Alex Peckham of Peckham’s Cider received the Champion Cider Trophy.
The New Zealand Cider Industry gathered in Auckland this month to hear the results of the 2015 New Zealand Cider Awards and New Zealand Fruit Wine Awards.
Peckham’s Cider from Upper Moutere in Nelson walked away with the Champion Cider Trophy after entering this national competition for the first time. Peckham’s received a Gold for their Ice Cider, a sweet style of cider from North America, not unlike a dessert wine. So impressive was this cider that it also received the top accolade.
Judges from Australia and New Zealand sampled 89 ciders, pear ciders and ciders with fruit over two days. This year saw a new categorisation process, reflecting the increased number of entrants into the competition and the improved range of styles now available. New guidelines were created for New World Style Cider (made with culinary apples) and Traditional Cider (made from English and French heritage apple varieties), enabling these distinct styles to be judged separately, and on merit.
Entries were received from all over New Zealand. Overall, the quality of the entrants was exceptionally high this year, with 70% being awarded a medal. “We tasted a number of ciders of great complexity and balance, ranging from the delicate and poised, to the bold and robust,” said judge, Gabe Cook. “Cider continues to be a market leader in terms of growth and innovation. Judging by what we saw at the awards, the future look rosy with NZ cider.”
Meanwhile, at the Fruit Wine Awards, which were held on the same day, Kiwi Estate Winery walked away with the Champion Trophy for their Pukeko Grove Sparkling Boysenberry Wine.
Cider has recently undergone a period of massive growth in volume and value, with double digit growth observed over the last three years. In the last 12 months alone, volume has grown 7.8% to 12 million litres.
TROPHY WINNER MAKER
Champion Cider Ice Cider Peckham’s Cider
Best New World Cider Orange Pippin Peckham’s Cider
Best Traditional Cider Cidre Demi-Sec 2015 Zeffer Cider
Best Perry/Pear Cider Juicy Pear Cider Zeffer Cider
Best Specialty Cider Ice Cider Peckham’s Cider
MEDALS:
|
New World Cider Class |
|||
| Paynter’s Cider Ltd | Pilgrim’s Dry |
SILVER |
|
| Peckhams Cider | Orange Pippin |
SILVER |
Best in Class |
| Appleborn Limited | Three Wise Birds – Acoustic Collection |
BRONZE |
|
| Appleborn Limited | Three Wise Birds – Bach Life |
BRONZE |
|
| Bold Rock Hard Cider | Crimson Ridge Vintage Dry |
BRONZE |
|
| Edgebrook Cider Ltd | Edgebrook Festive Cider |
BRONZE |
|
| Harvest Cidery | Scrumpy Apple Cider |
BRONZE |
|
| SP & RK Ltd O Cider | Oikimoke Road Cider |
BRONZE |
|
| Zeffer Cider Co. | Crisp Apple Cider |
BRONZE |
|
| Redwood Cider Co. | Old Mout Cider Hard Cider |
SILVER |
|
| Forbidden Brewing Co. | Simply Apple Cider |
BRONZE |
|
| Harvest Cidery | Harvest Apple Cider |
BRONZE |
|
| McCashins Brewery | Rochdale Classic Apple Cider |
BRONZE |
|
| Redwood Cider Co. | Old Mout Cider Scrumpy |
BRONZE |
|
| Bold Rock Hard Cider | Virginia Draught |
BRONZE |
|
|
Traditional Cider Class |
|||
| Jones Road | Jones Road Apple Cider |
SILVER |
|
| Peckhams Cider | Moutere Cider |
SILVER |
|
| Peckhams Cider | Harry Masters |
SILVER |
|
| Peckhams Cider | Home Block |
SILVER |
|
| Peckhams Cider | Wild Major |
SILVER |
|
| Zeffer Cider Co. | Newtown Pippin 2015 |
SILVER |
|
| Zeffer Cider Co. | Slack Ma Girdle |
SILVER |
|
| Paynter’s Cider Ltd | Paynter’s Reserve |
BRONZE |
|
| Peckhams Cider | Home Block |
BRONZE |
|
| Zeffer Cider Co. | Cidre Demi-Sec 2015 |
GOLD |
Best in Class |
|
Perry/Pear Cider Class |
|||
| Zeffer Cider Co. | Juicy Pear Cider |
SILVER |
Best in Class |
| Peckhams Cider | Perry |
SILVER |
|
| McCashins Brewery | Rochdale Classic Pear Cider |
BRONZE |
|
| Redwood Cider Co. | Old Mout Cider Pear Scrumpy |
BRONZE |
|
|
Specialty Cider Class |
|||
| Forbidden Brewing Co. | Lucifer’s Revenge |
SILVER |
|
| Peckhams Cider | Cider with Elderflower |
SILVER |
|
| Peckhams Cider | Cider with Boysenberry |
SILVER |
|
| SP & RK Ltd O Cider | O Cider Small Batch – The Hop |
SILVER |
|
| Forbidden Brewing Co. | Hopzilla Cider |
BRONZE |
|
| Forbidden Brewing Co. | Castaway |
BRONZE |
|
| Harvest Cidery | Harvest Apple Cider with Boysenberry |
BRONZE |
|
| Harvest Cidery | Scrumpy Apple Cider with Lemon |
BRONZE |
|
| Harvest Cidery | Scrumpy Apple Cider with Raspberry |
BRONZE |
|
| McCashins Brewery | Rochdale Ginger Lime Cider |
BRONZE |
|
| Peckhams Cider | Cider with Feijoa |
BRONZE |
|
| Redwood Cider Co. | Old Mout Cider Feijoa and Cider |
BRONZE |
|
| Zeffer Cider Co. | Hop Infused Cider |
BRONZE |
|
| Harvest Cidery | Black Betty |
BRONZE |
|
| McCashins Brewery | Rochdale Three Berry Cider |
BRONZE |
|
| Peckhams Cider | Cider Kir |
BRONZE |
|
| Redwood Cider Co. | Old Mout Cider Boysencider |
BRONZE |
|
| Peckhams Cider | Ice Cider |
GOLD |
Best in Class |
| Peckhams Cider | Knotted Kernel |
SILVER |
|
| Appleborn Limited | Three Wise Birds – Moulin Rouge |
BRONZE |
|
| Brand Evolution | Ranga Ginger |
BRONZE |
|
| Zeffer Cider Co. | Two Point Five |
BRONZE |
|
