Tasmania’s Plenty Cider has taken out one of the most significant awards in the industry, being named Champion Cider or Perry Producer at the 2026 Melbourne Royal Australian International Beer Awards.
The small Derwent Valley operation beat cider producers from all over the country.
They entered just three products and walked away with a gold medal for its 2025 Cornucopia, plus a silver for its Original Cider and a bronze for its Pet Nat.
Adam D’Arcy, who runs the four-person team at Plenty Cider, said the win was a major milestone for the business, which has been producing cider for just five years.
“It’s just another tip of the cap, I suppose, from people within the industry to show that we’re on the right path to being the best cider producer in the country, if not the world,” he said.
D’Arcy said fruit quality and technical skill were at the heart of what sets Plenty apart.
“You need the best fruit,” he said.
“You’ve gotta start with good inputs, good fruit to produce a great cider.”
He said understanding the makeup of the fruit, from acid and sugar levels to flavour profile, was critical to getting the best out of each batch.
D’Arcy said the team’s dedication gave them an edge over other producers.
“I think it is that finish, it’s that polish, it’s that dedication to producing our cider,” he said.
“A lot of other people might not be as invested as we are in it.”
The win adds to a growing collection of awards for the cidery, which has previously taken out best small producer and best in show at the Australian Cider Awards.
D’Arcy said the national recognition was already attracting interest, with a couple of distributors approaching them at the awards ceremony.
He said the goal was to take the brand national but he didn’t want to rush it.
“You’ve gotta crawl before you walk,” he said.
“I think we’ve certainly solidified ourselves within the state, it’s now taking that next step.”
D’Arcy said he also had his eye on international competitions in Michigan and Somerset to test Plenty against the world’s best.
Plenty Cider’s cellar door at Plenty is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 4pm, offering tastings, takeaways and wood fired pizza.
