A YEAR OF ASTURIAN HOMEMADE CIDER/ Un año de sidra casera asturiana

• The First Homemade Cider Tasting in Gascona (Oviedo) took place on 24 May. All the information and photos can be found at the following link:

• The 4th Muñó Homemade Cider Tasting (Siero) took place on 25 May in the church grounds, organised by the Muñó Schools Association (Asecevi). Around 500 people took part in the event, during which 61 cases of cider were tasted. Constantino Nuño, Alfredo Blanco, Héctor Vigil, Luis Meana, Rosendo Cosío, Pablo González, Vidal González, the Apple Friends’ Club from Siero and the Muño Neighbourhood Association, which this year produced 150 litres of cider, were among the eleven producers who participated on this occasion, where sweet and non-alcoholic cider could also be tasted.

Pics by/ Fotos de: Eltapín.com

•    On 5 July, the 8th Pimiango (Ribadedeva) Homemade Cider Day took place in the easternmost cider-producing town in Asturias. Following the twinning with the Caudal Association of Artisan Cider Makers, ciders from Abándames, Panes, Colombres, Bojes, La Franca and Pimiango were available for tasting, with the winner being the cider produced in the latter municipality by Florencio Alonso. Second place went to Fermín Cuello, from La Franca, and third place to Justo García, also from Pimiango. The jury was composed of Vicente Ardura, Vice-President of the Asturian Federation of Homemade Cider and President of the Association of Artisan Cider Makers of Caudal; Raúl Moro, President of Sidrastur and member of the Association of Artisan Cider Makers of Caudal; and Esmeralda, pommelier from Porrúa.

Pics by/ Fotos de: Pimiango.es

• The 23rd edition of the Quintes and Quintueles Homemade Cider Competition took place on 12 July, organised by the Clarín Society, paying tribute once again to José de la Vega ‘Pato’. The idea for the event came from Quintueles resident Manuel Martínez, a great fan of the cider tradition who has participated in every edition of the competition. The jury, made up of Gustavo (Frutos cider mill), Luis Morís (Castañón), Piñera (Deva) and Vallina (Peón), declared Adrián García (Quintes) the winner, followed by Diego Villazón (Quintueles). The popular jury considered Juan Carlos Morís (Quintes) to be the winner.

Pics by/ Fotos de: Quintes.blogspot,com

•    On 10 August, the 8th Carreño Homemade Cider Tasting took place in Perlora at the town’s sports centre, the former council schools. Organised by the Carreño Homemade Cider Cultural Association, attendees were able to taste ciders made by local producers and enjoy activities such as a cider-making and pouring workshop, as well as the 7th Exhibition of Functional Elements of Old Cider Mills.

Pics by/ Fotos de: A.C. Sidra Casera del Concejo de Carreño

•    The 2nd LLanes Homemade Cider Competition took place on 17 August as part of the 40th Posada de Llanes Vegetable Garden Competition, organised by Llanes Town Council and the Posada Neighbourhood Council. On this occasion, I had the honour of participating as a judge in the final, which featured eight producers. The winner was Adrián Gutiérrez (Porrúa), followed by Héctor García Llera (Villahormes) and Raquel Palacio and Luis Traviesa (Piedra).

• Villaviciosa held its 18th edition of the Homemade Cider Competition on 24 August in the Town Hall square. Eighty-two producers from 21 parishes in the municipality offered more than 17,000 glasses of cider to attendees in the 1,800 glasses provided for the occasion. First prize went to the Lozano family (Pueyes), followed by Noelia Canteli (Fuentes), Isidro Carmín (Poreñu) and Javier Alonso (Miravalles). The final was contested between the 12 finalists in the competition.

Pics by/ Fotos de: LNE

•    On 29 August, the first edition of the Gijón Homemade Cider Competition took place, organised by the El Culete Moyáu Association, of which I am a member and which was established on 28 February this year. Fifty-nine producers from different parishes in Gijón gathered for this event, which had Gozón as the guest council. The jury, made up of Juan Luis García, Bene Zurro, Miguel Ángel Pontón, Joaquín Fernández and Gustavo Costales, chose from among the eight finalist bottles, awarding first prize to José Manuel García (Granda). Second place went to Juan Fernández Rea (Deva), followed by Javier Fernández Rubiera, David Acebal, Jorge Ceñal, Diego Osuna, Rufino Pérez and Silvia Fernández. The people’s choice award went to José Ramón García (Pinzales). The competition also paid tribute to Pepe Luis Palacio, an 88-year-old producer, for his extensive career in the artisanal production of cider in the municipality of Gijón.

Constitution of the association/ Constitución de la asociación

• The 6th Onís Homemade Cider Competition took place in Benia on 30 August, with participants from all the Asturian councils, and Pepín de Sirviella gave me the opportunity to be part of the jury once again this year. First prize went to Héctor Llera (Llanes), followed by Marcos Rodríguez (Salas) and the Apple Friends’ Club from Siero. At the local level, the winner was Olaya Pellitero (Bobia de Abajo), with Fran Fernández (Villar) and Pepín (Sirviella) taking second and third place respectively.

Pics by/ Fotos de: Jose Amable Sánchez and me

•    On 7 September, Infiesto held the 9th Piloña Homemade Cider Competition, an event that broke records for participation and attendance this year, with 63 local producers and Parres as the guest council. The event took place in the cattle market, which was packed with people who snapped up all 1,500 glasses on sale. Natalia Díaz (Coya) was the winner of this edition, followed by Cristina Álvarez and José Llera (both from La Caneya) in second and third place respectively.

Pics by/ Fotos de: LNE

•    On 13 September, the 7th edition of Restalla la Sidra took place in Moreda de Aller with the celebration of the Caudal Artisan Cider Makers Competition. Hundreds of people attended the event, where they were also able to taste ciders from the municipality of Villaviciosa. The winner on this occasion was the cider presented by Plácido Míguez, followed by the one made by Jairo Zapico.

Pics by/ Fotos de: Gema Cordero & Llagareros del Caudal

• The 8th Colunga Homemade Cider Competition was held on 13 September in the Plaza del Monumento, organised by the Huerres Festival Committee. The event, now a fixture in the region’s festival and cider calendar, was won by Emilio Llera (Villaescusa) in first place, followed by Sergio Carús and Abelardo Fernández Carús (Pivierda).

Pics by/ Fotos de: Pablo Victorero

• Salas once again became the cider capital of western Asturias with the celebration of the 5th Homemade Cider Competition on 14 September. The town square welcomed 19 local participants and hundreds of people eager to enjoy the 3,500 glasses of cider distributed for the occasion. First place went to El Cruzo de Otero cider, followed by Sidra Generón and El Bravín.

Pics by/ Fotos de: Fernando Paredano & LaVozdelTrubia.es

• The fifth edition of the Nava Homemade Cider Competition took place on 20 September. After purchasing a commemorative glass, the public was able to taste the ciders produced by local producers.

Likewise, on 15 November, the Asturian Federation of Homemade Cider (FASCAS) held the 1st Homemade Cider Festival at the Asturian Cider Museum in Nava, with the aim of raising awareness of the work of artisan cider makers. During the event, Miguel Ángel Pereda, a member of the Apple Friends’ Club from Siero, received recognition as an artisan cider maker of honour. César Rodríguez ‘El Cuchareru’ also received a posthumous award for his collaboration and promotion of cider culture. Various activities took place during the day, as well as cider tastings from different councils.

Pics by/ Fotos de: LNE

• On 21 September, the outdoor marquee in Pola de Siero’s covered square was the venue for two cider-related events: the 1st Asturias Homemade Ice Cider Competition and the 11th Siero Homemade Cider Competition. The event, organised by the Apple Friends’ Club (CSAM), was, as usual, well attended by producers and the general public.

I had the honour of participating as a judge in both competitions—in the semi-finals of the homemade cider competition and in the final of the ice cider competition. In the latter, together with Bene Zurro and Juan Luis García from the Gijón School of Hospitality, we proclaimed Miguel Ángel Pereda the winner at both the local and regional levels.

Meanwhile, José Manuel Sánchez Ferrera (Carbayín) took first place in the Homemade Cider Competition, followed by Carmen Ortiz (Celles) and Raimundo Menéndez (Feleches). The jury for this competition was made up of José Llera, Marta Valencia, Juan Pérez, Marta Roldán and Rafael Fernández, with Jonathan Trabanco as the official cider pourer. José Ramón Meana’s cider received the most votes from the popular jury.

•    The 3rd Gozón Homemade Cider Competition took place on 28 September in Zapardel Park in Luanco. With 34 producers participating, the winning cider was Los Llanos, followed by Casa Inclán, both from Santolaya. During the event, which featured Piloña as the guest council, more than 7,000 glasses of cider were served.

Pics by/ Fotos de: Sidra Casera de Gozón

• The ninth edition of the Ribadesella Homemade Cider Competition took place on 5 October, as part of the wide range of activities offered during the Folixa la Sidre festival organised by the Entaína Ribeseya association. On this occasion, the regional winner was Víctor Rodríguez (Siero), followed by Rubén Quidiello (Siero), Héctor García (Llanes), Pepín de Sirviella (Onís), Daniel Fuentes (Piloña) and Rufino Pérez (Gijón). The local winners were Víctor Soto (Tezangos), Pedro Granda (Rucales) and José Martínez (Cuerres).

Pics by/ Fotos de: Entaína Ribeseya

•    On 12 October, the 8th Poreñu Homemade Cider Competition (Villaviciosa) took place. Among the 21 participating producers, Jonathan Cardín won first prize, followed by Isi Cardín, Mateo Cardín, Remigio Peón and Jorge Arenas. The jury was composed of José Llera, Enrique Pedrayes, Javier Canteli, Miguel Pontón and Isaac Argüelles.

Pics by/ Fotos de: Isaac Argüelles

• The 8th Asturias Homemade Cider Final, known as the Mundo Collada Awards, took place on 19 October in Villaviciosa. This year, 55 cider mills from 22 municipalities took part, with 12 being selected to participate in the grand final. The jury was composed of Juan Luis García (Gijón School of Hospitality), Miguel Pontón (artisan cider maker from Villaviciosa), Pablo Costales (El Cuetu cider bar in Gijón), Juan Pérez (artisan cider maker from Villaviciosa) and Miguel Prieto (El Centenario cider bar in Gijón). After two rounds of tasting, the following winners were chosen:

1. Héctor García Llera  de Villahormes (Llanes)

2. José Manuel Sánchez Ferrera de Carbayín (Siero)

3. Marcos Rodriguez García de Otero (Salas)

4. José Llera Llera de La Caneya (Piloña)

5. Emilio Llera Fresno de Villaescusa (Colunga)

6. Rafael García Alvarez de Lué (Colunga)

7. Joaquín Naredo de San Román (Sariego)

8. Noelia Canteli Diego de Fuentes (Villaviciosa)

9. Aitor González Palacios de Fuentes (Villaviciosa)

10. Moisés Alonso Varas de Santa Marina (Villaviciosa)

11. Pedro Granda de Rucales (Ribadesella)

12. Lucía Prida de Bello (Aller)

During the day, around 10,000 cider glasses – approximately 1,500 litres of cider – were poured in the thirteen stalls set up in a square packed with people eager to taste the best homemade ciders in Asturias.

Pics by/ Fotos de: LNE

• On 2 November, the 4th Parres Homemade Cider Competition was held in the Plaza del Cañón in Arriondas, as part of the town’s 34th Chestnut and Garden Produce Fair. Twenty-eight local producers entered the competition, with the winner being the cider made by Ignacio Cibrián from the Llames de Parres cider mill. Nino Rodríguez (Güexes) and José M. Fonseca (La Roza) came in second and third place, respectively. Siblings Esther and Nacho Manzano accepted the posthumous award on behalf of their father, Marcial Manzano, who was named honorary president of the association. Manuel Corteguera, also from La Salgar, accepted his title as Honorary Member at the age of 92. Andecha Sidrera de Parres, organiser of the event, decided to invite the neighbouring association Entaína Ribeseya, organiser of the Folixa la Sidre.

Pics by/ Fotos de: Cope Ribadesella

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