About the Canadian Cider Awards

Building National Recognition for Canadian Cider

The Canadian Cider Awards were established to provide a national platform for recognizing excellence across Canada’s cider sector.

Presented by Cider Canada / Cidre Canada — the national association representing cider producers — the Awards celebrate quality, innovation, sustainability, leadership, and community impact across provinces and production styles.

As Canada’s cider industry continues to grow, national recognition plays a critical role in strengthening credibility, market presence, and long-term competitiveness.

Why the Awards Matter

The Canadian Cider Awards:

• Elevate Canadian cider on a national stage
• Provide independent, credible evaluation of products
• Recognize leadership beyond the glass
• Strengthen collaboration between provinces
• Promote agricultural and orchard stewardship
• Support industry growth and export readiness

The Awards are designed to reflect the diversity of Canada’s cider landscape — from heritage tannin-forward expressions to contemporary styles, from small farm-based producers to nationally distributed brands.

Three Streams of Recognition

The Awards are structured across three complementary streams:

1. National Tasting Competition

Judged in partnership with independent industry leaders, including the Canada Beer Cup, WineAlign, and the Cider Connect program. Entries are evaluated using clear style-based criteria to ensure fairness and consistency.

2. Written Industry Awards

Recognizing sustainability leadership, marketing innovation, design excellence, advocacy, entrepreneurship, and community impact.

3. Special Recognition

Honouring long-term contributions to the cider community and celebrating the individuals who have shaped the sector.

A National, Independent Process

The Canadian Cider Awards are built on principles of:

• Transparency
• Independence
• Professional evaluation
• Regional representation
• Consistency across categories

Judging partners and reviewers are selected for their expertise, credibility, and understanding of cider production and market dynamics.

Presented by Cider Canada / Cidre Canada

Cider Canada / Cidre Canada is the national association representing 165 members (as of February 2026) and working alongside provincial associations to strengthen the Canadian cider industry.

The Awards are part of our broader mandate to:

• Support producers
• Promote Canadian cider domestically and internationally
• Advance policy and regulatory reform
• Build a stronger, more connected sector

Learn more about joining at industry.cidercanada.ca or check our public-facing website at cidercanada.ca

Qualification

Members of Cider Canada qualify to participate in the awards, if you would like to join - check out our site here: industry.cidercanada.ca

Looking Ahead

As Canadian cider continues to mature, the Canadian Cider Awards will evolve to reflect new styles, innovations, and leadership across the country.

We invite producers, marketers, orchardists, and advocates to participate and help shape the future of Canadian cider.