California Cider Competition Awards Selections

More than 70 ciders were entered in the 2015 Cider Competitions, more than four times the number entered last year.

The California Cider Competition and MAS Cider Competition are designed to help The California Cider Competition, now in its second year, featured 38 California grown ciders made from California apples. There were two divisions: Estate Grown, all apples grown by cidermaker. And California Grown, where all apples are grown in California.

The Mendocino Apple Show Cider Competition was launched this year to provide a format for both Commercial Ciders, and Enthusiast cidermakers. Ciders entered in these divisions are allowed to use apples, juice or concentrate from any other sources. All of these ciders were fermented in California, with 35 ciders being entered.

Cidermakers entered their ciders in different classes of cider:

The “apple focused” Standard Styles of cider include: Culinary, Heritage, Single Varietals, Winestyle, English, and French.

The Specialty Styles of cider include Wild Yeast/Farmhouse, Fruit, Hopped/HErbal, Spiced, Wood-aged, Specialty/Other, and Cyser (made with honey).

Heritage Style Cider

GOLD: Heritage by Gowans Cider, Philo, Mendocino County. Estate grown on Gowan Orchards in Philo, California. Made with heirloom apple varieties. Still. Dry. 9.5 percent.

SILVER: Russet by The Apple Farm, Philo, Mendocino County. Estate grown on The Apple Farm in Philo, California. Sparkling. Dry. Unfiltered.

BRONZE: Farmstead Cider by Apple Garden Farm, Tomales, Marin County. Estate grown on Apple Garden Farm in Tomales, California. Petillant.

Varietal Style Cider

GOLD: Gravenstein Heirloom by Gowans Cider, Philo, Mendocino County. Estate grown on Gowan Orchards in Philo, California. Made with Gravenstein apple variety. Sparkling. Medium. 5.2 percent

GOLD: Sierra Beauty Heirloom by Gowans Cider, Philo, Mendocino County. Estate grown on Gowan Orchards in Philo, California. Made with Sierra Beauty apple variety. Still. Medium. 6.9 percent.

French Style Cider

DOUBLE GOLD:1876 Heirloom by Gowans Cider, Philo, Mendocino County. Estate grown on Gowan Orchards in Philo, California. Made with heirloom apple varieties. Sparkling. Medium. 6.3 percent.

Applewine Style Cider

SILVER: Sierra Beauty Heirloom by Gowans Cider, Philo, Mendocino County. Estate grown on Gowan Orchards in Philo, California. Made with Sierra Beauty apple variety. Still. Medium. 6.9 percent

BRONZE: Fall Pippin Heirloom by Gowans Cider, Philo, Mendocino County. Estate grown on Gowan Orchards in Philo, California. Made with Fall Pippin apple variety. Petillant. Dry. 6.5 percent.

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Wild Yeast / Farmhouse Style Cider

SILVER: Spitzenberg by The Apple Farm, Philo, Mendocino County. Estate grown on The Apple Farm in Philo, California. Sparkling. Dry. Unfiltered.

Wood-aged Style Cider

SILVER: Lot 13 by Santa Cruz Cider Company, Watsonville. Estate grown on Dave's Orchard in Watsonville, California. Petillant. Dry. Unfiltered. Sauvignon Blanc barrel-aged. 7 percent.

California-Grown Apples

Culinary Style Cider

BRONZE: Expecting Confidence by Humboldt Cider Company, Arcata, Humboldt County. Sparkling. Dry. 9.8 percent.

BRONZE: Farm House by Horse and Plow, Sebastopol, Sonoma County. Petillant. Dry.

Heritage Style Cider

GOLD: Heirloom by Horse and Plow, Sebastopol, Sonoma County. Sparkling. Dry.

GOLD:WestCider by Sonoma Cider, Healdsburg, Sonoma County. Sparkling. Dry. 6.5 percent.

SILVER: Wrangletown Original by Wrangletown Cider Company, Freshwater, Humboldt County. Petillant. Medium. 8.4 percent.

Varietal Style Cider

SILVER: Gravenstein by Sonoma Cider, Healdsburg, Sonoma County. Sparkling. Dry. 6.2 percent.

BRONZE: Golden Delicious by Sonoma Cider, Healdsburg, Sonoma County. Sparkling. Dry. 6 percent.

BRONZE: Gravenstein by Specific Gravity, Sebastopol, Sonoma County. Petillant.

Wild Yeast/Farmhouse Style Cider.

SILVER: Gravenstein by Specific Gravity, Sebastopol, Sonoma County. Petillant.

BRONZE: Troy by Half Pint Cider, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County. Sparkling. Dry. Unfiltered.

Hopped Style Cider

BRONZE: Hops and Honey by Horse and Plow, Sebastopol, Sonoma County. Sparkling. Dry.

Wood-aged Style Cider

GOLD: Black Jack 21 Hard Cider by Ace Cider, Sebastopol, Sonoma County. Sparkling. Medium. Chardonnay barrel-aged Gravenstein apples.

BRONZE: Ol' Gouby by Humboldt Cider Company, Arcata, Humboldt County. Sparkling. Dry. With toasted oak cubes soaked in brandy.

Specialty/Other Style Cider

SILVER: Barti Ddu by Bristols Cider, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo County. Sparkling. Dry. With Golding, Fuggles and Belma hops. 7.5 percent.

SILVER: Black Bart by Bristols Cider, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo County. Sparkling. Dry. Dry hopped and saison. 8 percent.

SILVER: Bristols Original by Bristols Cider, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo County. Sparkling. Medium. 7.5 percent.

BRONZE: Anne Bonny by Bristols Cider, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo County. Sparkling. Dry. 7.5 percent.

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