The results of the International Cider & Perry Competition held at the Cider Museum in Hereford on Wednesday 12th May 2010 are as follows.

The judges were:

Mr. John Thatcher of Thatchers Cider;
Mr. James Crowden, Author & Poet and
Mr. Nicholas Bulmer, Master Distiller.

A total of 110 entries were received from 30 cidermakers from throughout the United Kingdom.

Overall Champion  - Gwynt-y-Ddraig Cider, Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan (Medium Cider)

Class 1 – Dry Cider

1. H. Weston & Sons Ltd., Much Marcle, Herefordshire
2. Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry Co. Ltd., Peterstow, Herefordshire
3. Mr. Stuart Cooper, Checkley, Hereford

Class 2 – Medium Cider

1. Gwynt-y-Ddraig Welsh Cider & Perry Co., Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan
2. Gwatkin Cider Co. Ltd., Abbey Dore, Herefordshire
3. The Amazing Cider Company, Kynaston, Ledbury, Herefordshire

Class 3 – Sweet Cider

1. Gwatkin Cider Co. Ltd., Abbey Dore, Herefordshire
2. Rosie’s Triple D Cider, Llandegla, Wrexham, Denbighshire
3. Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry Co Ltd, Peterstow, Herefordshire

Class 4 – Perry

1. Joint First Burrow Hill Cider, Martock, Somerset & Gwatkin Cider Co. Ltd., Abbey Dore, Herefordshire
2. H. Weston & Sons Ltd., Much Marcle, Herefordshire

Class 5 – Single Variety Cider

• No prizes awarded.

Class 6 – In-Bottle Fermented Cider or Perry

1. Joint First Oliver’s Cider & Perry Ltd, Ocle Pychard, Herefordshire & Once Upon A Tree, Putley, Ledbury, Herefordshire

Class 7 – Best Presented Packaged Cider or Perry

1. Ashridge Cider, Totnes, Devon
2. Oliver’s Cider & Perry Ltd, Ocle Pychard, Herefordshire
3. Gwynt-y-Ddraig Cider, Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan

Want to know what the terms and conditions are for entering such a prestigious award?

1. All entries to be Cider or Perry, made from not less than 75% cider apples or perry pears, which must be naturally matured.  Addition of sulphur dioxide is permitted.  Cider and Perry may be sweetened with sugar only.
2. Not more than 1 entry per class per entrant permitted.
3. Entries for Classes 1-5 to be presented in one-gallon clear glass demijohns, bearing a tie-on label stating name and class number. Entries for Class 5 to state the variety of apple used. In all cases corks only should be used but not wired down. Entries may, if necessary, be submitted in bottles to be decanted into demijohns on the day of the judging.  In this case, sufficient bottles must be supplied to provide approximately 4.5 litres of product.
4. Class 6 entries to be contained in bottles with tie-on label.  Corks should be wired down and bottles should conform to safety standards i.e. toughened glass, with a punt (e.g. Champagne-type bottle).  Entries with crown caps will NOT be accepted.
5. Class 7 entries to be presented in retail dress (contained in bottles, capped/corked and labelled, or contained in cans) to be judged on presentation only.
6. Cider and Perry must be the product of the entrant and not obtained from elsewhere.
7. The Judges’ decision will be final.
8. The Judges reserve the right not to award a prize or certificate if, for example, it is considered that the entries do not meet the required standard.

This is a peer-judged event with all the judging carried out by the entrants in a series of blind tastings.

There are categories for both draught and bottled ciders and perries and the public is invited to taste the entries over the two days following the trials.

In 2010 the event took place on Saturday, 1st May at Putley Village Hall as usual with 160 draught and 24 bottled entries from 70 entrants.

Bottle Conditioned/Fermented Perry

• 1st Olivers Cider & Perry
• 2nd Gabe CookJoint
• 3rd Barkers

Bottle Conditioned/Fermented Cider

• 1st Newton’s Cider & Perry
• 2nd Olivers Cider & Perry
• 3rd John Edwards

Draught Dry Cider

• 1st Stuart Cooper
• 2nd James Marsden
• 3rd The Amazing Cider Company

Draught Medium Cider

• 1st James Marsden – Gregg’s Pit
• 2nd Ross-On-Wye Cider & Perry
• 3rd The Amazing Cider Company

Draught Sweet Cider

• 1st Palmers Upland Cider
• 2nd Geoff Newman
• 3rd Blaengawney Cider

Novice Cider

• 1st Raglan Cider Mill
• 2nd Pucklechurch Cider Company (O. Deakin)
• 3rd Kate Morgan

Draught Dry Perry

• 1st Matthew & Paul Holder
• 2nd John Edwards
• 3rd Ralph’s Cider & Perry

Draught Medium/Sweet Perry

• 1st James Marsden – Gregg’s Pit
• 2nd Little Cider Press Co
• Joint 3rd Geoff Newman
• Joint 3rd Ralph’s Cider & Perry

Novice Perry

• 1st Richard Walker
• 2nd Fred Meredith
• 3rd Repudglic

More details on the Big Apple Cider and Perry trials 2010 - www.bigapple.org.uk

Download a full list of winners (PDF) with judges scores.

Images of cider awards

View more at the Real Cider gallery.

The ciders and perries are assessed on factors such as aroma, flavour, overall balance and finish by a judging panel consisting of publicans, drinks writers and CAMRA members.

Delighted at the news of the cider competition, Barnaby Butterfield of Sandford Orchards cider, said:

‘I’m staggered, as we’ve been making cider by artisan methods for many years, and we always endeavour to use old fashioned methods. It’s having this recognition that makes all the hard work worth it – I’m totally gobsmacked!’

On hearing the results of the perry competition, Dereck Hartland of
Hartlands, said:

‘It’s wonderful news, and to say I’m delighted is an understatement. I can retire a happy man and it’s the highlight of my year!’

Andrea Briers, CAMRA National Cider and Perry committee chairman, praised
the quality of this year’s entrants. She said:

‘The competition today brought out a wide range of tastes and aromas, and was a real showcase for the craft cider and perry industry. CAMRA just hopes that any future Government puts in place measures that will protect this historic industry, and ensure these award winning producers are able to continue producing such quality.’

Cider

1. GOLD – Sandford Orchards, Cider (Crediton, Devon)
2. SILVER – Gwynt y Ddraig, Black Dragon (Llantwit Fardre, South Wales)
3. BRONZE – Pickled Pig, Porker’s Snout (Stretham, Cambridgeshire)

Perry

1. GOLD – Hartlands, Farmhouse Perry (Tirley, Gloucestershire)
2. SILVER – Rathays, Brandy (Sutton St Nicholas, Herefordshire)
3. BRONZE – Ralph’s, Old Badland Perry (New Radnor, Powys)

View previous years winners of ciders and perries –  www.real-cider.co.uk/ciders-and-perries-of-the-year

Congratulations to Snowdrift Cider who are the newest cider producers in America, even so their cider brought home two medals a bronze in the English Style, and a gold in the New England Style category.

As well as our friends at Eden Ice Cider who won both gold and silver with their blends in the Intensified Cider & Perry category.

There were also a good representation of English cider makers, Henneys, Olivers, Aspall, and Weston‘s all winning awards.

Here are the results that include English cider makers:

English Cider (10 Entries)

• Gold – Westcott Bay Cider Westcott Bay, Traditional Dry Cider, Friday Harbor, WA
  Silver – Westcott Bay Cider, Westcott Bay Traditional Very Dry Cider, Friday Harbor, WA
• Silver – Henney’s Cider Co., Frome Valley Sweet, Herefordshire, England
• Silver – Oliver’s Cider House, Hereforshire Medium Cider, Herefordshire, England
• Bronze – Aspall Cyders, Aspall Dry Cider, Suffolk, England
• Bronze – Aspall Cyders, Aspall Medium Cider, Suffolk, England
• Bronze – Oliver’s Cider House, Herefordshire Dry Cider, Herefordshire, England
• Bronze – Henney’s Cider Co., Vintage, Herefordshire, England

Traditional Perry (2 Entries)

• Silver – Oliver’s Cider House, Herefordshire Dry Perry, Herefordshire, England
• Bronze – Oliver’s Cider House, Blakeney Red Perry, Herefordshire, England

Notes on the above categories – Apple or pear only, fermented from single strength juice, with standard cellar treatments

Macro Cider (8 Entries)

• Silver – H.Weston and Sons Ltd., Old Rosie Cloudy Scrumpy, Herefordshire, England
• Silver – H.Weston and Sons Ltd., Stowford Press Medium Dry Draft, Herefordshire, England

Notes on this category – for ciders or perries that aim to be standard in style but do not wish to be constrained by ingredient requirements

The full results are on Old Time Cider web site.

As Dave from the old time site says “I urge you all to pick up any of these ciders on the list or even any local craft cider you can find”.

Here, here! Congratulations to all the winners and all the entrants. We look forward to seeing lots more entries next year. In the meantime, keep up the excellent work cider makers!

Lyme Bay Winery’s Jack Ratt Scrumpy cider has won the prestigious three Star Gold at The Great Taste Awards 2009 – the first ever cider to win this accolade.

Named after Jack Rattenbury – a notorious Lyme Bay smuggler – it is available in a variety of sizes. This traditional, still fruity cider has a softness that is given to the flavour by having left the cider on the lees so a secondary malolactic fermentation takes place.

The Guild of Fine Food, who organise the annual Great Taste Awards,  say a three-star gold is the highest level of award any producer can aspire to and is recognised as the definitive independent accreditation of quality. The Guild is theUK trade association for anyone making or selling top quality local, regional and speciality food and drink.

The 1,300-plus members include; delicatessens, fine food halls and farm shop, speciality food producers, from cheese-makers to chocolatiers, importers and distributors of gourmet foods from around the world,and suppliers of equipment and services to support the fine food sector.

Using freshly pressed juice of locally grown, traditional cider apples such as Dabinett, Kingston Black and Yarlington Mill Jack Ratt Scrumpy is just one of the range of ciders available.

For more details of Lyme Bay go to www.lymebaywinery.co.uk

Related link: Welsh ciders win at Great Taste Awards

You can taste these award-winning ciders at cider houses, cider pubs or direct from the producers.

2010

Cider

• GOLD – Sandford Orchards, Cider (Crediton, Devon)
• SILVER – Gwynt y Ddraig, Black Dragon (Llantwit Fardre, South Wales)
• BRONZE – Pickled Pig, Porker’s Snout (Stretham, Cambridgeshire)

Perry

• GOLD – Hartlands, Farmhouse Perry (Tirley, Gloucestershire)
• SILVER – Rathays, Brandy (Sutton St Nicholas, Herefordshire)
• BRONZE – Ralph’s, Old Badland Perry (New Radnor, Powys)

2009

Cider

• GOLD – Gwatkin, Yarlington Mill (Abbey Dore,Herefordshire)
• SILVER (Joint) – Orchards, Wye Cider (Brockweir, Gloucestershire)
• SILVER (Joint) – Rosie’s Triple D Cider (Llandegla, Denbighshire)

Perry

• GOLD – Broadoak Perry (Clutton, Somerset)
• SILVER – Seidr Dai Painted Lady Perry (Cardiff, Glamorgan)
• BRONZE – Gwatkin Blakeney Red (Abbey Dore,Herefordshire)

2008

Cider

• GOLD – Green Valley Farmhouse Vintage Cyder (Devon)
• SILVER – West Croft Janet’s Jungle Juice (Somerset)
• BRONZE – Blaengawney Cider (Gwent)

Perry

• GOLD – Gregg’s Pit Perry (Herefordshire)
• SILVER – Ross-on-Wye Cider and Perry (Herefordshire)
• BRONZE – Hartland’s Perry (Gloucestershire)

2007

Cider

• GOLD – West Croft Janet’s Jungle Juice (Somerset)
• SILVER – Cornish Orchards Dry (Cornwall)
• BRONZE – Green Valley Cyder Vintage Farmhouse (Devon)

Perry

• GOLD – Hartlands (Gloucestershire)
• SILVER – Newton Court (Herefordshire)
• BRONZE – Gwatkin Malvern Hills (Herefordshire)

2006

Cider

• GOLD – Hecks Kingston Black (Somerset)
• SILVER – Harechurch Dry (Gloucestershire)
• BRONZE – Dening’s Medium (Somerset)

Perry

• GOLD – Seidr Dai (Cardiff)
• SILVER – Ross on Wye (Hereford)
• BRONZE – Mr Whiteheads (Hampshire)

2005

Cider

• GOLD – Ralph’s 3B’s Cider (New Radnor)
• SILVER – Upton Sweet (Oxfordshire)
• BRONZE – Newton Court Medium (Herefordshire)

Perry

• GOLD – Gwynt Y Ddraig (Glamorgan)
• SILVER – Minchew’s (Gloucestershire)
• BRONZE – Heck’s Farmhouse (Somerset)

2004

Cider

• GOLD – Gwynt Y Ddraig – Medium
• SILVER – Upton – Sweet
• BRONZE – Dunkertons – Medium

Perry

• GOLD – Gwatkin – Blakeney Red
• SILVER – Summers
• BRONZE – Butford Farm – Dryd

2003

Cider

• GOLD – Summers – Medium
• SILVER – Gwynt Y Ddraig – Medium
• BRONZE – Hecks – Hangdown

Perry

• GOLD – Hartland’s – Sweet
• SILVER – Double Vision – Medium
• BRONZE – Barkers – Dry

2002

Cider

• GOLD – Gwatkin’s Yarlington Mill
• SILVER – Cornish Orchards
• BRONZE – Burrow Hill – Sweet

Perry

• GOLD – Minchew’s – Blakeney Red
• SILVER – Hindlip – Sweet
• BRONZE – Hecks’ – Hendry Huffcap

2001

Cider

• GOLD – Weston’s Old Rosie
• SILVER – Dunkerton’s Organic
• BRONZE – Gwatkin Foxwhelp

Perry

• GOLD – Hecks
• SILVER – Franklin
• BRONZE – Gwatkin’s Oldfield

2000

Cider

• GOLD – Weston’s Old Rosie
• SILVER – Gwatkin’s Yarlington Mill
• BRONZE – Luscombe Dry

Perry

• GOLD – Dunkerton’s
• SILVER – Westons
• BRONZE – Gwatkin’s Oldfield

1999

Cider

• Weston’s Old Rosie – Herefordshire

Perry

• Weston’s – Herefordshire

1998

Cider

• New Forest Cider, Hampshire

Perry

• Dunkerton’s – Herefordshire

1997

Cider

• not awarded

Perry

• Summers

1996

Cider

• West Croft Cider – Somerset

Perry

• Westons’s – Herefordshire

1995

Cider

• Gwatkins – Herefordshire

Perry

• Lyne Down – Herefordshire

1994

Cider

• not held

Perry

• not held

1993

Cider

• Biddenden’s – Kent

Perry

• Lyne Down – Herefordshire

1992

Cider

• Theobalds

Perry

• Lyne Down – Herefordshire

1991

Cider

• Theobalds

Perry

• Lyne Down – Herefordshire

1990

Cider

• Theobalds

Perry

• Lyne Down – Herefordshire

Gwynt Y Draig Vintage Cider

The Guild of Fine Food have announced the winners for the 2009 Great Taste Awards and Welsh Brewers and Cidermakers have again done well in the competition.
Gwynt Y Ddraig have walked away with 3 stars, the highest award, for their Vintage 06 bottled cider. They also received one star for their bottled Orchard Gold, as did Ty Bryn Cider with their Sweetened Sparkling Cider.

Vintage 06 is descibed by Operations Director Bill George as, “A blend of our very best cider apple varieties from the Autumn of 2006, fermented slowly and left to mature for twelve months before making its way to the bottle. A masterpiece of flavours to enjoy by itself, or as an accompaniment to any menu”. The cider is fermented in oak and is described as medium-dry.

There is an open day coming up on the weekend of the 8th-9th August 2009, 1100-2100 Sat, 11-1900 Sun.