Snow Capped Cider Triumphs at CiderCraft 2024

Colorado apple growers and cider producer Snow Capped Cider, helmed by Kari Williams, achieved outstanding success at the 7th Annual CiderCraft Awards. The cidery took home a grand total of 20 medals, the highest number of awards received by any competitor in this year's event. This remarkable accomplishment highlights the exceptional quality and craftsmanship that Snow Capped Cider brings to the industry.

Says Owner and Head Cidermaker Kari Williams, “I can’t believe the year we’re having! After an incredible GLINTCAP Awards in May and now winning the most awards at CiderCraft, it's such an honor to be at the top among all the incredible cideries we competed against. We're so proud to represent Colorado on such a national stage.”

At CiderCraft, cideries from across the nation and beyond were sampled by a panel of expert judges, who faced the challenging task of blindly tasting and evaluating entries over three days. This ensured each cider was judged with fresh palates and on its own merits. The diversity and quality of the entries showcased the global passion for cider and the innovative spirit propelling this craft beverage forward.

Snow Capped Cider demonstrated that it stands among the nation's elite cider producers while also showcasing an exceptional range of diversity. The cidery earned Platinum in six categories, seven Double Gold placements, and a total of 20 medals overall. These accolades were the highest received by any cidery in the 7th Annual Awards, a remarkable achievement in one of the premier cider competitions in the world. View the full list of award winning ciders here.

Says Williams, “This year has marked a significant milestone for our cidery. Receiving such esteemed recognition has been an extraordinary experience, and both myself and the entire team feel deeply honored and elated to present our prize-winning orchards to cider lovers across the country.”

Snow Capped Cider is on a winning streak. The cidery won  two 2024 Good Food Awards for their Winesap and Porter’s Perfection ciders and at this year’s GLINTCAP Awards, the cidery recently claimed the Midsize Cidermaker of the Year Award and distinguished itself among competitors by earning the most total Gold medals. They swept the Heritage Cider (Sweet) category, won 18 Silvers, and received an impressive seven Best in Class awards, the highest honor in the competition.

Snow Capped Cider’s product is made from 100% Colorado-grown fruit and stands on five generations and over a century of fruit-growing experience. As one of Colorado's oldest family fruit growers, each generation has enriched their family's orchards, vineyards, and legacy. Their historic French, American, and English cider apples grown at an elevation of 6130-7000 feet are one of the highest elevation orchards in the world, and the mountain terroir captures the crisp taste of Colorado, producing hyper-expressive flavor and a clean and balanced cider that can only be created in the region the apples are grown.

Snow Capped Cider List of 2024 CiderCraft Award-Winning Ciders

1. Harrison - Platinum (High Tannin - Sweet)

2. Wilde Woods - Platinum (High Tannin - Dry)

3. Winesap - Platinum - (Single Varietal)

4. Gravenstein - Platinum (Modern-Sweet)

5. Porter’s & Perry - Platinum (Co-Ferments: Fruit / Stone Fruit)

6. Plum Lemongrass - Platinum (Botanical)

7. Ellis Bitter - Double Gold (High Tannin - Sweet)

8. Foxwhelp - Double Gold (Single Varietal)

9. Winter Pear - Double Gold (Perry)

10. The Russets - Double Gold (Modern-Sweet)

11. Sparkling Rosé - Double Gold (Fruit)

12. Sour Cherry - Double Gold TIE (Stone Fruit)

13. White Wine Perry - Double Gold (Co-Ferments: Fruit / Stone Fruit)

14. Winesap - Gold (Modern-Dry)

15. Barrel Aged Kingston Black - Gold (Wood-Aged)

16. Gold Rush - Silver (High Tannin - Sweet)

17. Chisel Jersey - Silver (Single Varietal)

18. Akane - Silver (Modern-Sweet)

19. 6642 - Judges’ Picks (High Tannin - Dry)

20. Major - Judges’ Picks (High Tannin - Dry)

About Snow Capped Cider

Our high-quality, cider-specific fruit is cultivated in Colorado, drawing on authentic English and French orchard styles. This approach eliminates the need for added artificial sugars, ensuring a clean, fresh taste.

We are pioneers in Colorado's fruit-growing history, having first introduced innovative techniques to maximize the natural flavors, quality, quantity, and variety of our produce. Our farms have nurtured over 100 apple varieties and 40 peach varieties, including many heritage and cider-specific fruits.

Located at the base of Grand Mesa in the stunning Surface Creek Valley of Colorado's Western Slope, Williams Family Orchards sits at an elevation of 6,130 feet—making it one of the highest elevation orchards in the world. The unique climate of high elevation, warm days, and cool nights captures the crisp essence of Colorado, producing a clean and balanced cider.

Innovation led our family as the first fruit farmers in Colorado to implement trellis growing systems, and we pioneered the use of micro-sprinkler technology, propane heating systems, and wind machines. Facing declining sales of older apple varieties, Dan and Orville Williams introduced the Gala apple to the Colorado market in 1986, further cementing our reputation for innovation.

Our Colorado-grown hard ciders are the culmination of over a century of fruit-growing expertise. Each generation has contributed significantly to the development of our family orchards, vineyards, and legacy. We take pride in continuing our family’s commitment to quality, innovation, and excellence with every cider we produce.

Read more history here.