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 Show	Magners with Original Apple
Best Traditional Cider	St Ronan’s with Methode Traditionelle Heritage
Best New World Cider	Magners with Original Apple
Best Perry	Carmel Cider with Pear
Best Cider and Perry Blend	LOBO Cider with Apple & Pear
Best Intensified/Distilled Cider or Perry	Small Acres Cyder with 2015 Pomona Ice
Best Australian Cider or Perry	St Ronan’s with Methode Traditionelle Heritage
Best International Cider or Perry	Magners with Original Apple
Most Successful Small Producer (< 50,000 litres per year)	Small Acres Cyder
Most Successful Larger Producer (>50,000 litres per year)	Westons Cider
Inaugural “Champion of the Industry Award”	Drew Henry

 

BEST IN CLASS

Class 1A	New World Dry Cider	Winter Brook Vintage Cider 2016	Winter Brook
Class 1B	Traditional Dry Cider	Willie Smiths Somerset Red Streak Dry Cider	William Smith & Sons
Class 2A	New World Medium Cider	Original Apple	Magners
Class 2B	Traditional Medium Cider	Wyld Wood Organic Apple	Westons Cider
Class 3A	New World Sweet Cider	Squashed Apple Cider	The Barossa Cider Co
Class 3B	Traditional Sweet Cider	LOBO Royale	LOBO Cider
Class 4A/B	Method Traditional (disgorged) Cider	Methode Traditionelle Heritage	St Ronan’s
Class 5A	New World Dry Perry	Pear Perry	Spreyton Cider Co
Class 5B	Traditional Dry Perry	No entries
Class 6A	New World Medium Perry	Packham Pear	The Cider Lab
Class 6B	Traditional Medium Perry	Pear Cider	Twisted Sister Cider
Class 7A	New World Sweet Perry	Mr Finch Pear Perry (Bottle)	Mr Finch
Class 7B	Traditional Sweet Perry	No entries
Class 8A/B	Method Traditional (disgorged) Perry	Pear	Carmel Cider
Class 9	Speciality/Experimental Cider or Perry	The Hills Cider Company Hop Edition	The Hills Cider Company
Class 10	Apple and Pear Blends	LOBO Apple & Pear	LOBO Cider
Class 11	Cider or Perry with Fruit	The Hills Cider Company Apple Ginger	The Hills Cider Company
Class 12	Ice Cider or Perry	Small Acres Cyder 2015 Pomona Ice	Small Acres Cyder
Class 13	Pommeau	Small Acres Cyder 2010 Pommeau	Small Acres Cyder
Class 14	Apple or Pear Spirit	The Hills Cider Company	Adelaide Hills Distillery Virgin Apple Spirit