Results of the 2022 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada (The Nationals)
Cider
Category Overview by judge Craig Pinhey
Cider is truly a cross Canada concoction, as apples can grow in every province. This year, as in most, we have medal winners from coast to coast, with Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Cider Company winning the Best Cider of The Year with their “The Classic,” and other medal winning ciders from Ontario and BC.
(Jump straight to the medal winners.)
Good cider has pure apple character, as well as good balance and freshness. They can be blends of various apples, but many are based on heritage varieties like Golden Russet and Northern Spy. That said, good cider can be based on great eating apples too, like a McIntosh. Cider, dry or off-dry, or even very sweet such as an ice cider, is a good beverage for a variety of situations, either on its own as a refreshing beverage, or paired with foods, such as old cheddar, bangers and mash, or apple pie.
A big congratulations to Annapolis Cider Company The Classic for winning the Best Cider of the Year award!
Annapolis Cider Company The Classic, Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Annapolis Cider Company Crisp & Dry, Nova Scotia
Loch Mór Cider 2021 Danforth Rd Series Kingston Black, Prince Edward County, Ontario
Loch Mór Cider NV Untamed, Ontario
Salt Spring Wild Cider Stone Fruit Series Hopped Apricot Cider, British Columbia
Salt Spring Wild Dry Cider Traditional Blend, British Columbia
Salt Spring Wild Pear Cider Traditional Blend, British Columbia
Thornbury N/V Premium Apple Cider, Ontario
Thornbury N/V Rosé Apple Cider, Ontario
Thornbury NV The Tragically Hip Road Apples, Ontario
Annapolis Cider Company Earl Blue, Nova Scotia
Annapolis Cider Company Old Fashioned Gravenstein, Nova Scotia
Clafeld N/V Fuji Single Varietal Cider, Ontario
Loch Mór Cider 2021 Sour Cherry, Ontario
Magnotta N/V Craft Apple Cider, Ontario
No Boats on Sunday N/V BC Original Cider, British Columbia
No Boats on Sunday N/V NS Cider, Nova Scotia
No Boats on Sunday N/V Ontario Hopped Cider, Ontario
Salt Spring Wild Special Blend Cider Elderberry/Flower, British Columbia
Shiny Apple Cider Peach Light, Ontario
Shiny Apple Cider Rose, Ontario
Thornbury N/V Honey Crisp Apple Cider, Ontario
Thornbury N/V Limited Edition Craft Sparkling Cider, Ontario
Thornbury N/V Raspberry Apple Cider, Ontario
Wards Orchard Rosé Hard Apple Cider, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
West Avenue Cider Legacy 1642, Ontario
