Peckham’s Cidery and Orchard has claimed two major honours at the recent 2026 International Cider Awards in Manchester, one of the cider world’s most prestigious competitions.
Its alcohol-free Apple Zero won gold in the Innovation category for Low and No Alcohol Cider and Perry, while Major Black earned bronze in the Classic Dry class.
The long-running award featured 43 international judges, with winners announced on 6 March.
Peckham’s cidermaker and owner Jody Scott says going up against long-established producers from around the world made the result particularly meaningful.
“This is a proud moment competing against some of the most established cider producers from around the world. These awards are a testament to the incredible cider apples we grow here at Peckham’s and the attention to detail which goes into our cidermaking.”
Apple Zero is now in the running for the Innovation Trophy, to be announced at the Guildhall in London on 20 May. With only one gold, one silver and one bronze awarded in each sub-category, the competition is considered one of the hardest to medal in, with entries judged blind by an international panel.
Nationally, Apple Zero has also placed in the Top 25 at the New World Beer and Cider Awards in 2025, won Best in Class (Low and No) at the Australian Cider Awards in 2024, taken gold in 2025, and claimed the Trophy for Low and No at the New Zealand Cider Awards in 2024.
Made entirely from heritage cider apples grown at the Moutere Hills orchard, Apple Zero is crafted to retain the structure and flavour of traditional cider using state-of-the-art alcohol removal technology, developed to give non-drinkers a genuine cider experience without sacrificing flavour.
Meanwhile, Major Black’s bronze shows Peckham’s strength in traditional cidermaking. Crafted from Major and Kingston Black apples, it is a structured, dry style built on heritage fruit.
