Local Cider Maker Achieves Outstanding Results

Online, June 6, 2011 (Newswire.com) - LOCAL cider maker, Blaengawney Cider, swept the board at the annual Welsh Perry and Cider Championships this Saturday (28 May), winning seven gold awards out of 11 categories including overall champion cider for their sweet cider, National Treasure.

The Welsh Perry and Cider Festival, which was held at the Clytha Arms, Nr. Abergavenny over the bank holiday weekend and organised by the Welsh Perry and Cider Society, saw over 1900 visitors sample and purchase over 7000 pints of cider and perry, an increase of nearly 500 visitors from last year's event.

Judges at the championships sampled 80 Welsh ciders and perrys from 22 Welsh producers, scoring Blaengawney cider and perry as the clear winner of the day. Other highlights included Gwynt y Ddraig winning the overall champion perry and sweet draught perry awards for their Farmhouse Sweet Perry, Clytha Arms winning the Best Newcomer award, Raglan Cider Mill taking the gold for dry draught perry and Old Monty Cider scooping gold for the Spirit Cask Draught Cider.

Cressida Slater, Development Officer for the Welsh Perry and Cider Society said: "This year's festival was an outstanding success. It was rewarding to see so many new and regular faces attending and helping raise awareness of craft cider and perries. The increase of attendance over previous years shows how much appreciation there is for these craft drinks."

"Welsh cider has taken a tremendous step forward over recent years and it is with great pride that we see cider makers making such an impact on the local markets. Blaengawney Cider was a clear winner at this year's championships, but competition was stiff with so many outstanding cider and perrys in attendance."

"The Welsh Perry and Cider Society would like to congratulate all of the winners and thank all participating cider makers, all visitors and of course, the Clytha Arms for their support of another successful festival."

The Welsh Perry & Cider Society, set up in 2001, is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to promote Welsh cider and perry (made in Wales and ideally from Welsh fruit). The organisation provides assistance to existing and potential Welsh cider makers, as well as researching and regenerating Welsh orchards; working to identify and conserve rare varieties of Welsh cider apples and perry pears.