Industry body Cider Australia has called on the Federal Government to refocus its Wine Equalisation Tax rebate so eligibility is limited to cider made from 100% Australian apple and pear juice.

The national association of cider and perry producers today released a new position statement proposing a simple and effective eligibility test that ensures the rebate directly benefits agricultural communities while also cutting Government expenditure.

Cider Australia president Sam Reid said, “The purpose of the WET rebate is to support rural and regional producers, so it makes sense that the rebate should only be available to producers that use Australian juice”.

“There is a huge difference in the economic activity generated by the production of Australian craft cider and perry using 100% Australian grown fruit compared to ciders made from imported juice concentrate, particularly in regional Australia”.

“Australian Craft cider may only count for between 5-10% of the cider produced in Australia, with the rest made from cheap imported juice concentrate, but the craft cider industry is punching above its weight when it comes to supporting our growers”, Mr Reid noted.

“It’s easy to see the positive impacts of the craft cider industry on prices, eating fruit quality and local industry diversity, but its production is also driving growth in tourism, regional employment and a host of other ventures”, said Mr Reid.

The Government will soon consult on the implementation of the WET rebate reform package announced in the May Federal Budget.

“We are concerned that attempts to limit eligibility for the rebate could wipe out many of our smaller producers and stifle innovation and growth in the cider category”, said Mr Reid.

“Cider Australia does not support announced cuts in the annual rebate cap for producers that use Australian grown fruit, particularly during the embryonic stage of industry development”.

“It’s time to level the playing field so that craft cider producers have some chance of competing with producers that use significant imported ingredients”, Mr Reid said.

Download Cider Australia’s Position Statement on WET Reform.

For more details contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on 0434 559 759.

Australia’s largest ever festival of craft cider will land in Melbourne this October at a new, outdoor venue perfect for soaking up the Spring sunshine.

The Australian Cider Festival will be held in the Sidney Myer Courtyard, situated between the Malthouse Theatre and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art in Southbank, on Saturday 8th October.

As the festival moves into its fifth year, Cider Australia President Sam Reid said the organisation was excited to be taking the festival to the next level with 26 craft cider producers to exhibit alongside a feast of food and entertainment.

“Our festival is special because it brings together consumers and cider makers in a welcoming, relaxed setting, made even better by the fact there will be so many quality craft ciders on offer”, Mr Reid said.

“We’ll be asking attendees to vote for their favourite producer on the day with some great prizes up for grabs”, said Mr Reid.

The festival follows the presentation of the Australian Cider Awards at a gala dinner on Friday 7th October. A record 20 categories are to be judged this year by a world-class panel which includes UK cider writer, photographer and blogger Bill Bradshaw.

“There won’t be a better place to be in Australia on Saturday 8th October, and anyone with an interest in craft cider should come on down!” said Mr Reid.

Around 1,500 people are expected to attend the festival with over 60 local and international ciders available to taste, food trucks serving cider-matched fare and master classes throughout the afternoon. Cider will also be on sale to take home.

Confirmed cider brands appearing at the festival include:

• Alpine Cider
• Batlow Cider
• Blue Elephant Beverage Co
• Cheeky Grog Co
• Daylesford Cider
• Flying Brick Cider
• Frank’s Cider
• Granite Belt Cider
• Harcourt Perry & Cider Makers
• Henry of Harcourt
• Hillbilly Cider
• LOBO Cider
• Lost Pippin
• Montague Cider House
• Napoleone Cider
• Pennyroyal Raspberry Farm & Cidery
• Pressman’s Cider
• Sidewood
• Spreyton Cider
• St Ronan’s
• Thatchers
• The Hills Cider Company
• Twisted Sister Cider
• Verano Cider
• Willie Smith’s Organic Cider
• Yarra Valley Cider.

Tickets to the festival are $35 Early Bird/$45 General Admission and include free tastings and a PLUMM tasting glass.

To buy tickets or find out more visit www.ciderfestival.com.au. For updates visit facebook.com/cideraustralia or twitter @cideraustralia. Contact office@cideraustralia.org.au with stallholder queries.

Cider Australia today opened entries to this year’s national cider Awards and is expecting a flood of entries in Australia’s largest show in history.

The sixth annual Australian Cider Awards continues to gain momentum as producers vie for accolades in more classes than ever before, reflecting the sustained development of an industry that shows no signs of slowing down!

Chief Steward of the Awards, Cider Australia Secretary and head cider maker at Flying Brick Cider on the Bellarine Peninsula Nyall Condon said the show is a tremendous opportunity for producers and distributors to showcase their products and have them benchmarked by the finest cider judges in the country.

“We are proud to be leading the charge in cider category development and education through our Awards. This year we have refined the comprehensive style descriptors released last year to ensure our show keeps pace with the rapidly evolving Australian cider market”, said Mr Condon.

“A record twenty categories will be judged in 2016 and this includes the standard cider and perry classes, a number of specialty and intensified/distilled classes and one new addition for 2016, Apple and Pear Blends”, Mr Condon said.

Entries will be assessed by a world class judging panel comprising chair Gary Baldwin (chief winemaker at Handpicked Wines), UK cider expert Bill Bradshaw, renowned wine and cider journalist Max Allen, Behn Payten (winemaker at Payten & Jones Wines and formerly cidermaker at Napoleone Cider) and Briony Liebich (sensory analyst at Lion).

“Cider is a complex beverage that deserves special consideration and the panel of judges is ready to cover all bases in terms of aroma and flavour, appearance, mouthfeel and overall impression”, said Chair of the judging panel Gary Baldwin.

Mr Baldwin explained that the best of the best ciders must have a certain ‘wow-factor’ that makes them stand out from their peers.

Winners of the awards will be announced at a gala dinner on the evening of Friday 7th October, with festivities continuing at the annual Australian Cider Festival being held for the first time in Melbourne’s Malthouse Theatre Courtyard from 12-7pm on Saturday 8th October.

You can enter the 2016 Australian Cider Awards online via Cider Australia’s website at www.cideraustralia.org.au/awards

International entries must be available for sale in Australia at the time of entry.

Entries close on Friday 9th September 2016.

 

2016 Australian Cider Awards – Key dates

What	When
Entries open	Fri 17th June
Entries close	Fri 9th September
Entries to be delivered	Mon 5th – Fri 16th September
Judging (closed to public)	Mon 26th & Tue 27th September
Awards presentation dinner	Fri 7th October
Australian Cider Festival	Sat 8th October

Media representatives are invited to visit 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 COMPETITION INFORMATION AND STYLE GUIDE 2016 [Cider Australia 2016-Styleguide [Official]].

For more details or media enquiries contact Cider Australia secretary Nyall Condon on 0417 877 388 or visit www.cideraustralia.org.au

Global cider expert and co-collaborator in The Cider Hunters, a new video based project examining cider cultures around the world, will visit Australia as guest judge at this year’s Australian Cider Awards.

UK-based Bill Bradshaw – judge, speaker, photographer and writer on all things cider – is looking forward to immersing himself in Australia’s booming cider culture when the awards are judged in Melbourne later this year.

Bill has written several books on cider including the highly respected and multi award winning World’s Best Cider: Taste, Tradition and Terroir, from Somerset to Seattle, co-authored with British writer Pete Brown.

Cider Australia president Sam Reid said, “Bill Bradshaw’s passion for cider is unrivalled and Australian producers can’t wait to show off the exceptional quality and diversity of our local ciders, and see what Bill is able to capture and share with cider devotees across the world”.

“The awards continues to build on its status as the leading cider show in Australia with more than 200 entries expected this year”, said Mr Reid.

“We released detailed cider style guidelines last year to assist the judges in their assessment of ciders and also serve as an educational tool for producers, marketers and especially dedicated cider drinkers.

Bill is coming at a very important time for Cider Australia as the organisation moves its focus to developing the category of Craft Cider in the coming year.

“There are lots of opinions of what determines ‘craft cider’ around the globe and Bill is across all of these many definitions. While he is here he will be presenting to producers, drinkers and customers his perspective on what make a craft cider which will no doubt be a lively debate!”

“Our focus moving forward is on engaging with retailers and consumers to build knowledge about different cider styles and ensure we’re all speaking the same language when describing ciders”, noted Mr Reid.

The awards will be officially opened for entries in early June and winners will be announced at a gala presentation dinner on the evening of Friday 7 October.

 

For more details contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on 0434 559 759 or visit www.cideraustralia.org.au. For information about Bill Bradshaw visit billbradshaw.co.uk/cider or The Cider Hunters website www.ciderhunters.com

Celebrate World Cider Day – Friday, June 3rd

The rapid growth of apple cider globally has encouraged the industry to introduce its own international event to celebrate the delicious drink.

World Cider Day will be held for the first time tomorrow, Friday June 3rd, with events and specials planned for venues across Australia.

Cider Australia President Sam Reid said the day would allow consumers the chance to embrace the cider culture, which is taking off across the globe.

“You don’t really need an excuse to enjoy a drink of cider or perry but this is a great opportunity to celebrate everything that is great about the entire industry,” Mr Reid said.

“It’s a great opportunity to reflect on the many different types and styles of cider available from around the world and feel part of a bigger movement as cider is not just growing in Australia, it’s a global phenomenon.”

World Cider Day has been initiated by cider connoisseurs in Europe, where they are starting to feel the warmth of the Northern Hemisphere summer and punters can sit back in the sun with a refreshing cider.

But, just because it’s getting cold in Australia, doesn’t mean those passionate about the product forget about it – for many in the industry it’s actually the best chance they have to enjoy a relaxing beverage.

“Everyone has their ferments underway and so it’s a time to watch them. The more keen orchardists among us might be already pruning the trees but generally that doesn’t take place until later in the year – it’s a time to relax slightly after running at 100 miles an hour for the past few months during harvest and before that during the busy summer selling season,” Mr Reid said.

“The idea for world cider day originated in Germany and they are obviously seeing it as a great way to start their busy summer sales season. We’re the opposite here in Australia but it’s a great reminder that cider can be a drink for all seasons!”

Join in the celebrations by posting photos using the #worldciderday hashtag!

For World Cider Day information and events see www.worldciderday.com

 

Media contact: For more information contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on 0434 559 759. Keep up to date with the latest news via twitter @cideraustralia or www.cideraustralia.org.au. 

This is the year Craft Cider will get traction according to the national cider industry body.

Cider Australia, representing over 70 local and international craft producers, growers and suppliers, held its Annual General Meeting in Melbourne last week.

Sam Reid of Tasmania’s Willie Smith’s Organic Apple Cider was returned for the third year as president of Cider Australia to lead the industry in a charge to define a Craft Cider category.

“We have recast our agenda this year towards engaging with customers on Craft Cider – what is it, what is so good about it, and how to pick out a quality craft offering when faced with the hundreds of brands on sale in Australia”, Mr Reid said.

Cider Australia believes an ‘Australian Craft Cider’ must be made from the juice of 100% Australian grown apples and pears, and that an international craft cider must have similar authenticity in regards to its juice content.

“Beyond the juice used, there are other factors that impact the quality of a cider such as whether cider specific apples are used, a cider maker’s management or ownership of fruit grown and a producer’s connection to fermentation”, said Mr Reid.

Mr Reid noted that Cider Australia wants to see a clear Craft Cider category emerge in liquor retail outlets so customers start to see beyond the often confusing and disingenuous claims on labels.

“If we can get to a situation where Craft Ciders are recognised and properly valued in Australia, producers will have more incentive to create the interesting and unique ciders that people want to drink and talk about”, Mr Reid said.

Cider Australia 2016 Executive Committee

President – Sam Reid, Willie Smith’s Organic Cider (TAS)
Vice President – Warwick Billings, LOBO Cider (SA)
Secretary – Nyall Condon, Flying Brick Cider Co (VIC)
Treasurer – Shane McLaughlin, Hillbilly Cider (NSW)
Category Development (new) – Toby Kline, The Hills Cider Company (SA)
Digital – Mark Ellis (VIC)

For more details contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on 0434 559 759.

Industry body Cider Australia welcomes reforms announced in yesterday’s Federal Budget to tighten eligibility for the Wine Equalisation Tax rebate but is disappointed the rebate cap will be reduced.

The WET rebate scheme provides rebates to cider producers as well as grape wine producers and is crucial to the viability of the domestic cider industry and the growers and local communities it supports.

The Government has announced that from 1 July 2019 eligibility criteria will be tightened to require claimants to own a winery or have a long term lease over a winery and sell packaged, branded wine domestically. The changes are being made to deter artificial business structuring and multiple rebate claims.

Cider Australia president Sam Reid said, “The cider industry has advocated changes for some time and welcomes stronger eligibility criteria and the closing of loopholes to preserve the original intent of the scheme”.

The Government is also proposing a reduction in the annual rebate cap from $500,000 to $350,000 on 1 July 2017 and $290,000 on 1 July 2018.

“Cider Australia does not support a reduction in the rebate cap while we don’t have a level playing field in labelling.

“It is unfair to reduce support for smaller craft producers on one side of the ledger when nothing is being done on the other side to level the playing field and clearly identify on shelf or on pack the low cost producers who are importing cheap apple concentrate”, said Mr Reid.

“Cider Australia calls for a share of the $300 million in projected savings to be diverted to cider industry development to assist producers to diversify and improve quality in their products”, said Mr Reid.

“A reduction in the cap will disproportionately impact the smaller, niche producers who are driving innovation and securing emerging opportunities to export cider”, said Mr Reid.

Cider Australia should participate in further consultation on eligibility criteria to ensure the definition of a winery appropriately captures cider businesses.

 

For more details or interviews contact Cider Australia President Sam Reid on 0434 734 797.

drinks bulletin have reported on Cider Australia’s plans to encourage in-store segmentation of ciders. Read the full story here.

http://drinksbulletin.com.au/2016/03/cider-makers-tackle-mainstream-beer-mentality/

Cider Australia – the national body that represents the cider and perry industry in Australia – has launched a new website to better serve the industry and its members by promoting events, sharing information and making it easier to find out about each member.

The practical, new website features an interactive cider map of Australia showing the major cider producing regions, details on each member producer and a national events calendar listing cider-related festivals, conferences, competitions and educational opportunities.

President of Cider Australia Sam Reid said the new website will play an important role in helping to achieve Cider Australia’s vision which is to build a sustainable cider category in Australia.

“Cider Australia was established to undertake activities that improve the quality of ciders produced and marketed in this country, and our website is designed to provide easy access to information about these activities and cider generally”, Mr Reid said.

“We are a voluntary, non‐profit, member-based organisation and bring together people with an interest in cider to exchange knowledge on trends, production techniques and innovations.

“The new website features resources for the industry, policy makers and cider consumers, with historical information on the annual Australian Cider Awards – now entering its sixth year, along with Cider Australia news and policy submissions.

“Cider makers and enthusiasts from Australia and overseas can also use the site to learn more about Australian cider styles, our local producers and the products they make”, Mr Reid added.

To see the new Cider Australia website go to www.cideraustralia.org.au

 

Media contact: Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson – 0434 559 759.

A special edition cider using 18 different apple varieties sourced from across Tasmania’s Huon Valley has scooped the pool at this year’s Australian Cider Awards.

On Friday night Willie Smith’s was honoured in front of almost 100 people at the national awards gala dinner, with its Willie Smith’s 18 Varieties limited edition taking out the Best in Show award.

Judges said the product was very true to type – a medium cider in the traditional style – describing it as “lifted … with a lingering fruit flavour and an attractive bitterness on finish”.

Willie Smith’s co-owner Sam Reid said the prestigious award was a great reward for the entire crew at the Grove business, which is based on a fourth-generation organic apple farm.

“We couldn’t be happier with this product because it showcases what is great about Willie Smith’s – we are small enough to make really interesting cider but large enough to get it out to enough people to educate and influence the category.”

Willie Smith’s 18 Varieties won 3 trophies – Best in Show, Best Cider and Best Australian Cider or Perry.

Orange-based Borrodell Vineyard also won a gold medal with their Heritage Apple Cider while Adelaide Hills business, The Hills Cider Company, walked away with two best in class awards.

Cider Australia Vice President Warwick Billings said judges were impressed with the standard on display as they worked their way through 155 entries across 18 classes.

“This year there were almost double the number of medals awarded resulting from a significant increase in bronzes, which indicates that Australian producers are refining their cider making skills,” Mr Billings said.

“With such rapid improvement in the overall quality of our local ciders since the Awards began five years ago.

Media Note: For more details or to arrange interviews/overlay vision/photos, please contact Jane Anderson at Cider Australia – 0434 559 759.

Winners’ List

Trophies

Best in Show: Willie Smith’s Organic Cider (18 Varieties)
Best Cider: Willie Smith’s Organic Cider (18 Varieties)
Best Australian Cider or Perry: Willie Smith’s Organic Cider (18 Varieties)

Best in Class

1A New World Dry Cider: Jachmann Apple Co, Lady William Apple Cider 500ml
1B Traditional Dry Cider: Borrodell Vineyard, Borrodell Vineyard’s Heritage Apple Cider
2A New World Medium Cider: The Hills Cider Company, Apple Cider
2B Traditional Medium Cider: Willie Smith’s Organic Cider (18 Varieties)
3A New World Sweet Cider: Flying Brick Cider Co, Flying Brick Original Cider
3B Traditional Sweet Cider: Seven Oaks Farmhouse Cider, Kingston Black
4A/B Method Traditional Cider: 321 Cider, 321 Cider Methode Traditionelle Cuvee
5A New World Dry Perry: Core Cider Company, Perry
6A New World Medium Perry: The Hills Cider Company, Pear Cider
7A New World Sweet Perry: The Barossa Valley Cider Company, Squashed Pear Cider
8A/B Method Traditional Perry: Frank’s Cider, Frank’s Perry (Methode Champenoise)
9 Cider or Perry with Fruit: Cheeky Rascal Cider, Passion Fruit Pink Lady
10 Specialty/Experimental Cider or Perry: Batlow Cider, Batlow OPA Cider
11 Ice Cider or Perry: Small Acres Cyder, Small