2024 Results are now available

• Cider competition entries in 2023 included over 60 ciders from all 6 New England States and New York.

• Require two bottles (750 ml or equivalent) per entry compared to the average cider competition minimum of a half of case or higher.

• Entry fee of $40

• Judges from a variety of backgrounds sommeliers, educators, enologists, cider makers, writers, importers, retailers and industry consultants from throughout the East coast.

• Each cider is judged on its own merit, not by how it compares to other ciders in the flight.

• While we recognize that ciders go through various stages of quality development, each cider is judged for what it is at the time of judging, not what it might become in the future.

• Each cider is identified by a computer-generated code number.

• All flights are staged in a climate control room and distributed to the judging room.

• Invited guest judges are comprised of restaurateurs interested in providing New England ciders in their restaurants and we use the competition as an educational tool.

• All medal winners are displayed in the Farmers Market during The Big E exposing New England Ciders to a potential audience of nearly 1.5 million Fairgoers.

• Wine and Cheese Barn participants are able to sell and promote their ciders with one-on-one direct sales.

• Daily slots are allocated. Vintners requests are met to best of our ability. A maximum of 5 slots are given daily. Each vintner will offer tastings for the days that they are in the Farmers Market. They should sample ciders that are available for sale. However, the opportunity is available for a vintner to seek public opinion on experimental ciders.

• All cider is shelved and offered for sale for entire 17 days of the Fair. It is suggested that a minimum of 10 cases be in inventory.

• All participants are encouraged to make promotional material available at all times.

• This unique facility, along with administrative and sales support from Eastern States Exposition along with commissioners from cider sales. The facility is supervised by a top retail consultant and the Agricultural staff of the Exposition.

Here is your chance to join us in the new adventure! All cidermakers entering 2 or more ciders will be able to sign up for a day to sell ciders in the Farmers Market for the day. Eastern States Exposition takes care of all the busy work, we will maintain your inventory, set up your display in the shop, and ring up all your sales for the day! Cidermakers will be expected to pour, sample and build relationships with our patrons.

Upon receipt of your entry, a packet of information regarding the exciting new opportunity will be emailed to you. This will include a sign up form and all the additional information you need! Opportunity may be contingent on your eligibility to transport cider into Massachusetts.

Contact us! If you have questions please email us at aginfo@TheBigE.com or call us at (413) 205-5011

Past Results