World cider experts Tempted by top Northern Irish producer
Tempted Cider from Northern Ireland has struck gold at the world's biggest cider competition.
Tempted gained the top award in the 'Flavoured Cider' category for its deliciously different Strawberry Cider at the British Cider Championships held as part of the Royal Bath and West Show in Somerset, England's only four-day farming and food event.
The show is held annually on a 240-acre site at Shepton Mallet, near Bath, and attracts visitors from many parts of the UK and further afield.
Davy Uprichard, who owns and runs Tempted Cider with wife Janet, commenting on the award, the only gold won this year by a Northern Ireland cider producer at the influential championships, says: "Winning a gold medal for our cider from a panel of expert judges in at the very heart of England's cider industry in Somerset is an amazing boost for our products.
"It's long been an ambition of mine to achieve such recognition from the cider industry in England. It follows last year's success in winning Best Artisan producer.
"This means our cider is now rated among the very best in the British Isles," he adds.
Based in Lisburn, county Antrim, Tempted uses the best of locally sourced fruit including apples from county Armagh, Northern Ireland's orchard country and is produced without additives. The husband and wife team established the cidery in 2009.
"Our strawberry cider is a blend of sweet cider, apple juice and my own strawberry wine. It is less alcoholic than the other ciders. This is achieved this by using large amounts of our own blend of apple juice. There is so much apple juice that if you drink a full bottle of Tempted Strawberry Cider you have just drunk one of your 5-a-day!"
The cider championships form part of the Orchards and Cider section at the show. It has the reputation as Britain's number one showcase for the fast-growing craft and artisan cider industry.
Other Tempted Cider Awards
International Cider Awards 2017 April: Silver medal Tempted Elderflower & Silver medal Tempted Medium Dry.
Beoir Champion Cider of Ireland 2017 (Inaugural) May: Champion Cider of Ireland Tempted Dry Cider; Dry ciders 1st Tempted Dry; Non-Dry Ciders 2nd Tempted Sweet; Fruited Ciders 1st Tempted Elderflower
Royal Bath and West Show British Cider Championships 2017 June: Gold Tempted Strawberry OC13 Flavoured Cider
Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards 2016 September: Cider Category Platinum Winner for Tempted Elderflower Cider
Blas na hÉireann 2016 October: Silver award for Tempted Elderflower Cider; Best Artisan Producer Co. Antrim & Joint Best Artisan Producer Ulster and Ireland.