Victorian apple growers launch apple juice, catering to health-conscious shoppers with bring a premium, grower-led product
Fourth-generation family farming business Priest Bros Orchards of Victoria has launched its first apple juice, Sparkling Gold, a produce designed to celebrate and elevate its produce.
Priest Bros business manager Shane Priest said Sparkling Gold was a new way to showcase orchard practices and offer a high-quality product.
“We wanted to capture the full flavour of our apples in a way that felt modern, refreshing and premium. It marks a natural next step for us—a way to share the fruit we grow in a different format and add value to our orchard,” Priest said.
Produced from a mix of premium apple varieties grown at Priest Bros Orchards at Pakenham Upper, Sparkling Gold fruit was hand-selected for flavour, colour and juicing qualities, Priest said.
“Our focus is on delivering the best fruit possible no matter the variety. Every tree on our property is carefully managed to ensure the fruit is picked at its peak,” he added.
“The apples are ideal for juicing because they are naturally high in Brix (sugar content), with vibrant colour, crisp texture, and a clean, balanced flavour, resulting in a sparkling apple juice that is bright, refreshing, and naturally sweet. It’s 100 per cent apple juice with no added sugar – the sugar content is naturally occurring from the fruit.”
The concept had been in development for about 12–18 months before Priest Bros settled on the final product.
“We took our time refining the process, selecting the right fruit, partnering with the right production team, and ensuring the final product lived up to the quality we’re known for.”
Priest said the business ventured into its first juice to seize on the growing demand for ‘better-for-you’ drinks and alcohol alternatives is growing rapidly. The company has already planned to increase production based on strong initial demand.
“We saw an opportunity to bring a premium, grower-led product to market that tastes great, has nothing artificial, and celebrates real fruit,” said Priest.
“Sparkling Gold is here to stay. While seasonal fruit availability determines our production window, this product is part of a long-term plan to grow our offering and add value to our apples ongoing.”
