Results from the 2025 Nationals – Cider

Announcing the Results from the 2025 National Wine Awards of Canada

The 2025 Nationals took place in Penticton from June 21st to 25th. Today, we are pleased to announce the winners in the Cider, Mead & Non-fruit, Fruit wine, Fortified, Icewine and Late Harvest categories. Category results will be rolling out throughout the rest of July, concluding with the Winery of the Year announcement on August 1st. We hope that you will stay tuned to follow the results!

Cider

Category Overview by Judge Janet Dorozynski, Ph.D, DipWSET

Go straight to the winners.

While the primary entries at the National Wine Awards of Canada are for wine, we are increasingly treated to exceptional cider entries. This year there were 59 entries from across Canada, with both familiar and new faces. The top honours were spread between Ontario and British Columbia with a variety of styles, including ice cider and sparkling.

Cider is far from new with roots dating back to the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and Roman Britain, where wild crab apples were fermented into early forms of cider as early as 3000 BCE. The UK remains the world’s largest producer and consumer, but cider also boasts deep traditions in northern Spain and France’s Normandy and Brittany.

Canada’s own cider story began in the 1600s around the island of Montreal, making it our oldest alcoholic beverage. Though nearly erased by centuries of temperance, cider made a comeback in 1980s led by Quebec. The Canadian cider industry is now flourishing nationwide with over 400 cideries from coast to coast with a diversity of styles from dry to off-dry, still to sparkling, iced, hopped, barrel-aged, and fruit-infused.

This year’s gold medals encompass a range of styles. Ontario’s Thornbury Craft Company struck gold twice with their Tragically Hip Road Apples and Raspberry Apple cider. Also from Ontario are the non-vintage sparking apple cider from Vieni Estates in Niagara and the top notch naturally fermented, single varietal Harry Masters Jersey cider from Loch Mor Cider in Prince Edward County. The gently effervescent non-vintage Bittersweet Heirloom Series from British Columbia’s Sea Cider also uses traditional cider apples as opposed to dessert apples which dominate the market. Canada’s craft cider renaissance is just getting started and I for one, am excited.

And the winners are…