A bumper lineup of speakers has been announced for the2015CiderIndustryConference,to be held in the renowned New South Wales apple growing district of Batlow on May 15.

The Cider Industry Conference is part of a three-day program of cider events in Batlow, bookended by the Cider Australia AGM on Thursday May 14 and Batlow CiderFest Street Festival on Saturday May 16.

Presenting the keynote address – English Craft Cider Making: What can Australians Learn? – is Dr Andrew Lea, a retired food biochemist who spent thirteen years at the Long Ashton Research Station (the UK National Fruit and Cider Institute), followed by twenty years in wider food and beverage research and consultancy, including cider.

During that time Lea has also been a prizewinning hobby cider maker with his own small orchard.

Other speakers include Dr Tim Jones of Tasmanian cider maker Willie Smiths, Cider Australia president Sam Reid and cider judge Karina Dambergs, who together with Dr Andrew Lea will present an afternoon session to delegates on sensory appreciation in the world of cider.

“Seats are limitedand given that Dr Andrew Lea is presenting two sessions, we anticipate tickets willsell outbefore theconference,” organiser Kevin Dodds, of the NSW Department of Primary Industries, told Australian Brews News.

Entry to this year’sconferenceand ‘InCiders Happy Hour’ – which takes place on Friday evening shortly after the conference – is by prepaid ticket, available here.

“We are proud that in just two years, ourconferenceand networking session have fostered the development of at least two new Australianciderbrands and enabled existingciderproducers to establish potentially lucrative marketing deals with a major liquor retailer,” said Dodds.

For more information visit the Batlow CiderFest website.