31 Medals Awarded in Portland Cider Cup Competition

Media Contact:
Emily Ritchie, Executive Director
Northwest Cider Association
emily@nwcider.com
503-887-8960

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Cheers to the Champions!

31 Medals Awarded in Portland International Cider Cup Competition

 

PORTLAND (June 15, 2017) – The results are in! Eight Pacific Northwest cideries took home gold medals at the Awards Party for the Northwest Cider Association’s 5th Annual Portland International Cider Cup (PICC) last night. For the second year running, a cidery from Montana, Western Cider Company, took home the competition’s highest honor and Cup– the Best In Show Award. 

The party, hosted at Portland Cider Company’s Clackamas event space, drew 150 cidermakers and cider fans, celebrated ciders crafted in the Pacific Northwest, the largest cider market in the US for consumption and home to quarter of the country’s cidermakers.  The competition, which was hosted at Square Mile Cider on April 9, increased by 150% this year, growing to over 150 ciders from over 40 cideries in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, and featured 45 experienced industry judges. 

Within the 14 categories sampled, judges found ciders in eight categories worthy of gold medals:

  • Western Cider Co, Montana – McIntosh (Heritage Dry) – Best of Show

  • Montana Ciderworks, Montana – North Fork Traditional (Modern Sweet) – Runner up, Best of Show

  • Square Mile, Oregon – Spur and Vine (Hopped)

  • Square Mile, Oregon – Ginger Pear (Spiced/Herbed)

  • Swift Cider, Oregon – Peach Oak (Wood/Oaked)

  • 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Oregon – Traditions 2015 Riverwood (Modern Dry)

  • 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Oregon – Flight of the Kiwi (Fruit)

  • Eden Valley Orchards, Oregon – Pear House Cider (Modern Perry)

These eight ciders went on to compete in the Best of Show round, in which the head judges from each table found the McIntosh to be the best of the best.

“In our first year of operation, it is truly an honor to receive such recognition from the PICC. From starting the orchard in 2010 – to working on Western Cider for the last two years, this has been a vision that has taken many years to realize. We are grateful to be part of a world-class cider making community and look forward to many years ahead as stewards of great cider.” said Western Cider Co cidermaker and founder Michael Billingsley.

Western Cider Company also won the the Best New Cidery award which carried with it a $500 prize, and awards were given to 2 Towns Ciderhouse in Corvallis, OR and Montana CiderWorks in Missoula, MT respectively as Large and Small Cideries of the year. Visit nwcider.com for the full list of medalists and past cup winners.

“We’re so excited to grow the competition this year and give northwest ciders a chance to be judged by well-trained, knowledgeable judges. Next time you’re in the grocery store, try one of the medalists!” says Emily Ritchie, Executive Director of the Northwest Cider Association.

The NWCA board recognizes the importance of unbiased cider evaluation, and the benefits of medals as a marketing tool for member cideries. This competition is held with the utmost regard and judges are asked to score only deserving ciders. A maximum of one gold, one silver and one bronze may be awarded per category. This award system is in contrast to other competitions which award medals based on merit with multiple gold, silver and bronze awards per category.

 

Cideries of the Year

Large Cidery of the Year    2 Towns Ciderhouse

Small Cidery of the Year    Montana CiderWorks

New Cidery of the Year    Western Cider Company

Medals

Gold    2 Towns CiderhouseTraditions 2015 Riverwood, Modern Dry Cider
Gold    Western Cider CompanyMcIntosh, Heritage Dry Cider
Gold    Montana CiderWorksNorth Fork Traditional, English Sweet Cider
Gold    Square Mile Cider CompanyHopped Apple Cider, Hopped Cider
Gold    Square Mile Cider CompanyGinger Pear Apple Cider, Spiced/Herbed Cider
Gold    Swift CiderPeach Oak, Wood/Oaked Cider
Gold    2 Towns CiderhouseFlight Of The Kiwi, Fruit Cider
Gold    EdenVale WineryEden Valley Orchards Pear House Cider, Modern Perry

Silver    North Idaho CiderNorth Idaho Fresh Apple, Modern Dry Cider
Silver    Alter Ego CiderThe Brute, Modern Sweet Cider
Silver    Liberty CiderworksColumbia Crab SV, Heritage Dry Cider
Silver    Montana CiderWorksDarby Pub Cider, Heritage Sweet Cider
Silver    Alpenfire CiderPirate’s Plank, English Dry Cider
Silver    Swift CiderGolden Equinox, Hopped Cider
Silver    2 Towns CiderhouseLa Mure, Wild/Non-Sac Cider
Silver    Wards Hard CiderWards Ginger Apple Cider, Spiced/Herbed Cider
Silver    Finnriver Farm & CideryFirebarrel Cider, Wood/Oaked Cider
Silver    Bauman’s Cider, Peach Raspberry, Fruit Cider
Silver    Tieton Cider WorksPerry, Modern Perry

Bronze    Scenic Road Cider Co.Nearly Dry, Modern Dry Cider
Bronze    Portland Cider CompanyApple, Modern Sweet Cider
Bronze    Scenic Road Cider Co.Dry, Heritage Dry Cider
Bronze    Liberty CiderworksPorter’s Perfection SV, English Dry Cider
Bronze    Tieton Cider WorksWild Washington, English Sweet Cider
Bronze    WildCraft Cider WorksSpring Traditional Keeved, French Cider
Bronze    2 Towns CiderhouseHop & Stalk, Hopped Cider
Bronze    La Familia CiderJamaica – Hibiscus, Spiced/Herbed Cider
Bronze    Apple OutlawHeritage, Wood/Oaked Cider
Bronze    2 Towns CiderhousePrickle Me Pink, Fruit Cider
Bronze    2 Towns Ciderhouse6th Anniversary, Specialty Cider
Bronze    Finnriver Farm & CideryPerry, Modern Perry

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About the NWCA
Formed in 2010, the Northwest Cider Association brings cideries and cider lovers together to share knowledge, experience and live the Northwest cider culture. We are a trade organization formed by cider producers throughout the Pacific Northwest to promote awareness of regional artisanal ciders. We sponsor classes and workshops, and develop cider-themed events, including Oregon Cider Week in June, Washington Cider Week in September, and BC Cider Week in October.

To learn more about the PICC, contact Carolyn Winkler, Chief Competition Coordinator (carolyn@revnats.com).  
To learn more about the NWCA, contact Emily Ritchie, NWCA Executive Director (emily@nwcider.com).

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