The inaugural edition of the Dan Berger International Cider Competition is now history and a cider from the state of Washington emerged as the big winner in a highly competitive event.
This first ever Dan Berger Cider Competition took place in Santa Rosa, California in conjunction with the better- known Dan Berger International Wine Competition and it attracted entries from more than 60 cider producers from the United States and the world. In total, there were more than 200 entries in the competition and organizer Dan Berger is pleased not only with the impressive turnout, but also with the quality of the products entered.
“We were extremely pleased with support and excitement for this first-year cider competition,” said Berger. “But even more impressive was the great diversity of craft ciders the judges evaluated and their very high quality.”
The big prize, for Best Overall Cider of the Competition went to Alpenfire Glow Rose, a cider made by Alpenfire Cidery in Port Townsend, Washington. Alpenfire makes this product using Hidden Rose apples, a little known variety that produces a cider with a rich, pinkish hue.
Other cideries also earned bragging rights. Uncle John’s Cider Mill in St. Johns, Michigan took home the most Gold Medals in total, winning three. Runner- up honors went to Vermont’s Eden Specialty Cider, which won two Golds. Uncle John’s Cider Mill and Eden Specialty Cider are pioneers in their industry, so it wasn’t too shocking that these companies emerged as the top two award winners at the competition.
“No one was surprised when it was revealed that both Uncle John’s Cider Mill and Eden Specialty Ciders accumulated multiple top awards,” said Tom Wark, publisher of The Cider Journal and organizer of the event. “Both these cideries are trailblazers and leaders in the U.S. craft cider world and have been inspirations for newer cideries across the country for their beautifully rendered ciders.”
Here is a listing of the The Best of Class Awards at Dan Berger’s International Cider Competition:
CHAIRMAN’S AWARD/BEST TRADITIONAL DRY CIDER:
Eve’s Cidery Albee Hill Still & Dry (New York)
BEST TRADITIONAL SWEET CIDER:
Sea Cider Bittersweet (British Columbia)
BEST COMMON DRY CIDER:
Uncle John’s Cider Mill Original Cider (Michigan)
CHAIRMANS AWARD/BEST COMMON SWEET CIDER:
Cider Boys First Press (Wisconsin)
CHAIRMAN’S AWARD/BEST FRUIT CIDER:
Foxcraft Hard Cider Cranberry (California)
CHAIRMAN’S AWARD/BEST HERBED/HOPPED/SPICED CIDER:
Reverend Nat’s Revival Hard Cider (Oregon)
SWEEPSTAKES AWARD/CHAIRMAN’S AWARD/BEST SINGLE VARIETY CIDER:
Alpenfire Glow Rose´ Cider (Washington State)
BEST PERRY:
Flatbed Cider Company Pear Cider (Washington State)
CHAIRMAN’S AWARD/BEST OTHER CIDER:
Common Cider Company Blackberry Sangria (California)
CHAIRMAN’S AWARD/BEST WOOD AGED CIDER:
Eden Specialty Cider 2007 Falstaff (Vermont)
CHAIRMAN’S AWARD/BEST DESSERT/ICE CIDER:
Eden Specialty Cider Honeycrisp
There were a total of 215 Ciders entered into the competition. Awards included 17 Gold Medals, 50 Silver Medals and 59 Bronze Medals. In addition, ten ciders received the Chairman’s Award for receiving unanimous gold medal scores by all judges. To see a full list of winners, go to http://www.dbiwc.com.
Congratulations to Alpenfire, Uncle John’s Cider Mill, Eden Specialty Cider, and all of the other cideries that won awards at this first ever Dan Berger International Cider Competition! And best wishes for another winning year in 2017.
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