Willie Smith’s Kingston Black Cider has won Best in Show at the 2018 Australian Cider Awards, beating a field of 260 Australian and international entries.
The winning brew also took out ‘Best Australian Cider’ with a score of 93 in the Traditional Medium Sweet Cider class.
Of the 13 gold medals awarded this year, nine were won by Australian cider producers.
It was a huge night for the Tasmanian producer, which also took home Best Traditional Cider and Most Successful Larger Producer.
Willie Smith’s co-owner Sam Reid said the prestigious award was a great reflection of the entire crew at the Huon Valley business.
“I’m stoked our Kingston Black won Best in Show – broadening the category with these purpose grown apples is really important. We hope to see these heirloom apple ciders on more and more wine lists of progressive venues in the coming years.
“What I’m perhaps most excited about is our flagship product, Willie Smith’s Organic, won a gold and we were awarded ‘Most Successful Larger Producer’ which demonstrates the overall quality of the range and the great work our cidermaking team are doing!”
“This is an exciting time for the cider industry in Australia,” said Jane Anderson, executive officer, Cider Australia. “It’s great to see more Australian producers and their ciders scoring higher than ever before in this year’s judging. While fewer entries scored medals, the cider making profession in Australia is becoming more skilled and competitive with more gold medals awarded.
“With the quality of cider produced in Australia constantly improving, our Australian producers have also been winning medals at international shows in the US, UK and the World Cider Awards,” added Anderson.
Prior to the Awards dinner, which was held in Sydney on Friday, October 5, cider producers from around the country and international guests were invited to attend an industry forum where a world-first Australian craft cider trust mark was unveiled by Cider Australia.
Designed to identify ciders made with 100% Australian grown fruit, the trust mark will help consumers to make more informed choices when buying cider.
Cider Australia noted that: “Current labelling laws make it difficult to identify from where fruit in a cider has been sourced. Less than 15% of Australia’s cider market comprises craft ciders made with 100% Australian grown fruit.”
A field of 260 Australian and international entries were judged across 25 classes by a panel of local industry professionals and visiting experts from the US and New Zealand.
Within each class, bronze, silver or gold medals were awarded based on points achieved, with the highest score winning best in class and the overall category trophy.
2018 Australian Cider Award winners
Best in Show: William Smith & Sons – Willie Smith’s Kingston Black Cider
Best Traditional Cider: William Smith & Sons – Willie Smith’s Kingston Black Cider
Best New World Cider: Westons – Caple Road
Best Perry: Fils De Pømme – L’Épatant
Best Intensified / Distilled Cider or Perry: Small Acres Syder – Small Acres Cyder 2010 Pommeau
Best Australian Cider or Perry: William Smith & Sons – Willie Smith’s Kingston Black Cider
Best International Cider or Perry: Westons – Caple Road
Most Successful Small Producer (less than 50,000l per year): Small Acres Cyder
Most Successful Larger Producer (more than 50,000l per year): William Smith & Sons
Champion of the Industry Award: David Pickering, researcher and apple orchardist, NSW
