Cidery News: Cideries are invited to submit samples for the International Cider Awards (ICA), by May 6th

Press Release

(Santa Rosa, CA)—Dan Berger announced today the launch of a new cider competition, the International Cider Awards (ICA). With a 35-year history of organizing wine competitions, Berger has teamed with broadly experienced competitions director Debra Del Fiorentino and The Cider Journal Publisher Tom Wark to launch the new cider judging with the aim of introducing consumers and the trade to the array of outstanding craft ciders now available in the American marketplace.

The ICA competition will take place on May 9th in Sonoma County, California and is open to any cider available in the American marketplace. Among the judges who will evaluate ciders from around the country and globe are cider expert and author Ben Watson; cider buyer and enthusiast Jim Boyce from K&L Wine Merchants in Redwood City, California; Tom Wark, publisher of The Cider Journal and Cider Competition Coordinator; Ellen Cavalli of Tilted Shed Ciderworks in Sonoma County; and Mike Reis, a Certified Cicerone and Operations Manager for Lime Ventures, cider distributor serving the state of California.

“The expansion of the craft cider industry and the array of new, very high quality ciders is one of the most exciting alcohol industry developments in years,” said Berger. “The aim of the International Cider Awards is to draw attention to the numerous craft ciders being produced by dedicated cidermakers here in the states and around the world.”

Cidermakers are invited to submit entries to the ICA’s up until May 6^th at http://www.dbiwc.com.

Dan Berger is the Dean of American wine competitions having been an organizer of competitions for 35 years and a sought after judge at competitions around the world. Berger is also a respected wine writer whose work is syndicated as well as published in his own newsletter, Vintage Experiences.

Cider at the ICA will be judged in 12 categories including dry and sweet common and traditional ciders, Spanish style cider, single variety cider, fruit ciders and perry among others. Best of Class, Gold, Silver and Bronze medals will be awarded. The judging will take place in Sonoma, County California.

There are now hundreds of cideries in the United States alone, not to mention a growing number of ciders being imported from England, France, Spain and other countries,” noted Wark. “The choices for consumers are growing daily and a competition of this sort aimed at showcasing the variety and high quality of available ciders will be of terrific benefit to both consumers and cidermakers alike.”