Welsh cider and perry makers are celebrating after a record number of entries were received in this year's Welsh Cider and Perry Championships.

Growing interest in the traditional beverages has encouraged The Welsh Perry and Cider Society  to seek special geographical designation which would give Welsh cider and perry the protection enjoyed by food and drink such as Champagne, Parma ham and Stilton cheese.

The Welsh Assembly Government sponsored event held at The Clytha Arms in Abergavenny saw a record 100 entries from 23 producers, with a cider made in Cardiff and a perry made in Llantwit Fardre claiming top honours.

The championships are now in their seventh year and visitor numbers are rising as interest in artisan-made cider and perry continue to grow.

Seidr Dai, run by Dave and Fiona Matthews of Cardiff, were awarded the title Champion Cider for their "Kingston Black", while Gwynt Y Ddraig's "Malvern Hills" was named as Champion Perry.

Fiona Matthews, who makes cider ad perry with her husband Dave, said:

"Kingston Black is the one type of apple that you make a good single varietal cider. We travel to orchards to hand pick our apples and our cider is just 100 per cent pure apple juice, fermented with its own yeast. We stop the fermentation early which makes for a sweeter taste."

The couple began making cider seven years ago and describe themselves as "hobbyists" making an average of just 500 gallons of cider each year which is sold at local beer and cider festivals.

The 2008 Perry Champions Gwynt Y Ddraig are also thrilled to have won. The company's founder Bill George said:

"It is always a great achievement to win any award but to win the Championship is the icing on the cake. The win will mean a lot of prestige for the business and will catapult us into the arena where more buyers will hear about us."

Malvern Hills is made from Malvern Hills perry pears grown in Monmouthshire. An oak fermented medium sweet perry, it is very fruity with a clear, clean finish and a hint of sharpness that provides the perfect balance.

The Welsh Assembly Government's Minister for Rural Affairs Elin Jones has written to congratulate the winners. She said:

"Welsh food and drink has a reputation for distinctiveness and quality, and this reputation is something I believe is very important as it plays a part in promoting Wales as a nation on the international stage.

"The hard work and innovation that Welsh cider and perry producers have put into developing such quality products demonstrate the qualities that have given Welsh food and drink the reputation it enjoys today."

Alan Golding of the Welsh Cider and Perry Society says that the next step is for Welsh producers to seek "PDO" status - "Place of Designated Origin" which would set out the unique qualities of Welsh perry and cider, therefore distinguishing itself from other craft ciders around Europe and the rest of the world.

"French and Spanish cider have set the highest quality standard for their PDOs and that's what we are aspiring to. We want the PDO for Traditional Welsh Perry and Cider to mean that the customer will receive the purest form of these drinks, with the minimum processing and with no chemical additives. Obtaining the PDO status will enable our products to be shown at international food and drink festivals all over the world.

 "We hope the awards will encourage people to try some real Welsh ciders and perries, which are made naturally from fruit grown in Wales, by artisan producers."