Cider judging underway at 2015 Awards

29 Sep 2015

A panel of cider connoisseurs is hard at work this week sampling 155 different ciders from across the country and overseas.

The 5th annual Australian Cider Awards are being held in Melbourne for the second time, with judging underway at the William Angliss Institute in the CBD.

Cider Australia President Sam Reid said the awards are continuing to expand and evolve, with record entries this year in an expanded number of award classes.

“The release of a new Style Guide this year has set the benchmark for cider judging in Australia, with clear definitions for how each class should present in terms of flavour and aroma, appearance and mouthfeel guiding the judging’’, Mr Reid said.

“We have an excellent line-up of entries and are looking forward to seeing how ciders perform, including those in newer classes such as the experimental and cider or perry with fruit categories’’, said Mr Reid.

Canadian Claude Jolicoeur is bringing his cider expertise to the table as guest international judge, joining panel chair Gary Baldwin, Behn Payten, Karina Dambergs and Bradford Tetlow.

“Based on the high quality of ciders we have tasted so far today, I expect there to be plenty of medals awarded’’, Mr Baldwin said.

Mr Jolicoeur will host an interactive Cider Judging Master Class at the Brunswick Street Cider House this Wednesday, September 30th from 9.30am on cider judging vs cider appreciation, and a forum for cider producers on Saturday 10th October covering apple varieties, blending and fermentation and impacts on quality.

“Cider producers should seize this opportunity to learn from one of the industry’s great technical experts and help drive the development Australia’s unique cider industry”, said Mr Reid.

Winners of the awards will be honoured at a dinner, to be held at Ormond Hall at The Village Melbourne on Friday October 9th, while cider celebrations will continue with the Australian Cider Festival at Ormond Hall at The Village on Saturday October 10th.

All event details can be found at Facebook.com/CiderAustralia/events

Media Note: Photos/overlay vision and interviews are available today and tomorrow. Please contact Jane Anderson – 0434 559 759 – to arrange.