Cider Australia is inviting entries to the 13th annual Australian Cider Awards, which the association says is the largest cider show in the country.
Warwick Billings, President of Cider Australia and Chair of the Awards organising committee, said that Australian cider is maturing as a category, requiring the introduction of a new trophy and new category.
“To ensure the Awards reflects the range of cider products available commercially in Australia, we have introduced a new Trophy for the best Single Varietal Cider or Perry entered.
“We have also decided to establish a new class for the burgeoning group of no- and low-alcohol ciders covering non-fermented, lightly fermented and de-alcoholised apple and pear products with an alcohol content of less than 0.5 per cent,” he said.
The Awards are spread across 31 classes across three sections: Standard, Specialty, and Intensified/Distilled. These classes follow a style guide developed in consultation with the prestigious Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition, and is updated each year.
Billings said that the Awards provide a useful opportunity for producers to compare their products against others on the Australian market.
“Entering the Awards is an excellent way to compare products against industry benchmarks in Australia, receive independent feedback from industry experts and potentially win a prize, and with early-bird entry fees applying for the next three weeks there is no better time to enter,” he said.
Registrations close on 13 September, and the final results will be announced at a lunch event on 25 October at the Kelvin Club in Melbourne. Entry details are available on the Cider Australia website.