Locally owned Delhaven Orchards has the best apple cider in Ontario.

That’s according to the judges at the Ontario Sweet Apple Cider contest at the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention, where Delhaven’s cider took home top prize.

Hector Delanghe says their cider-making process, which is overseen by his son Mark, uses a variety of apples.

“We always use four different kinds of apples,” Delanghe says. “In the fall, they’re very sharp but what we try to do is mix it with some more mellow apples and try and come out with a nice flaovur.”

Delanghe says tastes changed since he started making cider.

“I think people like a sweeter cider right now,” he explains. “The wine people always talk about a vintage year, I always figure it’s a vintage year if it’s a dry year, your fruit is a lot sweeter in a dry year than it is in a wet year.”

The panel of judges look at colour, sediment, aroma, and flavour when making their decision.