XXXIII GIJON NATURAL CIDER FESTIVAL/ XXXIII Fiesta de la Sidra Natural de Gijón

The traditional Gijon Natural Cider Festival took place this year between 23rd August and 1st September.

The festival began with the opening of the Cider and Apple Market on the 23rd, with 26 stands offering the public all kinds of apple-related products: sweet and savoury delicacies, crafts, jewellery and drinks. On Tuesday 27th, the prizes were awarded to the best stalls, with the winners being Mondo Manzana – the best decorated stall -, Oleum – the best presented merchandise – and Pastelería Carpe Diem – the most innovative product. Ventolin Artesania also received a special mention for its ‘apple bag’.

On Thursday 29th, the pre-selection of the cider candidates for best cider of the year took place, as well as the 31st edition of the Cider Pouring Competition. Salvador Ondo was crowned winner of this competition for the sixth time, followed by Reynaldo Belen and Wilkin Aquiles. Isabela Padron was the winner in both the categories Best Local and Under-25 Pourer. The award for Best Cider Bar went to La Montera Picona and the Cutest Label was for Sidra Acebal.

On Friday 30th, the most multitudinous celebration of the festival was held, in which an attempt was made to beat the World Record for Simultaneous Cider Pouring. This time it could not be achieved either, as 893 people were short of the 9,796 participants in 2022.

The following day, 31 August, the protagonists were the Cancios de Chigre, typical Asturian songs by the Sociedad Torner, as well as the master class of cider pouring by Abraham Castellanos and Loreto Garcia.

Finally, on 1st September, the Golden Barrel was given, an award the cidermakers offer every year to a relevant person for his or her career in the sector, and which this year went to Jose Enrique Cardin Zaldivar, former manager of Grupo El Gaitero.

Afterwards, the cider tasting of the 19 participating cider makers began, the funds of which were entirely donated to Galban Association, part of the Spanish Federation of Parents of Children with Cancer.

The event culminated with the awarding of the Praise of Gold, recognition for the best cider of the festival, to M. Busto cider, from Sidra Mayador.

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