Craft cider bottles across Australia are appearing in stores featuring Cider Australia’s world first craft cider trust mark.

The trust mark is an industry-led initiative – backed by the Australian Government’s $50 million Export and Regional Wine Support Package – and part of Cider Australia’s campaign to build a sustainable cider industry in Australia and establish an export market for local brands.

The ‘back-to-earth’ cider trust mark has been well received within the industry since launching in October 2018, with 47 cider producers already signed up. This means the trust mark will feature on the producer’s cans and bottles, allowing consumers to easily identify the quality and origin of ingredients and make an informed decision when buying cider.

“The trust mark is going well and has really unified the cider community,” comments Sam Reid, president, Cider Australia. “The trust mark gives producers and orchardists a way to unite behind and take to market Australian grown craft cider, and I’m really proud of the work the team and industry have done to get the trust mark off the ground.

“We have existing producers lining up to put the trust mark on their product, as well as new producers joining Cider Australia. We’re also starting to see excitement with consumers, showing really strong, functional and emotional reasons to support Australian producers and orchardists.

“The trust mark appearing on cider bottles at this time of year is very timely from an export perspective. We’re seeing an increase in a consumer trend globally and in Australia with more and more interest of the style of cider from different markets, providing a different perspective of what traditional cider has been from the UK and France.”

Cider Australia will be hosting the National Cider Conference AusCider in Hobart, Tasmania over World Cider Day on 3 June.  

www.cideraustralia.org.au 

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MEDIA ENQUIRIES

To interview Cider Australia spokespeople and other industry representatives, please contact: Adrienne Pearson or Roberta Marcroft, Write Away Communication + Events Ph: 02 9978 1400, Email: adrienne_pearson@writeaway.com.au  roberta@writeaway.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. 

About the trust mark 
Cider Australia has launched a 100% AUSTRALIAN GROWN trust mark that can only be displayed on ciders made with 100% Australian grown fruit. This is an industry-led initiative that will reinforce the premium quality of Australian craft cider and drive integrity in the market. When you buy a cider with the 100% AUSTRALIAN GROWN trust mark, you are not only buying a premium product but also supporting Australian growers, Australian jobs and our local communities. This trust mark has been developed with the support of levy funds from the Australian Apple Marketing Levy, managed by Hort Innovation, a not-for-profit, grower-owned Research and Development Corporation (RDC) for Australia’s horticulture industry.

National cider conference
AusCider is the cider industry’s annual information exchange and networking event that connects cider producers, fruit growers, researchers, suppliers and other industry representatives from Australia and overseas. The Batlow CiderFest organised and ran the first seven conferences in Batlow, NSW. Cider Australia will now manage the event as it moves to major cider centres in other states. Details about the conference are available on the Cider Australia website at cideraustralia.org.au

Did you know?

Country of Origin Labelling

Cider is a fruit wine made from fermented juice, in this case the juice of apples and pears. The origin of the juice in cider is an important consideration for many consumers, and Cider Australia believes that labels on cider should identify the country of origin of the juice.

The Federal Government introduced a new Country of Origin Labelling system in 2016. Cider, as an alcoholic beverage, is classed as a non-priority food under the new rules. Non-priority foods must include a country of origin claim on labels. As a ‘substantially transformed’ product, the country of origin statement for cider must relate to where the product was ‘made’ (fermented), rather than where the ingredients were ‘grown’. As a result, cider labels do not need to identify the origin of the juice.

Definition of cider

There is no minimum juice content in products labelled as cider in Australia. This is in stark contrast to the rules in other key cider producing countries, such as the UK – which has a 35% minimum juice requirement, and the United States – where cider must contain at least 50% juice.

Cider Australia advocates for reform of the definition of cider and perry in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code to ensure what is stated on the label aligns with consumer expectations, and the product composition requirements in comparable international markets such as the UK and United States.

Cider Australia believes that a product should not be labelled as cider or perry if it contains:

• less than 50% by weight of apple and/or pear juice, and/or
• alcohol specifically to increase ‘alcohol by volume’ (to ensure ready-to-drink style beverages are not called cider).

Download a copy of this release here.

Industry body Cider Australia has released the final program for AusCider 2019 which officially opens in Hobart, Tasmania during World Cider Day on 3 June.

Bridging the spectrum from orchard establishment to cider tourism, the first national cider conference to be held in Tasmania will reveal the huge leaps forward being taken by the Australian cider industry.

Sam Reid, President of Cider Australia and co-founder of Tasmania’s Willie Smith’s Cider Makers said the organisation is especially proud to be hosting AusCider on World Cider Day – a day that brings together cider lovers across the world.

“We have the UK’s first accredited Pommelier Jane Peyton visiting the apple isle and she will share with us her vision for pairing food and cider”, said Mr Reid.

“We are thrilled to announce that Rodney Dunn from Tasmania’s multi award-winning ‘paddock-to-plate’ restaurant and cooking school The Agrarian Kitchen will join our panel discussion on cider and food matching, with insights that will help us take cider to the next level”, Mr Reid said.

The local cider industry is set to show off Tasmania’s extraordinary commitment to cider with Cider Tasmania and FermenTasmania collaborating on the events.

“Cider is having such a positive impact on the Tasmanian economy with Tasmanian producers punching above their weight at the premium end of the cider category, as recognised through the financial support provided by the Tasmanian Government to bring the conference to the state”, Mr Reid noted.

Tickets are now available via Ticketebo for the one and a half day conference, AusCider dinner and tours of the Huon and Tamar Valleys.

The full program can be viewed here.

www.cideraustralia.org.au 
www.worldciderday.com
www.ticketebo.com.au/auscider2019
www.jane-peyton.com

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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. 

National cider conference

AusCider is the cider industry’s annual information exchange and networking event that connects cider producers, fruit growers, researchers, suppliers and other industry representatives from Australia and overseas. The Batlow CiderFest organised and ran the first seven conferences in Batlow, NSW. Cider Australia will now manage the event as it moves to major cider centres in other states. AusCider 2019 will be held in Hobart, Tasmania from 2-5 June. Tickets and conference details are now available at www.ticketebo.com.au/auscider2019

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

To interview Cider Australia spokespeople please contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on 0434 559 759 or office@cideraustralia.org.au.

– Ends –          

 
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. 

About the trust mark 
Cider Australia has launched a 100% Australian Grown trust mark that can only be displayed on ciders made with 100% Australian grown fruit. This is an industry-led initiative that will reinforce the premium quality of Australian craft cider and drive integrity in the market. When you buy a cider with the 100% AUSTRALIAN GROWN trust mark, you are not only buying a premium product but also supporting Australian growers, Australian jobs and our local communities. 

National cider conference
AusCider is the cider industry’s annual information exchange and networking event that connects cider producers, fruit growers, researchers, suppliers and other industry representatives from Australia and overseas. The Batlow CiderFest organised and ran the first seven conferences in Batlow, NSW. Cider Australia will now manage the event as it moves to major cider centres in other states. AusCider 2019 will be held in Hobart, Tasmania from 2-5 June. Tickets and conference details are now available at www.ticketebo.com.au/auscider2019

MEDIA ENQUIRIES
To interview Cider Australia spokespeople please contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on 0434 559 759 or office@cideraustralia.org.au.

AusCider 2019, Tasmania, 3-5 June 2019

National industry body Cider Australia has announced that next year’s national cider conference will be held in Tasmania from 3 – 5 June 2019.

AusCider 2019 will bring together cider producers, fruit growers, researchers and cider industry representatives from across Australia. The UK’s first accredited pommelier (cider sommelier), award winning drinks writer and consultant Jane Peyton will join proceedings as guest international delegate and keynote speaker.

President of Cider Australia and co-founder of Willie Smith’s Cider Makers, Sam Reid, said the cider industry is grateful for the support of the Tasmanian Government which has enabled Cider Australia to bring the conference to Tasmania.

“Tasmania is overloaded with exceptional food and drink experiences and has fast become a national hub for fermentation R&D, making it the perfect place to hold the 2019 conference”, said Mr Reid.

AusCider 2019 will be held in conjunction with the annual conference of Fruit Growers Tasmania (FGT). “FGT are excited to have Cider Australia join them in Hobart for their 2019 conference”, said the organisation’s CEO Stu Burgess. “The Tasmanian fruit sector has a long history of supporting the cider industry with numerous premium brands producing exceptional value added products for sale at cellar door, domestically and also in high value export markets. In the first week of June, we look forward to showcasing the fantastic profitable businesses right from ‘paddock to bottle’!”

Members of state-based cider industry body Cider Tasmania are delighted that the conference is being held locally and look forward to contributing to making the conference a success. The conference program will include one and a half days at the C3 Convention Centre in South Hobart followed by site visits and events in other regions of Tasmania.

Further information about the conference including program and ticketing information will be released on Cider Australia’s website in early 2019.

www.cideraustralia.org.au
www.jane-peyton.com

– Ends –

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.

About AusCider 2019

The Australian Cider Conference (AusCider 2019) is the cider industry’s annual information exchange and networking event. It connects cider producers, fruit growers, researchers, suppliers and other industry representatives from Australia and internationally. The Batlow CiderFest organised and ran the first seven conferences in Batlow, NSW. Cider Australia will now manage the event as it moves to major cider centres in other states.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

To interview Cider Australia spokespeople and other industry representatives, please contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on 0434 559 759 or office@cideraustralia.org.au.

Australia’s largest craft cider festival returns to Sydney next month mixing fun, frivolity, education and an amazing selection of local and internationally crafted ciders.

The sixth Australian Cider Festival will be held at the Mercure Sydney at the top of George Street, Chippendale from 12-6pm on Saturday 6th October.

Cider Australia President Sam Reid said festival attendees are in for a treat with 20+ craft cider producers to exhibit alongside a feast of tempting food and live entertainment.

“Festival goers will be able to sample and meet the makers of the best ciders available in Australia while relaxing on the Mercure’s sunny outdoor terrace – worlds apart from the hustle and bustle of Railway Square below”, Mr Reid said.

“Many of the ciders that producers will show at the festival can only be tasted when visiting cellar doors, so this is a great opportunity to try some weird and wonderful ciders you might not otherwise see”, said Mr Reid.

“There is no better place than the Australian Cider Festival to brush up your cider knowledge and join in the biggest celebration of craft cider ever held in Australia!”

The festival will be held in conjunction with the launch of the world’s first craft cider trust mark and the presentation of the 2018 Australian Cider Awards at a gala dinner on Friday 5th October.

Richard Feyn from Sydney Brewery said, “Sydney Brewery and the Mercure Sydney are proud to be supporting the festival as major sponsors this year, reflecting our support of Australian cider producers”.

Around 1,000 people are expected to attend the festival with 100+ local and international ciders available to taste, cider-matched food and master classes throughout the afternoon.

Cider brands appearing at the festival include Cheeky Grog Co, Darkes Cider, Flying Brick Cider Co, Hillbilly Cider, LOBO Cider, Incy Wincy Cyder, Kelly Brothers Cider Co, Napoleone Cider, Pomologist Cider, Sydney Cider, The Apple Thief, Westons Australia and Willie Smith’s Cider.

Tickets to the festival are $40 presale or $45 at the door and include unlimited free tastings, a tasting glass and program.

To buy tickets visit eventbrite.com.au. Visit facebook.com/australianciderfestival or cideraustralia.org.au for more details.

Contact office@cideraustralia.org.au with stallholder queries.

Cider making excellence will be under the spotlight at the annual Australian Cider Awards, which opened for entries today.

Australia’s largest cider show enters its eighth year with expectations of more than 300 entries and a commitment to show the world that Australian ciders are up there with the best.

President of Cider Australia and co-founder of Willie Smith’s Cider Makers in Tasmania Sam Reid said the Awards have become a stamp of quality that producers respect and aspire towards.

“By recognising excellence in production we encourage the cider industry to keep building skills, investing and pushing the boundaries of what consumers expect”, said Mr Reid.

“We have introduced a new low alcohol cider and perry class this year in response to growth in this segment of the market, and predict a continued surge in entries of more complex traditional ciders and craft spirits.

“Every year more entries excite and “wow” the palates of our judges, and we can’t wait to see what emerges this year.

“This year with the Australian industry beginning to focus on exporting as part of the $500,000 Export and Regional Wine Support package there will be an even greater focus on how Australian ciders perform against their International counterparts, and I for one can’t wait until the Awards dinner!”, he said.

Twenty-eight classes will be judged covering standard cider and perry, specialty and intensified and distilled styles.

Winners will be announced at a gala industry dinner on Friday 5th October at the Mercure Sydney, with more celebrations at the Australian Cider Festival on Saturday 6th October.

Enter the 2018 Australian Cider Awards online via www.cideraustralia.org.au/awards

Entries close on Friday 31st August 2018.

FULL DETAILS ON AWARD CLASSES AND RULES ARE IN THE 2018 Style Guide AND 2018 Competition Information.

For more details contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on 0434 559 759 or visit www.cideraustralia.org.au. Follow the Awards via twitter @cideraustralia and the #australianciderawards hashtag.

2018 Australian Cider Awards – Key dates

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

On Sunday 8 April 2018, The Age, the Sydney Morning Herald and a number of other newspapers published a report about Little Fat Lamb products, citing concerns about the very low price and marketing of these product. The reports state that Little Fat Lamb is heavy cider.

Cider Australia DOES NOT BELIEVE that Little Fat Lamb is a cider product, rather a ready to drink (RTD)/premix product masquerading as a cider.

Little Fat Lamb is sold at a price that indicates it falls under the Wine Equalisation Tax rather than the excise regime, whereas Government policy is that RTD/premix products are excisable.

This is a unique situation where one company is not acting in the spirit of the law.

Cider Australia welcomes calls for transparency from the producer of Little Fat Lamb to better understand what the product actually is, so that it can be taxed correctly.

We continue to push for truth in labelling so drinkers can understand what they are consuming.

Cider Australia is an independent, not-for-profit organisation funded by cider businesses and sponsors. We aim to build a sustainable cider category by undertaking activities that improve the quality of ciders produced and marketed in Australia.

We support the responsible consumption and marketing of alcoholic beverages.

Contact: Cider Australia President Sam Reid (0434 734 797) or Executive Officer Jane Anderson (0434 559 759)

The competition director of the world’s largest cider show GLINTCAP will judge at the 2018 Australian Cider Awards.

Cider Australia President Sam Reid today revealed the judging panel for the 8th national cider show.

“I’m pleased to announce that Eric West from the United States will be our guest international judge this year”, said Mr Reid.

Mr West runs the renowned online information and news resource Cider Guide (ciderguide.com) and is a leading cider educator with many accolades to his name, including the prized United States Association of Cider Makers’ Significant Contribution to the Cider Industry award.

“Eric has an amazing knowledge of ciders from all corners of the world, impressive judging credentials and a real passion for spreading the good word on cider which fits our guest judge role perfectly”, said Mr Reid.

The independent panel of judges will be chaired by Behn Payten of Payten & Jones Wines and include Mr West, Mike Bennie (freelance writer and journalist), Sebastian Crowther MS (Rockpool Dining Group), Briony Liebich (Lion Co) and Jody Scott (NZ’s Zeffer Cider).

“The remarkable quality and breadth of expertise on the panel is one of the things that sets the Awards apart and we’re proud to be able to put together a panel of this calibre”, Mr Reid said.

Mr West will run workshops while in Australia on the current state of the US cider industry and the organisation and management of GLINTCAP, the Great Lakes International Cider & Perry Competition.

Entries to the 2018 Australian Cider Awards open on 1 June.

Award winners will be announced at a gala industry dinner in Sydney on 5 October.

For further details contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson at office@cideraustralia.org.au or 0434 559 759 or visit www.cideraustralia.org.au

AUSTRALIAN CIDER AWARDS BACKGROUND

• Cider Australia will run the 8th annual Australian Cider Awards in Spring 2018.
• The Australian Cider Awards is the largest cider competition in Australia. Last year there were 250 entries from Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the UK, US, Italy, Spain and Sweden.
• Judging will be held over 2 days in late September at the William Angliss Institute in central Melbourne. The judging is closed to entrants and the public.
• The Judging panel comprises 6 judges (including the guest international judge) and 2 associate judges.
• Products can be entered in one of 28 Award classes covering Traditional and New World cider and perry, specialty and intensified/distilled styles.
• Key changes to the class structure in 2018 are:
  • the ‘Medium’ cider and perry classes will be split into ‘Medium Dry’ (~ 9 – 35g/L sugar) and ‘Medium Sweet’ (~ 35-40g/L sugar) reflecting the number of products that are being entered in this sweetness range.
  • a new low alcohol cider class for products with an ABV of 1.15-3.5% will be added to the schedule.
  • the apple and pear spirits class will be split into a non-aged (Eau de Vie) and an aged spirits class.
• Results will be announced at a gala cider industry dinner on Friday 5 October 2018 in Sydney.
• The Awards is an important precursor to the largest craft cider festival in Australia, the annual Australian Cider Festival, to be held on Saturday 6 October 2018 in Sydney.

Full entry details including the competition rules and 2018 Style Guide will be available soon at www.cideraustralia.org.au

Australian craft* cider producers are being invited to contribute to a $500,000 plan to build overseas markets for craft cider.

The Australian Government is investing $500,000 in the craft cider industry over two years to build a brand proposition and marketing strategy aimed at boosting exports, as part of the $50 million Export and Regional Wine Support Package.

Cider Australia has engaged internationally experienced brand strategist, Guy Taylor, to develop a brand proposition to market ‘Australian craft cider’ internationally that can be leveraged by Australian cider producers.

Guy worked with Blundstones to take them to the forefront of the global workwear movement, co-created the ‘Who is James Boag?’ campaign and in the travel sector, lead Tourism Tasmania’s brand evolution in 2013.

The aim of the funding to take craft cider businesses to the next level by building knowledge of potential export markets and developing improved understanding for accessing these markets.

Insights from the Australian craft cider industry are crucial in shaping this work. Guy will be reaching out to craft cider producers in the coming months to get their ideas and opinions on the craft cider industry.

A further step will be to develop a Go-To-Market strategy and a ‘toolkit’ to assist producers to understand prospective export markets and navigate the rules and complexities associated with exporting to those markets. The Australian wine sector has developed an international reputation and exports 61 per cent of its production. The Australian craft cider industry also has the potential to achieve growth through building export markets.

Regular updates on the cider program and information on opportunities to contribute will be posted on the Cider Australia website.

The program will be delivered by Wine Australia, which is administering the Export and Regional Wine Support Package, for the wine and cider industries, guided by a work plan subject to agreement from the Australian Government, Cider Australia and other key stakeholders.

* ‘Australian craft cider’ is cider produced in Australia using fresh Australian fruit ingredients.

Magners Original Apple cider has won the Best in Show at the 2017 Australian Cider Awards in the largest ever field of entries.

Cider producers and industry representatives from across Australia gathered to honour the winners of the Awards at Friday night’s gala dinner in Melbourne.

Magners Original Apple was awarded the top prize because it displayed a perfect balance of sugar, tannin and overall complexity combined with toasty, savoury, creamy notes – the ‘wow’ factor that helped this product rise to the top.

Cider Australia President Sam Reid said the night was particularly memorable because Cider Australia presented its inaugural Champion of the Industry Award, a new award that honours individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the Australian cider industry over a prolonged period of time.

“The Award was presented posthumously to Harcourt orchardist and cider maker Drew Henry”, said Mr Reid.

“Drew was a passionate advocate for craft cider, a generous educator and a leader in his field, and the Australian cider industry is in a better place as a result of Drew’s involvement”.

Four other gold medals were awarded in the competition to St Ronan’s Cider from Victoria, The Barossa Cider Co along with new entrant The Sparkke Change Beverage Company from South Australia and the UK’s Westons Cider.

Chief Steward of the Awards Nyall Condon said it is amazing to see how far the Awards have come in just a few years with a record 250 local and international entries (25% more than last year) and a big step up in the number and grade of medals being awarded.

A list of the Award winners is attached. Full results are contained in the 2017 Australian Cider Awards Results Booklet.

Media Note: For more details or to arrange interviews/photos please contact Jane Anderson at Cider Australia on 0434 559 759 or office@cideraustralia.org.au  

WINNERS LIST – 2017 AUSTRALIAN CIDER AWARDS

TROPHIES

BEST IN CLASS