CIDER apples from Herefordshire were toasted at the Bulmers’ biennial Golden Apple Awards celebration.
The awards championed local apple growers for their hard work and commitment to quality over the last two seasons and took place at Middle Brampton Farm, Madley, home of the 2012 winner Duncan Matthews.
More than 200 guests attended the celebration, incorporating a guided tour around the winning orchard, an awards lunch and a welcome address from Stefan Orlowski, UK managing director of Heineken, parent company of Bulmers and the world's leading cider business.
Mr Orlowski emphasised the importance of the cider category to Heineken, its continued investment in Herefordshire production and orcharding, and the successes of new brand launches.
He said: “Building great cider brands has a lot in common with growing cider apples - it takes time, passion and hard work. With our fantastic portfolio of cider brands we are able to cater for all occasions, whilst also having the flexibility to respond to changes in consumer demand.”
Addressing the growers, he added: "2012 was an incredibly challenging season. On behalf of Heineken, I would like to thank you all for your hard work and dedication in delivering your fruit despite the atrocious weather conditions.
"By working together - as so many of you have done with Bulmers for generations - we can ensure that the growing of cider apples can remain profitable and sustainable for decades to come.”
Winner Duncan Matthews and wife Kerry, were delighted to have claimed the Golden Apple Award for their Mature Bush Orchard, containing the variety Browns Apple, which was planted in 1999.
Mr Matthews said, “The Golden Apple is the Oscars of the cider apple growing world, so it is an honour to win this competition. I think we’ll celebrate with a couple of bottle of Bulmers cider.”