031: Sam Reid | Willie Smith’s Cider/President Cider Australia, AU

Sam Reid is based in Tasmania, a state of Australia. He is a partner at Willie Smith’s Cider and President of Cider Australia.

Cider Chat Ep 31 Sam Reid
Sam Reid

Cider in Australia

Tasmania is what Sam calls the smallest state of Australia…which by the way mainland Australia is equal in size to the continental United States. It was colonized by the English who used it in the 1700’s as a penal colony. It is also in the southern hemisphere so the apple growing region is found in the south on both Australia and Tasmania. It use to be well known as the Apple Isle a claim to fame that I suspect will in time return full on.

Cider Chat Ep 31 Dr Tim Jones in Sam Reid interview
Dr Tim Jones Willie Smith’s cider maker

Apples and Cider Making in Australia

There are 30 apple growers in Tasmania.

When asked what would best describe Australian cider, Sam said the overall cider style for the country is a New World commercial style, with fresh apples, filtered (crossed flowed filtered), carbonated and a bit sweet to please the current customer palate – with an overall ph of 3.6. Whereas for Tasmania ciders Sam says, “There isn’t one specific style”. Willie Smith’s where Sam is the CoFounder/Managing Director they tend towards the French Style of cidermaking, with less emphasis on the acid. Willie Smith’s ciders are also unfiltered and oak aged and note that they do have special release ciders in 750 ML bottles which makes a visit to their Tasting Room (The Apple Shed) even more worthwhile.

Cider Chat Ep 31 Andrew and Ian Smith \ Sam Reid
Andrew and Ian Smith

How to get to Tasmania?

The Apple Shed at Willie Smith’s

All of Willie Smith’s ciders are produced on site. The farm itself is 150 acres (40 hectares).

Cider Chat Ep 31 Sam Reid and Willie Smiths Apple Shed
Willie Smith’s Apple Shed

Willie Smith’s is 30 minutes south of Hobart, Tasmania. Hobart is the capital of this Australian state. The actual region where Willie Smith’s is located is the Huon Valley.

Contact info for Willie Smith’s

Mentions in this Cider Chat


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