A national celebration of cider made from Australian grown apples and pears will be held across the country this Saturday 11 March 2023.

Australian Cider Day is an annual event that draws attention to Cider Australia’s 100% Australian Grown trust mark – an industry-led and owned initiative launched in 2018 to boost understanding about product origin.

Cider producers mark this annual day by organising cider events, tastings and other fun activities to educate drinkers about quality Australian cider. 

Cider Australia President Warwick Billings said the trust mark and Australian Cider Day highlight what makes Australian craft ciders unique – the fact they are made with Australian grown fruit rather than imported juice concentrate which goes into an estimated 90% of the ciders sold in Australia.

‘By choosing ciders that display the trust mark, drinkers are supporting Australian fruit growers and their communities and boosting Australian jobs in the craft cider industry’, Warwick said.

More than 80 Australian cider producers are now registered to use the trust mark.

Cider Australia features Australian Cider Day events on its website and promotes use of the social media hashtag #drinkaustraliancider so everyone can see what the Australian cider community is up to.

For more details visit www.cideraustralia.org.au/australianciderday or the Australian Cider Day Facebook page.

 

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Media enquiries

Contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson on 0434 559 759 or office@cideraustralia.org.au or visit www.cideraustralia.org.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, and runs the national cider conference AusCider and the Australian Cider Awards.

About the trust mark and Australian Cider Day

Cider Australia’s 100% Australian Grown trust mark is an industry-led initiative to reinforce the premium quality of Australian craft cider and drive integrity in the market. The trust mark can only be displayed on ciders made from 100% Australian grown ingredients. The trust mark was developed with the support of the Australian Government’s $50 million Export and Regional Wine Support Package, and levy funds from the Australian Apple Marketing Levy managed by Hort Innovation.

Cider Australia has established an Australian Cider Day to fall on the second Saturday of March each year. The purpose of day is to raise awareness of the 100% Australian Grown trust mark and create an occasion to educate drinkers and celebrate Australian Cider. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Support local fruit growers and producers this cider season

The time to celebrate with craft cider is here. Whether its sweet, dry or medium, those who enjoy drinking a good quality Australian craft cider can now easily identify the quality and origin of ingredients by looking for the 100% Australian grown trust mark on cider labels across 60 brands.

A world-first, the trust mark will help cider consumers make more informed choices when buying craft cider made with 100% Australian grown apples or pears.

Cider has been increasing in popularity in Australia with 13.6 per cent of the adult population now choosing to consume the beverage when unwinding with an alcoholic drink¹. However, less than 15 per cent of Australia’s cider market comprises craft ciders made with 100% Australian grown fruit, and current labelling laws make it difficult to identify the origin of fruit in cider.

The launch of the trust mark initiative helps Aussies to support local fruit growers, craft cider producers and the regional communities in which they operate. It’s also hoped the trust mark will drive significant growth for the Australian craft cider industry, raising its profile both domestically and internationally.

The trust mark is only available to Cider Australia members to ensure the cider produced meets an industry standard, while providing complete integrity within the market.

The initiative is part of a larger campaign to build a sustainable cider industry in Australia and establish an export market for local brands. Cider Australia has been working with Wine Australia to develop the trust mark and brand proposition after receiving a $500,000 boost from the Australian Government’s $50 million Export and Regional Wine Support Package to market and grow Australian craft cider internationally. Trust mark development has also been supported by 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.

www.cideraustralia.org.au 

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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. 

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 

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

 

Cider producers from across Australia will gather in Melbourne this weekend to salute the winners of Australia’s largest and most prestigious cider show.

Industry peak body Cider Australia will host the 2017 Australian Cider Awards Dinner on Friday night at The Craft & Co in Collingwood.

Cider Australia President Sam Reid said the organisation is proud of its achievements over the past year and thankful to finally have clarity on its future and where it needs to focus its efforts.

“The sheer weight of activity in the cider sector is inspiring – Cider Australia is working with Wine Australia and the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia on the recently announced cider program under the Export and Regional Wine Support Package to accelerate cider export capabilities, and with levy body Horticulture Innovation Australia to implement a 100% Australian juice certification scheme for cider”, said Mr Reid.

“In addition, we feel we have now really landed the message with stakeholders at all levels of Government of the benefits that are gained by regional communities around Australia when consumers choose ciders made from Australian grown fruit”.

“We have taken the opportunity to postpone our annual cider festival this year and will instead convene a much needed Cider Industry Forum on Saturday 28th October.”

The Cider Industry Forum, to be held at The Malthouse Theatre in Southbank, is a full day of industry development activities aimed at continuing to step-change the quality of ciders produced in Australia.

“The Forum will conclude with the inaugural Australian Cider Awards Exhibitor Tasting, and event that allows entrants to the Awards to taste up to 250 ciders and learn and will help to improve the quality of ciders produced locally”, Mr Reid said.

 

The Full Program for the Cider Industry Forum is below.

For further information and media queries contact Cider Australia executive officer Jane Anderson at office@cideraustralia.org.au or 0434 559 759.

 

Cider Australia’s Cider Industry Forum
Saturday 28th October 2017
The Malthouse Theatre, Southbank VIC

Full Program

9.15am	Welcome and introduction
9.30am	General Meeting of Cider Australia (Cider Australia Members only) – General business
10.10am	Morning tea
10.40am	– Export and Regional Wine Support Package update
11.00am	– Cider R&D
11.20am	– WET reform update – Australian Taxation Office
12pm	Lunch
1pm	Cider Producers Forum – Quality assurance in cider: Product stability and sterility
2.30pm	Australian Cider Awards Exhibitor Tasting (Awards entrants only)
4pm	Close

 

RSVPs essential – contact office@cideraustralia.org.au