Ampleforth Abbey Cider and Premium Cider have won Gold and Bronze medals in this year’s International Cider Challenge (ICC). Competing against ciders from around the world, both ciders, the 6.5% Abbey Cider and the 8.3% Premium Cider, won Bronze in the Tasting category, and there was the top Gold award for the Premium Cider in Design and Packaging section. Father Wulstan Peterburs, procurator of Ampleforth Abbey, said: “This is a glowing tribute to the quality of Ampleforth ciders. They are a wonderful example of how centuries of apple growing tradition can, with skill and dedication, produce top quality drinks that are rated so highly today” The ciders were blind-tasted by an expert panel of judges and assessed according to taste, appearance and aroma. Ampleforth Abbey has more than 2000 apple trees in its orchard, one of the largest commercial orchards in the north of England. More than 40 varieties of apples are grown and they are then pressed in the Abbey’s cider mill before the juice is stored in large vats where it is fermented and matured for eight months. The awards are the latest in a series of successes for Ampleforth drinks. Last year the cider also won a Bronze in the ICC, and also came out on top in the Cider World Cup. Ampleforth Abbey Beer was named Best Drink by DeliciouslYorkshire for 2012/13, following in the footsteps of Ampleforth Apple Liqueur, which won the same top award in 2010/11.