Daylesford Cider has swept the 2025 Australian Cider Awards, taking home top honours in a field of more than 230 entries. The standout was Wild Oak, which claimed Best Traditional Cider, Best Australian Cider and ultimately Best Cider in Show at the awards dinner in Sydney on October 30. The haul included three gold medals, three best-in-class awards and four trophies, capped off with cider maker Jon Mackie being named Most Successful Small Producer.
Mackie, a self-taught cider maker, has spent the past decade refining his craft. His approach blends traditional techniques with modern experimentation, producing ciders that reflect their vintage, fruit character and the conditions of each season. Seventeen varieties of heritage apples are grown in the orchard and hand-picked before being crushed in what he affectionately calls “the little red shed”.
“I’m absolutely stoked to bring home so many awards,” Mackie said. “Honestly, blown away. What an unbelievable result, especially being named Most Successful Small Producer. Truly grateful for the recognition. Massive thanks to everyone at Cider Australia and to all the sponsors for making it possible.”
Jon and his wife Clare have built Daylesford Cider into a destination venue. The cidery now pours 14 cider styles along with non-alcoholic options, and releases new limited-edition batches each year. The cellar door is open daily for tastings and sales, while the restaurant offers a casual lunch menu featuring house-made dishes, local ingredients and wood-fired pizza.
Award highlights for Daylesford Cider included:
• Best in Show – Wild Oak 2024 (Gold)
• Best Traditional Cider Medium – Wild Oak 2024 (Gold)
• Best Traditional Cider Medium Sweet – Sweet Coppin (Gold)
• Best Experimental Cider – Shiraz Cider (Gold)
This article is based on a media release from Daylesford Cider.
