The Great Taste Awards, referred to as the Oscars of the food world, were held in London last night and Apple County Cider scooped the Golden Fork from Wales award for the second consecutive year.
Apple County Cider, winner of last year’s Golden Fork from Wales for its Vilberie Medium Dry cider, has this year been awarded 3 stars by the Great Taste for their Dabinett Medium cider, which also made the Top 50 Foods, and a 1 star for their Blakeney Red Perry.
Loved for its distinguished fruity character, the Dabinett is a lightly sparkling medium cider, made with 100% freshly pressed juice from the iconic Dabinett bittersweet apple variety, delicately fruity with a hint of spice and a long clean finish.
“Fresh, crisp and clean” was how the judges described this single variety cider. “Perfect balance with fullness of fruit and appealing honeyed caramel/toffee notes matched by a clean uncloying finish of great length.” Even those judges who don’t actually go for cider enjoyed the full-bodied flavour – “neither too heavy nor too sweet – anchored by the tannins rather than acidity.”
Apple County Cider is a small family business run by husband and wife Ben and Steph Culpin, who produce premium single variety ciders and perries made from 100% apple juice, using varieties such as Dabinett, Vilberie and Brown Stout. Apples are harvested from their orchards and pressed on their farm.
Ben and Steph Culpin are incredibly proud of their continued achievements,
“We are elated to have won this incredible award and for our efforts to be acknowledged in this way. Having won the Golden Fork from Wales award for the second year running is just unbelievable, it is a culmination of all our hard work over the years.
It is such an amazing feeling to know that some of the most discerning palates have blind-tasted a huge array of products, and have picked out ours for special commendation.”
Congratulating Apple County Cider Company on their achievements, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths AM, felt this reflected the strength of the Welsh food and drink industry,
“I’d like to warmly congratulate Apple County Cider on their latest achievements in the Great Taste awards, they should be very proud of what they are accomplishing and I wish them the very best as they continue to progress with their excellent business.
“The Welsh food and drink industry is a vital part of the economy and with commitment and hard work we see real potential to increase turnover by 30% by 2020 and reach our ambitious target.”
In recent months, the company has also secured a distribution deal with distributors Buckley & Beale, a listing in B Street Deli in Bermondsey, London, as well as attracting the attention of importers in Denmark and the Netherlands.
Overall, 125 products from across Wales were winners at this year’s Great Taste awards, with 96 entries achieving 1 star, 26 getting 2 stars and three being deemed worthy of the 3 star accolade, proving that food and drink from across Wales has a deserved reputation for quality and taste.
Great Taste, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, is the acknowledged benchmark for fine food and drink. Panels of over 400 expert judges, including specially trained food writers blind taste the products that are entered. Exceptional food and drink products are awarded a commendation from 1 star ‘simply delicious’, to 2 stars ‘outstanding’, up to 3 stars representing ‘wow – you’ve got to taste this!’