Corporation for assisting with this project!
Cider Australia launches The Australian Cider Guide
-helping local and export markets appreciate Australian craft cider-
The Australian craft cider industry has been heavily impacted by the closure of hospitality venues and imposed social isolation around the nation due to the coronavirus pandemic.
To help support the industry during the peak selling season of spring/summer, and educate consumers who enjoy this new world beverage, Cider Australia has launched The Australian Cider Guide. Written by award winning drinks journalist and cider aficionado, Max Allen, the glossy A4 guide educates the reader about: the history and production of cider; the ingredients that make an authentic Australian cider; and tips on food and cider pairing for the perfect flavour experience.
Available to download here (in English, Japanese or Simplified Chinese) or in hard copy from info@cideraustralia.org.au (English only), The Australian Cider Guide is part of a $500,000 Australian Government investment to reach developing craft cider markets overseas, including Japan.
Publication of The Australian Cider Guide follows the 2018 introduction of the ‘100% Australian Grown’ trust mark, which enables consumers to identify craft ciders made from Australian grown apples and pears; helping them support local businesses.
“While the export market is very important for the Australian cider industry, there is still significant potential at a local level, with Australian craft cider producers representing less than 15 per cent of the cider market here,” commented Sam Reid, Cider Australia president and craft cider producer.
“Australia is producing world-class craft cider and The Australian Cider Guide will help Cider Australia promote the diversity of Australian ciders and the regions in which they’re produced.”
www.cideraustralia.org.au / #drinkAustraliancider
Media enquiries – for further information and images, or to interview Sam Reid, contact:
Roberta Marcroft or John Wanna, Write Away Communication
Ph: (02) 9978 1400
Email: roberta_marcroft@therecognitiongroup.com.au, john_wanna@therecognitiongroup.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.
Cider Australia has announced that the 2020 Australian Cider Awards will be postponed due to COVID-19.
Competition organiser Cider Australia is saddened that the Australian cider community cannot come together this year to reward excellence in cider production but acknowledges the wellbeing of everyone involved takes precedence at this difficult time.
The judging of the annual cider show is held in Melbourne each October and involves a dedicated team of around 30 judges, stewards and staff, many of whom travel interstate or overseas to attend. Cider Australia has decided it is not feasible to proceed this year given the logistical challenges and health and safety risks posed by the pandemic.
We would like to thank all of our entrants, sponsors and judges for their ongoing support and will set our sights on making next year’s show bigger and better than ever.
Details about the next Awards will be announced in mid-2021.
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MEDIA ENQUIRIES
For more details please contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on 0434 559 759 or office@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 now be held in late 2021 following the postponement of the 2020 competition. 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. In 2019 the Awards received a record 276 entries from 84 Australian and international producers.
