Stiff Competition Makes for a Varied Result at Annual Cider Championships

Crumlin, United Kingdom, June 20, 2012 --(PR.com)-- The Welsh Perry and Cider Championships celebrated its 11th year on 2 June 2012. Very stiff competition allowed for a variety of winners throughout Wales including local cider maker, Gethin ap Dafydd from Gethin’s Cyder, scooping up a fantastic four awards, including Champion Cider 2012.

The Welsh Perry and Cider Festival, which was held at Blaengawney Farm, Hafodyrynys over the Jubilee bank holiday weekend and organised by the Welsh Perry and Cider Society, saw over 1000 visitors sample and purchase over 3500 pints of cider and perry.

Judges at the championships sampled 75 Welsh ciders and perrys from 21 Welsh producers, scoring a variety of Welsh pure juice cider producers as winners on the day, with local cider maker Gethin’s Cyder from Haverfordwest securing the Champion Cider Award, along with the Silver Dry Draught Cider and Gold and Silver Medium Draught Cider. Other highlights included Blaengawney Cider winning the overall champion perry and medium draught perry awards for their Blaengawney Perry, Williams Bros winning the Best Newcomer award and three other silver and bronze awards, Troggi Cider taking the gold for bottled sparkling perry and Springfield Cider scooping gold for the Oak Conditioned Cider.

Gethin ap Dafydd of Gethin’s Cyder said: “It’s been 10 years since I made my first gallon of cyder. In which the equipment exploded leaving my hand needing stitches! My family say that cydermaking’s been in my blood ever since!

“There’s been lots of hard work with many hours spent being soggy and half frozen in the autumn but once spring arrives, the new season cyder’s ready and the apple trees are in blossom, it all suddenly seems worth it.

“I’m really pleased that Tri Cymro (Three Welshmen) was crowned the ‘Champion Cider of Wales,’ as its a blend of two Monmouthshire and one Pembrokeshire variety of apples making it a truly Welsh cyder. We shook off our old comical spin off brand names this year since we both hit the big 30 and thought maybe we should reluctantly try to grow up! As Welsh is my mother tongue it seemed only natural to re-brand our cyders with Welsh names.

“We’ve been delighted at winning the Welsh Championships not because its about winning but because its finally getting a thumbs up from my fellow cydermakers who I’ve respected and looked up to for all these years.”

Cressida Slater, Development Officer for the Welsh Perry and Cider Society said: “This year’s festival was a great success. It was rewarding to see so many new and regular faces attending and helping raise awareness of craft cider and perries. The attendance and support for the new festival venue shows how much appreciation there is for these craft drinks.”

“Welsh cider has taken a tremendous step forward over recent years and it is with great pride that we see cider makers making such an impact on the local markets. It was great to see such a variety of winners at this year’s championships, especially with such stiff competition with so many outstanding cider and perrys in attendance.”

“The Welsh Perry and Cider Society would like to congratulate all of the winners and thank all participating cider makers, all visitors and of course, Blaengawney Farm for their support of another successful festival.”

The Welsh Perry & Cider Society, set up in 2001, is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to promote Welsh cider and perry (made in Wales and ideally from Welsh fruit). The organisation provides assistance to existing and potential Welsh cider makers, as well as researching and regenerating Welsh orchards; working to identify and conserve rare varieties of Welsh cider apples and perry pears.