Cider also makes a 21st Century return as South Australian companies learn to share their resources and venues
Hills Cider Co. also was part of the Premium Adelaide Hills Beverage Experience.
Hills Cider Co., the Barossa Cider Co, Kangaroo Island Ciders and Sidewood awerere part of the 21st Century cider revival in South Australia. Cider awards returned to the Royal Adelaide Show in 2011 after an 80-year gap.
Oakbank-based company Ashwood Estate increased its cider and wine production through a $3.5 million expansion, helped by a South Australian government regional development grant of $856,000 to the company’s Sidewood Estate site at Nairne. New bottling and canning equipment for cider, sparkling and still wine aimed to significantly increase Sidewood’s capacity.
A fully-automated industry-best-practice bottling line was installed, expected to produce 376,000 bottles of wine and cider annually. The canning line offered a new option for local producers and improve export competitiveness as a cheaper alternative to bottling. Canning was new to the Adelaide Hills region. It allowed the region’s boutique cideries and fruit growers to develop and market new products.
Sidewood was the only South Australian cider producer with the complete process – to mill, crush, ferment, keg, can and bottle – under one roof.
In another example of different drink producers joining forces, Hills Cider Company worked with the Mismatch Brewery, Adelaide Hills Distillery and Ashton Valley Fresh to open common cellar door to be called the Premium Adelaide Hills Beverage Experience.
The $4.5 million project, including a $950,000 state government regional development grant, created a tourism experience between Nairne and Woodside, incorporating a new brewery for Mismatch, a distillery for the Adelaide Hills Distillery producing premium and luxury spirits, and a cellar door for all four brands. It had the capacity to host large events and a farm shop stocking local products.
