Tippled Pink! Local Pink Lady apple cider claims Champion crown

A local cider made from Pink Lady apples grown right on the slopes of Mount Canobolas has been named Champion Cider at the 2023 Sydney Royal Beer & Cider Show.

Made by Nashdale cidery Small Acres Cyder, the Pink Lady Apple Cider is a new addition to the range and this award is a welcome accolade for owners Nick and Jannene Geoghegan.

“Oh, it feels amazing,” Nick said. “Ultimately people drinking our cider is the thing that matters to us the most but, when we win awards, it really helps to get the word out for us. We're in an area that's got a great reputation for food and drink and just showing that we're part of it is brilliant.”

Its origin is interesting: “We were looking for something that really reflected the local fruit and Pink Lady apples are favourites for a lot of people,” he said. “Visitors to our cellar door constantly ask about Pink Lady apples as they see them in the orchards and in the stores around Orange. We wanted to put these apples ‘in the glass’.”

Released just nine months ago, Nick said the Pink Lady Apple Cider has become a popular choice at their cellar door. “And when they see it, they're interested. But once they actually have it, they just go, ‘Wow!’ because that sweetness and sharpness combined is a great thing for cider!”

All the apples for the cider are sourced from two orchards on the slopes of Mount Canobolas. “Our ciders are all made from fresh apples. No concentrates. And we really work with the growers to make sure we've got great fruit to do that,” Nick said, adding that there is growing interest in craft cider, which is good for the future of the local industry.

“I think there's a huge amount of interest in quality stuff made from local fruit and, yeah, we're lucky with that.

“Cider is still much smaller than beer and wine. But yeah, I think it's growing and it's a great place to be!”

At the Sydney Royal Beer & Cider Show, Small Acres Cyder were also awarded a Gold Medal for their 2021 Pommeau and a Silver Medal for their Heritage Blend.