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By RAVVERNON SINGH
Staff Writer

Niagara College Teaching Winery’s Cider 101 bagged a gold medal at the United States Open Cider Championship.
On Nov. 20, the beverage won the medal for the second consecutive year in the New World Cider category, denoted by the style of cider making which is more fruit driven, tanned and has earthy tones.

“It’s great, it’s the second time in two years, which is great, you know it is always good as a producer to show consistency,” said Gavin Robertson, winemaker and instructor at Niagara College Teaching Winery.

“We’re always delighted when students or staff from NC win awards of excellence and in the case of Gavin Robertson… we’re very pleased for him and his students that worked on producing a high-quality cider,” said Dan Patterson, Niagara College President.

The third annual championship’s final round was held at the Big Ditch Brewing Company in Buffalo, New York. Over 240 different ciders from cideries, breweries and wineries across Washington state to the United Kingdom participated in 20 different style categories.

Cider 101 won a gold medal in the New World Cider Category at the US Open Cider Championship. PHOTO BY Ravvernon Singh

“It’s not important to us to win every award out there, but that we’re consistently ranked with the top players in the industry,” Robertson said, “these judgings put you up against similar producers so it’s a good way to benchmark your performance within the industry.”

Cider 101 is made when raw juice from Ontario apples is mixed with multiple aromatic yeast strains, to add complexity, and fermented in 100 percent stainless steel tanks instead of oak barrels. “We back sweeten (it) with a little bit of the same apple juice… and find just an acid and sugar balance that works and then we stabilize it, filter it and can it,” Robertson said.

“Cider is becoming a very popular drink and to have our… winemaker look at giving our students the opportunity to make cider is a great example of being on the cutting edge of change in the whole food and beverage industry,” Patterson said.

The judges of the championship were from NC teaching winery, NC teaching brewery as well as other cideries from the Niagara region.

Good apples from good growers and their proper processing helped Cider 101 stand apart from all the other products in the blind judging at the championship.