6 minute read
THE WIZARDS OF AUS
OVERSEAS
THE WIZARDS OF AUS
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Craft cider may be in the minority in Australia, but it is authentic, drawing on deep technical skill as well as good apple terroir. Bill Bradshaw finds himself excited
Like every country with a modern cider industry, Australia has its fair share of run-of-the-mill, lacklustre ciders – too sweet or too onedimensional, yet all too easy for consumers to buy. This leads anyone with a genuine interest in well made craft ciders to assume that there aren’t any, and the only option for cider and perry drinkers is ubiquitous, industrial beverages. But when you consider the country’s winemaking prowess, its rich deep soils and huge amounts of sunlight, not to mention the history of European settlement, you’re left thinking “there must be some… so where is it?”
Fear not, there is! Australia actually has a vibrant, friendly and generousspirited craft cider community, and any visitor passionate about high quality cider won’t leave disappointed. As a nation, Australians produce a wide range of styles using a multitude of approaches.
Still cider producers challenge their fantastic white wine compatriots (think Small Acres Cyder, New South Wales), while carbonated, quenchable lower abv quaffers (Hills Cider, South Australia) sit alongside internationally awarded fine ciders and perries made with an impressive level of skill and passion (Red Sails, Tasmania; LOBO Cider SA).
Geographically if you were to draw a line between Sydney in New South Wales and Adelaide in South Australia, the majority of producers in the east are found below this line in the cooler climes that support apple growth. For example, Tasmania has a great climate for apples and great cider. Meanwhile, across the Nullaboor into Western Australia the regions to watch are the Great Southern and the South West.
AUTHENTIC AND PROGRESSIVE
Australia, much like the USA, has followed its own trajectory, creating something authentically Australian. Today’s producers at the cutting edge, are doing just that. Interestingly, as the nation’s wine production began to decrease a few years ago, many of the skilled wine workforce and the facilities used for making wine sidestepped into cider production. The experience and set-up for making wine are directly transferable to cider. From what I’ve seen, producers seem to have a much higher technical proficiency than in the UK and, allying this with their experienced palates, this has given the industry a unique advantage.
Ironically, many of the winemakers turned cidermakers seem to use what they tend to have access to, non-tannic culinary apple varieties, something I’m sure they’d never consider doing with grapes when it comes to winemaking. Varieties such as Fuji, Granny Smith, Pink Lady and Gala are all commonly used. Traditional British and French cider apples are available in small, but increasing quantities.
The recent fires plaguing the country have taken their toll, with some cideries completely razed to the ground. Apple growing regions in a huge area have been affected, ranging from Batlow in New South Wales right across to the Adelaide Hills in Victoria, 1,000 km away. How those orchards and cidermakers whose businesses have survived will cope with the aftermath remains to be seen. Perhaps the positivity in the craft cider scene will keep them buoyant.
One illustration of the pride of the sector is the 100% Australian Grown scheme, launched by official body, Cider Australia. Sam Reid, co-founder of Willie Smith’s and president of Cider Australia, reports that the trust mark has taken membership of Cider Australia to over 100.
Increasingly consumers are choosing Australian Grown as their favoured choice, Reid says, helping this sector grow by over 10% in 2019, compared with cider made from fruit from outside Australia, which has declined by over 3%. As craft cider in Australia continues to mature, so does its annual Cider Awards, with the 2019 Australian Cider Awards attracting a record 267 entries.
While the majority might be shut at the time of writing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more cellar doors are opening, allowing consumers greater opportunity to sample more ciders and to understand them better.
And for those who can make the trip, Tasmania offers a trail for cider lovers who want to explore the island. After all, apples are its most famed crop. Western Australia also has a cider trail that runs from Perth down through the Peel and South West regions, culminating in the Great Southern regional town of Denmark
WHOLE PICTURE
Cider Australia’s members map shows the major apple growing regions, cidery locations and whether they are open to visitors. cideraustralia.org.au/ industry/australian-cider-map
MY FAB FOUR
Sadly, and understandably, not many Australian Ciders are available here in UK, but some bottles to look out for are:
WILLIE SMITH’S, FRENCH BLEND
TAS Anything from Willie Smith’s is worth buying but this particular gem is a fantastic ode to cidre. a 15-variety strong blend results in a full bodied, fruity and tannic cider, with a tasty hit of sparkle and masses of character. Really satisfying! williesmiths.com.au 6.3% abv
HENRY OF HARCOURT, CHÂTAIGNIER, VIC
Again, anything from Henry of Harcourt is worth making a beeline for. My personal favourite is the Châtaignier, a super tasty, punchy cider made from a French culinary apple. This cider ages gracefully, developing complexity along the way, finding balance for the acids which dominate at the outset. Lovely. henrycider.com, 9.9% abv
HILLS CIDER, APPLE, ADELAIDE HILLS, SA
A good example of a modern Australian style, Hills Cider’s Apple scored a Silver in the New World Medium Sweet category of the 2019 Australian Cider Awards. It is clean crisp, simple and refreshing in style. thehillscidercompany.com.au, 5% abv
ST RONAN’S METHODE TRADITIONELLE PEAR CIDER, YARRA VALLEY, SA
Made in the traditional method and a medal-winner since the start, this delicate pear cider has lovely crisp mousse. Just one of many reasons to head to the cidery tap room, hosted by Badger Creek Farm in Healesville, just over an hour’s drive from Melbourne. stronanscider.com.au 7% abv
CIDER HOTSPOTS
HUON VALLEY MID-WINTER FESTIVAL, TAS
What I believe may be the largest Wassail in the world takes place at Willie Smith’s as part of the annual Mid Winter Festival. While you’re there, Willie Smith’s Apple Shed Cider Museum is a must any day of the year. williesmiths.com.au
AUSCIDER
Industry dorks should head for Cider Australia’s annual meeting. Due to take place in June, AusCider 2020 has been postponed. However, this information exchange and networking event inspired by CiderCon in US is worth watching out for. AusCiderbrings together cider producers, fruit growers, researchers, suppliers and other industry representatives from Australia and abroad. The first AusCider took place in 2019 in Tasmania, and the organisers are committed to taking it around different regions each year.
EXPERIENCE
FLYING BRICK CIDER CO
If you happen to be near Melbourne, visit Flying Brick Cider Co with its lovely restaurant and cider centre. The fantastic freshly prepared food matches its wide range of ciders well. flyingbrickciderco.com.au
TASMANIAN CIDER TRAIL
Beautiful Tasmania is known as The Apple Isle because of its long and strong history of growing apples commercially. These days there are numerous cider producers – and an 11-strong cider trail. A trio of cideries are in the north, with the majority clustered within striking distance of Hobart. tascidertrail.com
WA CIDER TRAIL
For those visiting Perth or Western Australia, check out the Western Australia Cider Trail, with its ten members. With half of the producers to be found south of Perth, the trail makes its way down through Swan Valley on the way to Darwin. trailswa.com.au/trails/wa-cider-trail
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Made From 100% Fresh Pressed English Cider Apples
GOLD AWARD WINNER INTERNATIONAL CIDER AWARDS 2019
www.hoganscider.co.uk +44 (0)1789 488 433
THE INTERNATIONAL CIDER AWARDS
2019
Credit: 6: National Trust Images/William Shaw; 9: Ginger-Pixie-Photography
