Held annually since 1984, the winners of the 2022 New Zealand Fruit Wine & Cider Awards were recently announced, and due to the growth of the local cider industry, the NZ Cider Awards have been held independently since 2015.
The awards aim to recognise the high quality of fruit wine and cider produced in New Zealand, as well as the growing range of styles available. This year, Zeffer’s Slack Ma Girdle took the overall NZ Champion Cider, with Lothlorien’s Medium Sparkling Apple & Feijoa Fruit Wine won NZ Champion Fruit Wine & Mead award.
Overall NZ Champion Cider
The trophy winners for the 2022 Fruit Wine & Cider Awards are:
Cider:
Overall NZ Champion Cider
Slack Ma Girdle – Zeffer Cider
Best Modern Cider
Cider – Morningcider
Best Traditional Cider
Slack Ma Girdle – Zeffer Cider
Best Pear Cider / Perry
Morally Bankrupt Pear Cider 2021 – Scoundrels and Rogues Craft Cider
Best Cider with Berry Fruit
Old Mout Boysencider – Old Mout Cider
Best Cider with Non-Berry Fruits
Mata Feijoa Cider – Mata Beer
Best Cider with Hops, Spices, Botanicals or Honey
Hot X Buns – Morningcider
Best Ice Cider
Sparkling Ice Cider – The Cider Factorie
Best Low/Zero Alcohol Cider
Old Mill 0.5% Cider with Boysenberry – Old Mill Cider
Fruit Wine:
NZ Champion Fruit Wine & Mead
Lothlorien Medium Sparkling Apple & Feijoa Fruit Wine 750ml
Best Seltzer & Spritzer Style
Rekorderlig Ultra – Berry
Best Fortified Fruit Wine / Fruit Liqueur
Lothlorien Liqueur Feijoa & Manuka Honey 500 Ml
Best Mead
Beehave Craft Meadery – Fever Dream
Best Alcoholic Ginger Beer / Lemonade
Zeffer Cider Co. Ginger Beer
Best Alcoholic Kombucha / Hard Tea
Alice Hard Brewed Tea – Hibiscus, Rosehip & Apple
