09/09/2015 Download PDF Download Plain TextThe Great Taste awards celebrates the very best in food and drink. The Great Taste Golden Fork for the best food and drink from Wales has been presented to Apple County Cider Co based in Newcastle, Monmouthshire, for its Vilberie Medium Dry Cider. This lightly sparkling single variety cider is made from 100% Vilberie bittersweet cider apple juice and demonstrated a “good balance of sweet and dry”. The “grown up” cider’s carbonation and level of tannins drew much praise from the judges, who also enjoyed its “clean, crisp and refreshing taste”.
Out of 10,000 products entered into Great Taste 2015, the Vilberie Medium Dry Cider was celebrated as the best tasting product in its region at the Great Taste Golden Forks Dinner held on Monday 7 September at The Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, where over 300 guests from the world of fine food gathered to hear the results of many months of rigorous judging.
Contact: Apple County Cider Co, Stephanie Culpin, 01600 750835, www.applecountycider.co.uk.
The Golden Fork from Wales was sponsored by the Welsh Government, which plans to sustainably grow its food and drink sector by 30% over the next five years. Also nominated this year was a Great Taste 3-star Shirgar Welsh Salted Butter, made by Dyfed-based Gower View Foods Ltd, and a Great Taste 3-star Honey Marmalade by Coles Family Brewery in Carmarthenshire.
What is Great Taste?
Great Taste, now in its 21st year, is quite simply all about taste. It is not about packaging, branding or smart design. Judges are simply presented with food or drink to taste and they provide valuable feedback to thousands of producers each year. For a producer to win a Great Taste 1-star award is a great achievement, to win 2-stars means that many judges have been bowled over by the product, and to win a 3-star Great Taste award is comparable to a chef winning a Michelin star. It is seen in the world of fine food as a hallmark of taste, quality and excellence. Great Taste, founded in 1994 and organised by The Guild of Fine Food, has judged over 100,000 products in the last 21 years; each one has been blind-tasted by a team of judges who are dedicated to finding the most exquisite tasting food and drink. This year’s judges included Masterchef judge and restaurant critic Charles Campion, TV presenter and cook, Aggie MacKenzie, Great British Bake Off winner 2013, Frances Quinn, Masterchef the Professionals finalist, Adam Handling, food buyers from Harrods, Selfridges, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer, and chefs including James Golding, Chef Director of The Pig hotel group. Great Taste 2015 facts
• 10,000 different products entered (Great Taste entry is capped at 10,000)
• Over 400 professional judges
• 49 days of judging in Dorset as well as St David’s Hotel, Cardiff
• 3,109 products awarded 1-, 2- or 3-star awards
• 130 products presented with the top 3-Star Great Taste award in 2015
• List of Top 50 Foods announced 5 August 2015
• EIGHT Golden Fork Awards for best regional food and drink
• ONE Supreme Champion What do Great Taste judges look for?
They look for great texture and appearance. They judge the quality of ingredients and how well the maker has put the food or drink together. But above all, they look for truly great taste. Working in small teams, experts taste up to 30 foods in each sitting, discussing each product as a coordinating food writer transcribes their comments directly onto the Great Taste website which producers access after judging is completed. Over the years, numerous food businesses, start-ups and well established producers have been advised how to modify their foods and have subsequently gone on to achieve star status. Any food that a judging team believes is worthy of a star is judged by at least two further teams. Only when there is a consensus will a star be awarded. For 3-stars, every single judge attending the session, which can be as many as 40 experts, must unanimously agree the food delivers that indescribable ‘wow’ factor. ★★★ EXQUISITE. WOW! TASTE THAT ★★ OUTSTANDING ★ SIMPLY DELICIOUS Images are available to view in the press room on the Guild of Fine Food website and high resolution images are available from amy@freshlygroundpr.co.uk. For further information please contact any of the following:
Amy Brice at Freshly Ground PR on 07717 893123 or at amy@freshlygroundpr.co.uk.
Tortie Farrand at the Guild of Fine Food on 01747 825200 or at tortie.farrand@gff.co.uk.
www.gff.co.uk
www.greattasteawards.co.uk 8 September 2015
