ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Noble Cider has won the NC Wine Cup for the second year in a row, this time for its Spice Merchant cider, which also received a double gold medal.
The Asheville-based cidery also collected six silver medals in the statewide competition, including honors for its seasonal Royal Peach, its top-selling tart cherry cider Village Tart and all four ciders in the Lewis Creek Orchard Reserve series: English, French, American Heirloom and Black & Gold.
The NC Wine Cup, announced Aug. 15, recognizes excellence in cider, wine and mead across North Carolina. Entries are blind-tasted by a panel of judges, and at least 75% of the fruit used must be grown in the state.
“These awards mean a lot to us — they shine a light on the growers behind the apples and the care they put into every harvest,” Lief Stevens, cider maker and co-founder of Noble Cider, said in a news release.
Founded in 2012 as Asheville’s first cidery, Noble has built its reputation on sourcing fruit directly from Western North Carolina orchards, including Lewis Creek Farm, where heirloom apple varieties are grown specifically for cider making.
The company says it has doubled down on supporting regional agriculture, particularly after Tropical Storm Helene, which strained many orchards in the area.
“The NC Wine Cup really captures what matters: quality, care and local fruit,” Stevens said. “It’s about more than the product — it’s about the connection between farmers, makers and the community.”
Noble Cider products are distributed in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Florida and are also available online.
