The results of the International Cider Challenge 2010 are in. This is the first year of the competition and it attracted over a hundred entries.

Drinks International recruited a panel of cider experts to blind taste the ciders, which were then awarded trophies and medals.

The overall trophy winner was Merrydown Medium Cider. Judges were Simon Russell from Inside Media, Helen Thomas from Westons Cider, David Sheppy from Sheppy’s Cider, drinks journalist Guy Thornton, cider historian James Crowden and PR consultant Deborah Collinson.

Chairman of the judges and Drinks International editor Christian Davis said: “We had cider from all over the world, including Czech Republic, US, South Africa and Canada. We were really pleased to have such a good response – especially from an international perspective. People think cider is an English drink but the competition demonstrates that it’s truly international.

“There’s a real sense of community in the cider industry and there is a need for this sort of competition. Judges regarded competitors’ products in a very positive way and I think the competition was appreciated by the cider community.”

If you can try and track down some of these fine international award winning ciders!

Results:

Trophy Winner

Merrydown Medium Cider

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Best in Category

Sweet Cider Premium

Westons Oak Conditioned Medium Sweet

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Medium Cider – Mainstream

Mercury Artisan Cider

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Medium Cider – Premium

Merrydown Medium Cider

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Medium Cider – Super Premium

Stassen Excellence

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Dry Cider – Premium

Waitrose Organic Vintage Cider

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Perry/ Pear Cider Premium

Hogan’s Vintage Perry 2009

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Organic, Fruit Cider and Specialities Premium

M&S Cider with Raspberry

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Organic, Fruit Cider and Specialities Super Premium

Domaine Pinnacle Ice Cider

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Gold Winners

Neige Premiere, Ice Cider

Gaymers Stewley

Merrydown Medium Cider

Waitrose Organic Vintage Cider

Domaine Pinnacle Ice Cider

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Silver Winners

Maddens Mellow Armagh Cider

Westons Oak Conditioned Medium Sweet

Mercury Artisan

The Orchard Pig Medium 6.5%abv

Gaymers Newton Vale

Henry Weston Vintage 2009 Cider

Strongbow Clear

Woodgate Dry Amber Cider

Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Suffolk Cyder

Hogan’s Vintage Perry 2009

Autumn Harvest Perry

Aspall Organic Suffolk Cyder

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Bronze Winners

Kopparberg with Mixed Fruit

Kopparberg with Elderflower and Lime

Churchwards Original Cider

Strongbow Original

Mercury Draught

Brothers Bittersweet Apple Cider

Carsons Crisp Armagh Cider

Addlestones

Mad Apple

Autumn Harvest Cider

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference French Sparkling Cider

Aspall Draught Suffolk Cyder

Stassen Excellence

Tillington Hill

Waitrose Leckford Vintage Cider

Westons Oak Conditioned Medium Dry

M&S Vintage 2009 Cider

Merrydown Dry Cider

L’aunay Cidre 3yr old Brut Sparkling Champagne style

Aspall Premier Cru

Bulmers Pear

M&S Vintage Pear Cider

Katy Rose

Aspall Peronelle’s Blush

Biddenden Special Reserve

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Commended Winners

Bulmers Original

The Orchard Pig Medium 4.2%abv

Thatchers Gold

Friels

Gaymer’s Devon

Gaymer’s Somerset

Morrisons The Best Vintage

Westons Oak Conditioned Extra Dry

Orchard Hills Pear Cider

Stassen Cider-Pear

Biddenden Monks Delight

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Design & Packaging

Gold Winners

Domaine Pinnacle Ice Cider New

Carsons Crisp Armagh Cider

Thatchers Gold

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Silver Winners

Green Goblin

Hogan’s Vintage Perry 2009

Tillington Hill

Autumn Harvest Cider

Maddens Mellow Armagh Cider

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Bronze Winners

Stassen Excellence

Brothers Bittersweet Apple Cider New

Stassen Cider-Apple New

Stassen Cider-Pear New

Brothers Tutti Frutti Cider New

Friels New

Strongbow Original

Strongbow Clear

Merrydown Medium Cider