Officer-based brewer Trattore has brought home the silver for its Earthen Pear Cider and New World Cider in the Australian Cider awards.
Cider Australia announced the 2021 winners on Wednesday 2 February, via an online presentation.
The awards bring together the Australian cider community to celebrate Australian cider and rewards excellence in cider production.
For each class, bronze, silver or gold medals are awarded based on points achieved, with the highest score winning best in class and the overall category trophy.
Trattore’s Earthen Pear Cider, exhibited for the first time, was awarded a Silver Medal for the New World Perry Medium Class.
Winemaker, Normal Lever, was especially pleased with the result.
“Our approach to making the Earthen Pear Cider was similar to that of our New World Apple Cider with which we pioneered our methods – to produce a product that displays both the technical and creative sides of the ‘New World’ style while showcasing the clean, delicate character of fresh fruit,” Trattore’s winemaker Norman Levy said.
The New World Cider was awarded a Silver Medal for 2021 in the New World Medium Sweet class, having been awarded a Bronze Medal in 2019 for New World Sweet Cider.
The 2020 show was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Trattore Cider range is inspired by traditional methods and refreshingly modern flavours, and speaks to the the decades of love and hard work that three generations of the Russo family have poured into Bellevue Orchard.
“We have been big supporters of Cider Australia for a long time, and it is great to get this recognition for Trattore, a cider that we love to make, drink and share,” Bellevue Orchard CEO Nick Russo said.
Using no preservatives and made with only real, Australian fruit straight from the family orchard and other local orchards, this award-winning collection of boutique ciders is making its mark nationally.
Bellevue – a family owned apple orchard – has been supplying fresh fruit to markets and grocers around the nation since 1953, and grows over 20 different varieties apples and pears.
The Russo family diversified into fruit processing 25 years ago and now crushes, juices and bottles many different varieties of apple juice as well as brewing lots of cider.
With operation of the commercial orchard at its core, Bellevue also conducts fruit processing and packaging services, as well as operating a small retail and hospitality venue at Officer, employing over 30 people.
Their Summer Snow is a range of juices, including variety specific apple juices and other fruit blends.
Trattore, the Italian word for Tractor, is a range of sophisticated, boutique ciders made from locally grown fruit.
Bellevue Farm Gate sells all-Australian produce, coffee, juice and cider, along with pizzas and gourmet pies from the food van.
Visit Bellevue Farm Gate, at Bellevue Orchard in Officer, to enjoy and experience Trattore. Open every day from 8.30am to 4.30pm.
