We would like to wish the warmest congratulations and thanks to all of those who participated in the 11th Ontario Sweet Cider Competition and 10th Ontario Craft Cider Competition.
We are happy to say that the Sweet Cider Competition had its highest entrant numbers since 2020! We hope to keep the competition housed at OFVC to continue the momentum.
The Craft Cider Competition filled its capacity in the Modern category, with the Fruit/Botanical, Hopped/Barrel Aged and Heritage categories showing 80%, 53% and 53%, respectively. This year we separated the specialty categories to allow for more Ontario cider participation and recognition, along with supporting judges to effectively evaluate the entries.
And the Winners Are…
Sweet Cider
Craft Cider – Modern
- Georgian Hills Vineyard – Ardiel Dry Apple Cider
- Reinhart’s Cider – Red Apples Strong Cider
- Vieni Estates – Sparkling Apple Cider
Craft Cider – Heritage / Traditional
- West Avenue Cider Limited – Heritage Dry
- Farmgate Cider – Russet
- Hounds of Erie Winery – Best in Show
Craft Cider – Fruit / Botanical
- Loch Mor Cider Co – Harrison Spritz
- Slabtown Cider – Legendary Cherry
- Spy Cider House & Distillery – Conspiracy Theory
Craft Cider – Hopped / Barrel-Aged
- Farmgate Cider – Honey & Hops
- Hounds of Erie Winery – Dog House
- Slabtown Cider – Barrel-Aged Chardonnay
A Very Special Thank You!
We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the organizers, volunteers, and judges who made these competitions possible. These competitions would not be possible without their time, expertise, and dedication.
We would also like to pass along our graditute to the Ontario Apple Growers for sponsoring the 2026 Ontario Sweet Cider Competition, along with the Ontario Craft Cider Association for sponsoring the 2026 Ontario Craft Cider Competition.