CAMRA National Cider and Perry Championships 2012

Article from CAMRA.

Cornwall and Herefordshire producers take national titles

Cider-
GOLD - Cornish Orchards, Farmhouse (Duloe, Cornwall)
SILVER - Perry Brothers, Sweet Vintage (Dowlish Wake, Somerset)
BRONZE - Burrow Hill, Medium (Martock, Somerset)

Perry-
GOLD - Gwatkin, Blakeney Red (Abbey Dore, Herefordshire)
SILVER - Butford Organics, Medium (Bodenham, Herefordshire)
BRONZE - Minchew, Stinking Bishop (Aston-on-Carrant, Gloucestershire)

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has today announced the overall winners of the National Cider and Perry Championships 2012. The competition is held annually at the Reading Beer and Cider Festival, Reading, Berkshire.

The winner of the Cider Gold medal is Cornish Orchards Farmhouse, which the judges described as 'a very light and easy drinking cider, well balanced, and packed with flavour '.

The winner of the Perry Gold medal is Gwatkin Blakeney Red, which the judges described as having 'a sweet aroma, with a wonderful elderflower and spirit taste, and a satisfying bite in the finish.'

CAMRA's National Cider and Perry Championships 2012 in Reading featured ciders and perries from different regions of the UK, and assessed on factors such as aroma, flavour/taste, overall balance and finish by a judging panel consisting of publicans, drinks writers and CAMRA members.

On hearing the results of the Perry competition, Denis Gwatkin of Gwatkin Cider and Perry, said:

'This is wonderful news. It's 20 years since we won our first CAMRA award at Stockport Beer and Cider Festival, so it's good to know we are still doing things right.'

The Cider champion producer, Cornish Orchards, started large scale production in 1999, and is a well established producer, which has been growing cider apples for the past 20 years.

Andrea Briers, CAMRA National Cider and Perry committee chairman, praised the quality of this year's entrants. She said:

'The competition once again brought together real cider and perry producers from across the country, and showcased some excellent variety and choice. The quality of the products coming through is testament to the hard work of Britain's producers.'

END

Notes to editors-
Real cider is a long established traditional drink which is produced naturally from freshly pressed apples and is neither carbonated nor pasteurised. As cider is made from apples, perry is normally made from perry pears, which tend to be smaller and harder than dessert pears.

More information on CAMRA's national cider and perry campaigns can be found at www.camra.org.uk/cider

Reading Beer and Cider Festival (Kings Meadow, Napier Road, Reading, RG1 8BN), the venue for the National Cider and Perry Championships, is one of the largest beer and cider festivals in the UK. This year visitors are expected to enjoy the huge selection of over 200 real ciders and perries, and over 500 real ales!

For further information-
Jon Howard, CAMRA press officer, 07939 425471
Andrea Briers, CAMRA National Cider and Perry Committee Chairman, 07732 754888
Sarah Newson, CAMRA National Cider and Perry Committee Vice Chairman, 07769 660454
Cornish Orchards (Cider Champion), 01503 269007
Gwatkin (Perry Champion), 01981 550258