Cheeky Rascal adds Methode

It should come to no surprise to fans of Cheeky Rascal cider that they couldn't stop inventing variations just yet! Now they have created another cracker, winning gold with Methode Traditionelle Cider.

Rebello, a boutique Mornington Peninsula cider house, will have to make some more room on the award shelf after taking out Gold at the prestigious Royal Melbourne Fine Food Awards with its first attempt at cider made in the same way as sparkling wines.

The team behind Australia's only 100 percent real fruit blended ciders - Cheeky Rascal Cider - spent months in development, before launching its Methode.

The bubbly creation involves a similar time consuming and labour intensive process to how French Champagne is made - involving putting locally sourced granny smith apple juice through an initial fermentation process, and then a secondary bottle fermentation, where they stayed on yeast lees for nine months.

Rebello CEO Ruth Gallace says the award is validation of the expertise, time and resources, which went into developing the product.

"We had never attempted anything like this before, so to be awarded gold by the Royal Melbourne Fine Food Awards against other very established cider houses is very rewarding." She says the end result is a product with "fine champagne like bubbles, which is semi-dry and delicate".

With only initially launching 1,000 bottles to market, the product was quickly snapped up by some of the leading hoteliers and bartenders in the country - with only limited supplies still available.

Rebello first launched its Cheeky Rascal Ciders to market some two years ago, blending apple and pear cider with wine made entirely from real, fresh, local strawberries, raspberries and blueberries from the family farm at Sunny Ridge.

In just 24 months the team has taken out multiple awards, is available in every State in Australia, parts of South East Asia, and has extended its range releasing ten new limited edition varieties; a mulled cider where a Cheeky Rascal Apple Cider is partnered with a pyramid style tea bag packed filled with spices; and Cheeky Little Batch - exclusive artisan blends of cider which vary with every batch much like wine.

The award winning Methode can be purchased directly from Cheeky Rascal and at select quality retailers and venues for RRP: $29.