Northwest Cider Cup Medal Winners
PORTLAND, OREGON – 2023 Northwest Cider Cup winners were announced Thursday evening, at Polaris Hall in Portland, Oregon. Simultaneously, the results of this competitive showdown of cider and perry excellence streamed live on Northwest Cider Association’s Instagram feed @nwcider.
The Portland crowd, a vibrant grouping of nearly 200 makers, industry professionals and cider enthusiasts, donning dress-to-impress attire, cheered enthusiastically at each accolade. “The cider community in our region is very passionate and innovative,” NW Cider Association’s Executive Director, Emily Ritchie states. The competition’s playful Best Dressed Award, selected live from amongst attendees on award night, is an annual crowd favorite.
2023 was a record breaking year receiving 279 entries, from 51 unique commercial cider and perry makers across Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho and British Columbia. In this banner year, entries competed in 19 categories, for up to 57 medals – one possible gold, silver and bronze per category. “Something that sets The Cup apart is how competitive it is to win.” Ritchie says. This year, only 19% of all entries were awarded. “These medals really matter,” she concludes. The 2023 Best of Show went to Alpenfire Cider from Washington for Glow-Airlie Red Flesh Single Varietal in the Red-Fleshed Dry Category. The Best of Show Runner-Up went to Yonder Cider also in Washington for their Barrel Aged Perry in the High-Tannin Perry Category.
2023 Best of Show Runner Up – Barrel Aged Perry, Yonder Cider (WA) and 2023 Best of Show – Glow – Airlie Red Flesh Single Varietal, Alpenfire Cider (WA)
NW Cider Cup, the region’s longest-standing, most competitive blind judging of ciders and perries, has been organized since 2016 by the Northwest Cider Association, a regional non-profit that is nearly 100 cidery members strong. The Cup, founded a decade ago by local cidermakers aims to inspire and maintain high quality. That purpose remains a priority today. “Cidermakers want to win, but they’re also really rooting for each other,” Ritchie notes. “When NW makers take home gold and cider fans notice, the whole category benefits. This is a collaborative and supportive community.”
51 total medals were awarded to 24 cideries in 2023. Entries increased by 12%, from 241 in 2022, following a 60% increase in entries from 2021 to 2022. Low Tannin Dry, Single Varietal, Red-Fleshed Sweet, and 16 other categories were evaluated in an all-day judging session on Monday, June 12th in Portland, Oregon.
2023 Northwest Cider Cup Winners
BEST OF SHOW
Glow – Airlie Red Flesh Single Varietal, Alpenfire Cider (WA) – Red-Fleshed Cider Dry Category
BEST OF SHOW RUNNER-UP
Barrel Aged Perry, Yonder Cider (WA) – High-Tannin Perry Category
BEST NEW CIDERY OF THE YEAR *TIE*
Empyrical Orchard and Cidery (WA) – AND – Heartland Ciderworks (OR)
BEST SMALL CIDERY OF THE YEAR
Puget Sound Cider Company (WA)
BEST MEDIUM CIDERY OF THE YEAR
Bauman’s Cider (OR)
BEST LARGE CIDERY OF THE YEAR
2 Towns Ciderhouse (OR)
LOW-TANNIN CIDERS DRY
GOLD, Mac Dry, 2 Towns Ciderhouse – OR
SILVER – Dry Cider, Double Mountain Brewery & Cidery – OR
BRONZE – Transplant, Highpoint Cider – ID
LOW-TANNIN CIDERS SWEET
GOLD – 11th Anniversary, 2 Towns Ciderhouse – OR
SILVER – Original Cosmic Crisp, 2 Towns Ciderhouse – OR
BRONZE – Local Legend, Schilling Cider – WA
HIGH TANNIN CIDERS DRY
GOLD – Kingston Black, Puget Sound Cider Company – WA
SILVER – Reine Des Pommes, Bauman’s Cider – OR
BRONZE – Dabinett Yarlington Mill / Dual Varietal, Alpenfire Cider – WA
HIGH-TANNIN CIDERS SWEET
GOLD – Estate Blend Rootwood Cider Company Gold WA
SILVER – Excelsior Imperial Apple Schilling Cider Silver WA
BRONZE – La Raison Reserve Empyrical Orchards and Cider Bronze WA
RED-FLESHED CIDERS DRY
GOLD – Glow – Airlie Red Flesh Single Varietal, Alpenfire Cider – WA
SILVER – Mountain Rosé, Puget Sound Cider Company – WA
BRONZE – Wenatchee Wave, Yonder Cider – WA
RED-FLESHED CIDERS SWEET
SILVER – Mountain Rose Single Varietal, Bauman’s Cider – OR
LOW-TANNIN PERRIES
GOLD – Perry, Seattle Cider Company – WA
HIGH-TANNIN PERRIES
GOLD – Barrel Aged Perry, Yonder Cider – WA
BRONZE – Principle, Empyrical Orchard and Cidery – WA
WOOD/OAKED
GOLD – Mezcal Barrel Aged Cider, Bauman’s Cider – OR
SILVER – Reserve Cider, Kristof Farms – OR
SINGLE VARIETAL
GOLD – Kingston Black, Puget Sound Cider Company – WA
SILVER – Brown Snout, Single Varietal Bauman’s Cider – OR
BRONZE – McIntosh Pet Nat, Bauman’s Cider – OR
FRUIT CO-FERMENTED
GOLD – Quince Cider, Victoria Cider Co – BC
SILVER – Blackberry Pear, Puget Sound Cider Company – WA
BRONZE – Wild Blue Huckleberry, Puget Sound Cider Company – WA
FRUIT POST-FERMENTATION ADDITION SWEET
GOLD – Plum Dandy, Meriwether Cider – ID
SILVER – Coulee, Yonder Cider – WA
BRONZE – Cherry Lane, Sea Cider – BC
FRUIT-POST FERMENTATION DRY
GOLD – Palisades, Yonder Cider – WA
SILVER – Yuzu Plum, 19 Acres Cider Co. – OR
BRONZE – Loganberry Cider, Bauman’s Cider – OR
BOTANICAL HOPPED
GOLD – Liquid Limber, Union Hill Cider Co. – WA
SILVER – Hop Shot, Meriwether Cider – ID
BRONZE – Imperial Citra Kissed, Cedar Draw Cider – ID
BOTANICAL HERBED
GOLD – The Baddie, 2 Towns Ciderhouse – OR
SILVER – Lavender Black Currant, Finnriver Farm & Cidery – WA
BRONZE – Lavender Honey, Shuswap Cider Company – BC
BOTANICAL SPICED
GOLD – Pineapple Mai Tai, Swift Cider – OR
SILVER – Pumpkin Spice, Seattle Cider Company – WA
BRONZE – Cucumber Jalapeno, Incline Cider Company – WA
SPECIALTY FORTIFIED
GOLD – Ore No. 001, Runcible Cider Company – OR
SILVER – Pomona, Sea Cider – BC
BRONZE – Apple Mistelle – #2 | Estate Blend, Alpenfire Cider – WA
SPECIALTY LOW ALCOHOL/ALCOHOL REMOVED
GOLD – N/A Pacific Pineapple Cider, 2 Towns Ciderhouse – OR
SILVER – The Little Apple, Heartland Ciderworks – OR
BRONZE – Light Cider, Bauman’s Cider – OR
SPECIALTY OTHER
GOLD – Sour Empress, Cedar Draw Cider – ID
SILVER – Plum As You Are, 2 Towns Ciderhouse – OR
BRONZE – Hollow Jack, 2 Towns Ciderhouse – OR
About Northwest Cider Association
Founded in 2010, the Northwest Cider Association (NWCA) brings cideries and cider lovers together to learn, experience and enjoy the Northwest cider culture. Representing more than 90 commercial cidermakers from throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia, the group is dedicated to supporting, promoting and growing its thriving industry. For more information, visit NWCider.com and follow @nwcider on social media.
