AN authentic English cider from the United Kingdom has taken out the Best in Show prize at this year’s record-breaking Australian Cider Awards.

Thatchers Cider was tonight awarded at the gala prize ceremony in Melbourne, which was attended by more than 100 industry players from around Australia and overseas.

Its Thatchers Gold offering won three trophies — Best in Show, Best Cider and Best

International entry.

The top Australian entry and Best Perry was won by Yarra Valley-based Napoleone Cider, with its Napoleone Methode Traditionelle Pear Cider.

Napoleone, at Coldstream, grows its own apples and pears and makes its cider on site in its new brewery and ciderhouse.

Cidermaker Behn Payten created the company’s first cider in 2008 and was on the judging panel this year — the first year producers were on the panel.

READ MORE:A bit on the cider

Judges — chaired by Gary Baldwin and with guest New Zealand expert Malcolm Reeves providing an international perspective — spent two days last week tasting almost 150 entries across a record 17 categories.

All of the judges said Thatchers — which is regarded by some as one of the world’s best ciders — was given a good run for its money by other entries, with a high standard of entries

overall.

“Thatchers was chosen by the judging panel as it showed complex spiced apple characters and aromas with some development — a lovely example of a medium cider in the traditional style,’’ Mr Baldwin said.

A record number of Australian entries were received this year.

Cider Australia president Sam Reid the cider category in Australia was continuing to show strong growth, as was the quality of many locally-produced ciders.

Cider fans will have the chance to enjoy the fruits of producers’ labour at the Australian Cider Festival this weekend at Ormond Hall at The Village Melbourne, St Kilda.

There will be live entertainment, food and tastings from more than 20 cider producers.

READ MORE:Australian Cider Festival countdown

TROPHIES

Best in Show, Best Cider & Best International Cider/Perry — Thatchers Gold

Best Perry & Best Australian Cider/Perry — Napoleone Cider Methode Traditionelle Pear Cider

Best in Class Awards

1A New World Dry Cider — Zeffer Cider Co. Crisp Apple Cider

1B Traditional Dry Cider — Zeffer Cider Co. Slack Ma Girdle Cider

2A New World Medium Cider — Kangaroo Island Ciders Colony Cove Draught Cider

2B Traditional Medium Cider — Thatchers Gold

3A New World Sweet Cider — The Apple Thief Pink Lady Cider

3B Traditional Sweet Cider — Seven Oaks Farmhouse Cider Bramley Seedling

4 Bottle Conditioned/Methode Champenoise Cider — Core Cider Company

CORERUPTED Methode Champenoise Cider

5A New World Dry Perry — Zeffer Cider Co. Juicy Pear

6A New World Medium Perry — The Hills Cider Company Pear

6B Traditional Medium Perry — Hillbilly Pear Cider

8 Bottle Conditioned/Methode Champenoise Perry — Napoleone Methode Traditionelle Pear Cider

9 Ice Cider/Perry — Small Acres Cyder Pomona Ice 2012

10 Fortified Cider/Perry — Small Acres Cyder Pommeau 2009

11 Experimental Cider/Perry — Australian Beer Company Pressman’s Mid