Cider Australia has announced the winners of the 2021 Australia’s Best Cider Selection of the Year Awards.

Gurneys Cidery in Gippsland, Victoria has been crowned National Winner of the inaugural competition, and also takes out the Best Cidery award, impressing the judges with a cutting edge cider selection that pushes the bounds on experimentation, collaboration and education while retaining a ‘super serious intent’.

Willie Smith’s Apple Shed in the Huon Valley, Tasmania was awarded the Best Cider + Food Venue in Australia. The judging panel noted that Willie Smith’s is a fabulous cidery that ‘nails it’ with its excellent range of ciders matched with a finely crafted restaurant menu, cementing itself as a ‘must visit’ stop in southern Tasmania.

President of Cider Australia, Warwick Billings, said the Best Cider Selection Awards are designed to identify and reward venues that go the extra mile to present their customers with interesting, unique and delicious cider choices.

“The high standard of entries received from across Australia was really encouraging and shows us that the competition has a bright future.

“Launching a new competition in the midst of a pandemic came had its challenges, not least that the judges were constrained to a virtual assessment of entries, but we still have plenty of learnings and ideas for next steps”, said Warwick.

The 2021 panel of three independent judges comprised drinks writer and backyard cider maker Max Allen, wine + drinks writer/presenter Mike Bennie and Master Sommelier and director of REAL Wines Sebastian Crowther.

Entries were assessed on the quality, diversity and suitability of the ciders on offer, as well as efforts to educate and assist customers to select products.

2021 WINNERS

National Winner

Gurneys Cidery

Category Awards

Best Cidery: Gurneys Cidery
Best Cider + Food Venue: Willie Smith’s Apple Shed

Highly Commended

Cidery Category (in alphabetical order):
Daylesford Cidery
Napoleone Orchard Bar & Cidery
Small Acres Cyder
Willie Smith’s Apple Shed