Orchard Thieves Cider wins gold

Orchard Thieves Rosé cider has been named the gold medal winner in the new Cider Innovation Rosé category at the International Brewing and Cider Awards 2021.

Made in DB Breweries’ Nelson-based Redwood Cidery, Orchard Thieves Rosé cider was the only medal winner of any colour from New Zealand this year (beer or cider).

The winning cider stood out to judges in a competition that is awarded much like the Olympics with only one gold, one silver and one bronze award for each category.

New to the competition this year, the Rosé category was introduced to reflect the growing trend for ‘pink’ ciders.

Chief cidermaker at Redwood Cidery David Sax is thrilled with the global recognition of Orchard Thieves’ latest innovation.

“We are elated to receive the gold award for our Orchard Thieves Rosé cider, a cider that the team here in Nelson are particularly proud of.”

It is a new release for Orchard Thieves, that is drier in style.

David says it is fresh, fruit-driven and is beautifully pink thanks to the blending of both white and red fleshed apples.

“This cider uses the unusual red fleshed apple varieties ‘Geneva’ and ‘Red Love.’”

He says these red fleshed apples are used for their fantastic colour and their tartness (which is rhubarb-like) so perfectly balance the cider.

“This combination gives the cider a rosé wine character that matches the stunning blush colour. This cider will definitely appeal to wine drinkers and plays to the growing consumer trend for pink beverages.”

A total of 138 medal and trophy winners were announced at the world’s most historic international beer and cider competition, the International Brewing & Cider Awards, which took place last week at the National Brewery Centre in Burton-upon-Trent, in the UK.

Brewers and cider-makers from 24 countries received accolades at the International Brewing & Cider Awards 2021.

In total, 126 medals and 12 trophies were awarded to beers and ciders from all over the world, including entrants from New Zealand, Australia, China, Japan, Luxembourg, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, USA and the UK.

The competition, which dates back to 1886, has a long history of championing the world’s best brewers and cider-makers, and the competition’s unique approach to the judging process sets it apart from other awards, earning it the reputation as the ‘Oscars of the brewing and cider world’.

Judging took place between 16th – 18th November at the National Brewery Centre in Burton-upon-Trent, UK and comprised working professionals in the brewing and cider making industries from across the globe, led by Chair of Beer Judging, Rob McCaig and Chair of Cider Judging, Gabe Cook.

The gold, silver and bronze winners will collect their medals and trophies at an Awards luncheon to be held on 6th April 2022.