Who would have thought an Orange, NSW, cider producer would be named ‘Best in Show’ at the prestigious 2024 Japan Cider Cup?
That’s exactly what family-run craft cider maker, Small Acres Cyder has just done for its 2021 Pommeau Apple Mistelle, along with ‘Best in Class’ for its Femme Fatale 2023 and newly-released Kingston Black.
The Japan Cider Cup was launched in 2022 creating Japan’s leading international cider event. The competition is open to all domestic and international ciders. Entered ciders are scored across multiple rounds of judging by various members of the general public in Japan, food and drink professionals and notable guest cider experts from across the globe.’
The 2024 Japan Cider Cup welcomed entries from 10 countries.
Nick and Jannene Geoghegan own and operate Small Acres and are often assisted by their teenage kids, when they can be moved from the couch!
Making a range of ciders from fresh apple and pear juice, the couple draws on traditional methods of authentic cider-making and the results are there for everyone to enjoy with the award-winning range of ciders and perrys.
Located on the border of Nashdale and Borenore right in the heart of Orange’s apple and wine country, the high altitude and long, cool Winters are perfect conditions for growing the fruit, along with amazing volcanic soil.
"We have been lucky to have won several awards recently,” Nick explains. "Our Pink Lady Apple Cider was named Champion Cider at the Sydney Royal Beer & Cider Show last year. Recently, we’ve been focused on more boutique and single-variety ciders and we are seeing a great response from our customers.
"They love to taste the unique character of these rarer apple varieties. Japan is an emerging cider market and its consumers like to seek out the best food and drink from around the world. We are delighted with the success in our second year of entering the show.”
As for the Tokyo heroes, Nick has some suggestions for how to enjoy these drops…
•Femme Fatale is a medium sweet and quite fruity cider – try it with a chicken dish.
•Kingston Black is dark and robust, nice with a heavy meat dish.
•Pommeau Apple Mistelle is fantastic on its own or contrasting with a camembert or blue cheese – it is also great with ice cream.
•Pink Lady loves plenty of ice after a hard day’s work!
The Small Acres Cyder range is available at the cellar door, online by clicking here, and in selected bottle shops in the Central West and Sydney.
