Cider Australia today opened entries to the 2016 Australian Cider Awards. Expecting a flood of entries in Australia’s largest cider show ever.

The sixth annual Australian Cider Awards continues to gain momentum as producers vie for accolades. This year sees more classes than ever before this reflects the sustained development of an industry that shows no signs of slowing down!

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

“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.

“Judges will examine twenty categories including 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 announced on Friday 7th October during a gala dinner in the evening. Festivities continuing at the annual Australian Cider Festival. 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 Cider makers are invited to enter the awards. As long as their ciders are sold in Australia. So I’m hoping to see plenty of my favourite English, Welsh and French Ciders in the competitions.

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 delivered :          Thu 1st – Fri 16th September
Judging (closed to public):       Mon 26th & Tue 27th September
Awards presentation dinner:    Fri 7th October
Australian Cider Festival:         Sat 8th October

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