See https://www.oregonlive.com/bee.....tival.html

By Andre Meunier | The Oregonian/OregonLive
You may not be aware of the International Cider Awards, but here’s some background: They’ve been held roughly every two years since 1888, and they’re held in the highest regard because the entries are judged by some of the best cidermakers in the world. So the winners are essentially earning the respect of their peers who understand the process and detailed characteristics of each cider.

So it’s no small feat that three Oregon cideries this year took home a combined nine medals from the competition, which was held last month in Manchester, England. On Wednesday, representatives of Portland Cider Co., Bauman’s Cider and 2 Towns Ciderhouse received their trophies during an award ceremony at Guildhall, London. It’s the biggest haul any U.S. state has ever taken home from the world’s international stage.

At the top of the heap was Portland Cider Co., whose Original Gold cider took home the competition’s top trophy, essentially a “best in show” award.

The International Cider Awards are composed of three cider categories with 15 classes, including Classic, Flavoured and Innovative Cider, alongside variations on style. In the Tannic Cider category, five of seven total category medals went to the Oregon cideries, which demonstrated mastery of both traditional European cider styles and modern cider styles.

The winning Oregon cidermakers attributed their success to the Oregon cider industry’s deeply felt sense of community and the region’s terroir.

“The cider industry here in Oregon is so strong, collaborative and supportive,” said Christine Walter, founder of Bauman’s Cider, which took five medals, the most of any of the Oregon cideries. “I can’t help but attribute our success on the international stage to this richness and depth of friendships in the industry that drive us individually and collectively to bring our very best ciders to the table, again and again.”

Added Dave Takush, head cidermaker and co-founder of 2 Towns Ciderhouse of Corvallis: “To have our ciders recognized alongside centuries-old English traditional cideries is truly humbling. It speaks to the commitment of Oregon cideries and the distinctive terroir of our region, which allows us to create ciders that stand out on the global stage.”

And Jeff Parrish, co-founder of Portland Cider Co., said receiving an honor given by his peers was a “huge honor.”

“Since we started making cider 11 years ago, we’ve watched the industry grow and thrive — especially in the Pacific Northwest,” said Parrish, who started Portland Cider Co. with his wife, Lynda. “We used to be one of the only places you could order cider in Portland, and now our region is world-renowned for its amazing cideries. We’re proud to be a part of it.”

The winning Oregon ciders include:

• Bauman’s: Do you Fancy A Roadtrip? (Gold)
• Bauman’s: Sauvie Island Blend (Silver)
• 2 Towns: 2022 Cidre Bouché (Gold)
• Bauman’s: Little Green Apples (Silver)
• 2 Towns: Kingston Black Single Varietal (Bronze)
• Bauman’s: Authentic Cider (Gold)
• Bauman’s: Mountain Rose SV (Silver)
• Portland Cider Co.: Original Gold (Gold)
• Portland Cider Co.: English Pub (Silver)

For more, check out the awards webpage.

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Editor’s note: This is a re-publication of the Oregon Brews and News weekly beer and cider newsletter, written by Oregonian/OregonLive beer writer Andre Meunier. To subscribe to have the newsletter delivered every Thursday at noon to your email inbox, go to oregonlive.com/newsletters and sign up.