Cider is called “seidr” in Welsh. And there has been a lot of seidr enjoyed the last few months!
With reason to celebrate Welsh cider after the recent award to Gwyntt Y Ddraig at the International Cider and Perry awards.
With more and more small artisan producers emerging onto the competition and festival scene, it’s exciting times for the revival of traditional real cider in Wales.
The Welsh Cider and Perry Society is proving to be a catalyst for these producers. The societies aims are to encourage a greater appreciation of these natural craft drinks, spearhead a new era of orchard planting and promote Welsh perry and cider as an indigenous alternative to wine.
The last bank holiday of May, Welsh cider makers and fans, gather for the annual competition and festival in the grounds of the Clytha Arms in Monmouthshire for the Welsh Cider and Perry festival. I’ve been for many years, and is exciting as the Clytha is a fantastic pub anyway, the festival adds another dimension with around 40 different makers producing many different ciders and perries, and various live bands on to entertain the drinkers throughout the weekend.
This years event, despite the rain there was a good turnout. The weather improved on the Sunday and by all accounts it was another successful weekend.
The results for the Welsh Perry and Cider championships that are held at the festival are as follows:
Welsh Perry & Cider Championships 2010
Cider
Dry Draught Cider
- Gold: Palmer’s Upland Cyder Cheeky Jackdaw Cyder
- Silver: Des Devlin Drunk Dragon Dry
- Bronze: Blaengawney Heartbreaker
Medium Draught Cider
- Gold: Seidr Dai Knotted Kernal
- Silver: Rosie’s Triple D Medium
- Bronze: Ty-Bryn Cider, Oak Barrel Medium Sweet
Sweet Draught Cider
- Gold: Springfield Dabinett
- Silver: Seidr O Sir Cantref
- Bronze: Rosie’s Triple D Black Bart
Spirit Cask Cider
- Gold: Rosie’s Triple D Wicked Wasp
- Silver: Berriew Bettws
- Bronze: Troggi Penallt
Bottled Still Cider
- Gold: Springfield Dabinett
- Silver: Rosie’s Triple D Rampant Ram
- Bronze: Blaengawney Heartbreaker
Bottled Sparkling Cider
- Gold: Ty-Bryn Cider
- Silver: Blaengawney Dabinett
- Bronze: Ty Gwyn Medium
Champion Cider
- Gold: Springfield Dabinett
- Silver: TyBryn Medium-Sweet
- Bronze: Rosie’s Triple D Wicked Wasp
Perry
Dry Draught Perry
- Gold: Llanblethian Orchards Pick ‘n Mix
- Silver: Three Saints Burgundy
- Bronze: Bragdy Penywern Dry
Medium Draught Perry
- Gold: Ty-Bryn Blakeney Red Medium Sweet
- Silver: Seidr Dai Hellen’s Early
- Bronze: Bragdy Brodyr Silver Lady
Sweet Draught Perry
- Gold: Raglan Cider Mill Old Vicarage
- Silver: Troggi Llansoy
- Bronze: Gwynt Y Ddraig Two Trees
Bottled Still Perry
- Gold: Blaengawney Perry
- Silver: Three Saints Divine
- Bronze: Rosie’s Triple D Perfect Pear
Bottled Sparkling Perry
- Gold: Troggi 2008-EP
- Silver: Ty-Bryn Medium Sweet
- Bronze: Palmer’s Upland Cyder Blakeney Red
Champion Perry
- Gold: Ty-Bryn Blakeney Red Medium Sweet
- Silver: Raglan Cider Mill Old Vicarage
- Bronze: Troggi 2008-EP
Follow @ArfurD for more Welsh Cider updates and the Brew Wales blog.
If you want to attend a Welsh cider festival this weekend (10-12th June), get along to Cardiff and the Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival. Cheers!