Cider Australia today launched the 2019 Australian Cider Awards, which recognise and celebrate excellence in cider making, as the local cider industry ramps up its focus on quality and provenance.

The ninth annual cider competition will give producers the opportunity to benchmark their products against the best local and imported ciders available for sale in Australia.

Vice President of Cider Australia and Chief Steward of the Awards, Warwick Billings, said the organisation is proud to announce that this year’s guest international judge in world-renowned UK cider producer Tom Oliver from Oliver’s Cider & Perry.

“Tom will bring a depth of expertise to the team helping us to improve and evolve our show, and we especially look forward to hearing his insights about the unique range of ciders made by our local producers with 100% Australian grown fruit”, said Mr Billings.

There are no changes to the Award classes in 2019 with twenty-eight classes to be judged covering standard cider and perry, specialty and intensified & distilled styles.

Winners will be announced at the cider industry’s annual gala dinner on Friday 8th November at The Craft & Co in Collingwood, VIC.

Enter the 2019 Australian Cider Awards online

Entries close on Friday 27 September 2019.

FULL DETAILS ON AWARD CLASSES ARE IN THE2019 STYLE GUIDEAND RULES ARE ON THE CIDER AUSTRALIAWEBSITE.