The cider award season is in full swing. Results are in from the California and Mendocino Cider Competitions while entries are flooding in for the 2017 Australian Cider Awards

The Australian Cider Awards is set for a rousing show this Spring as producers vie for honours in the nation’s largest cider competition.

Run by national industry body Cider Australia, the 7th annual Awards has attracted a record 248 entries, 25 per cent more than last year.

Cider Australia President Sam Reid said the Awards recognises excellence in cider production and also looks to reward innovation as cider makers continue to explore new territory.

As more and more people delve into the diverse and impassioned world of cider, Cider Australia is pleased to announce Dan Murphy’s as sponsor of the Best in Show award.

“If you look on the shelves of retailers you can see that cider drinkers are becoming more discerning and looking for new experiences, so it is not surprising to see a 44 per cent jump in entries in the dry traditional cider class”.

“We are also excited to see a more than doubling of entries in the experimental and spirits classes”, said Mr Reid.

The results of the Awards will be announced at the cider industry’s annual gala dinner at The Craft & Co in Collingwood on Friday 27 October.

Mr Reid said that Cider Australia will also host an Industry Forum on Saturday 28 October with a full program of activities geared towards education, engagement and capacity building.

“The cider industry is at a crucial point in its development and the Forum is an opportunity for us to regroup and plan for the future, to ensure we stay on a sustainable trajectory”, Mr Reid said.

2017 California Cider Competition

Meanwhile, in the US, The California Cider Competition has announced it’s winners for 2017 Congratulations to Gowan’s Heirloom Cider

Best of Show

Sierra Beauty Heirloom (2016) by Gowan’s Heirloom Cider from Mendocino County, Anderson Valley, CA. Estate Grown, Produced and Bottled. Still, Medium Sweetness. 6.9% ABV.

Reserve Best of Show

Early Harvest by Sierra Cider. 7.2% ABV.

The full results are here http://www.cidercompetitioncentral.com/competition-results/2017-ccc/

2017 Mendocino Apple Show International Cider Competition

Later in the week was 2017 Mendocino Apple Show International Cider Competition, this competition has a much larger range of categories with some more modern style like fruit ciders and hopped ciders

Best of Show

Pear Hard Cider by Wyder’s Cider from Vermont. 4% AVB.

Reserve Best of Show

Sierra Beauty Heirloom (2016) by Gowan’s Heirloom Cider from Mendocino County, Anderson Valley, CA. Estate Grown, Produced and Bottled. Still, Medium Sweetness. 6.9% AVB.

Full results here http://www.cidercompetitioncentral.com/competition-results/2017-masicc/

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