Villaviciosa, one of the most renowned cider spots in Asturias, is celebrating their local festivities, from Friday 11th to Wednesday 16th September. Following the procedures laid down by the health authorities, two of the most important cider contests have been held in camera, with access control and limited seating these days. The XXVII edition of…
Categoría: Llagares
GIJON CIDER FESTIVAL ’20 / Fiesta de la Sidra de Gijón ’20
The capital city of the Spanish Green Coast has just celebrated their XXVIV edition of the Natural Cider Festival in an atypical way, due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Thus, some of the major activities, such as the XXVII Official Pouring Contest or the Best Cider Award, known as “Golden Praise”, have been held in camera….
CIDER WORLD 2020
The Cider World’20 Frankfurt Cider Fair will be held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 restrictions, so all exhibitors will present themselves and their products online from 13th to 30th August. The awards ceremony was broadcasted this month from the Astor Film Lounge, where the best ciders were awarded in five categories. Asturian Eduardo…
FIRST CIDER OF THE YEAR, A MASSIVE CONVIVIAL MEAL/ El Primer Sidre’l Añu, una espicha a gran escala
Asturian people have a different way to celebrate Easter. It is not a religious celebration, though there is a particular Via Crucis, called Sidracrucis. Cider is a tourism cornerstone in Gijon, a main axe to spread the Asturian culture. And the First Cider of the Year becomes the first cider event in town, coinciding with…
IRISH CIDER ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY/ Sidra irlandesa en el día de San Patricio
March 17th is the festivity of St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland. Born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century, he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped but returned about 432 to convert the Irish to Christianity. By the time of his death on this day, 461, he…
CIDER THROUGH MEMORY/ Sidra en el recuerdo
Sparkling or champagne cider is not new in Asturias, as it started being produced in the XIX century to be exported in overseas trade. And, though some of the best known brands are still active, like El Gaitero or Mayador, some others are in our memories in the form of beautiful old advertising, both in…
A WORLD OF CIDER/ Un mundo de sidra
Cider is a beverage made all over the world and from many different ingredients that provide for a range of flavours and styles; from tart and dry to sweet and rich, clear or cloudy, still or fizzy. Apart from the amazing varieties found in Asturian cider, different countries offer different cider drinking experiences. While English…
CIDER BETWEEN TWO SPRINGS/ Sidra entre dos primaveras
The cycle of our most typical drink takes place during the months between two springs. Once the pumares (apple trees) blossom, the process culminating with the tasting in the llagar (cider press-house) or chigre (cider bar) starts. Before pouring a culín (glass of cider), the following must happen: PICKING: Pañar the apples. The picking season…
ASTURIAN CIDERS AT DUBAI GULFOOD FAIR/ Sidras asturianas en la feria Gulfood de Dubai
Gulfood, the world’s largest anual food and beverage trade exhibition, is coming back on its Silver Jubilee this year. The fair, held in Dubai from 16th to 20th February, will be attended by two of the most emblematic Asturian cider brands: Mayador and El Gaitero. Sidra Mayador’s deputy director Verisimo Busto and export area manager…
THE CONVIVIAL MEAL, A COMMUNAL RITE/ La espicha, un rito colectivo
Espichas, or convivial meals in Asturias, are ritual celebrations when the cider barrel is opened, after an approximately two-month aging. Once a small hole is opened in the barrel, cider is tasted and then, it is plugged again with a wooden spike called espicha. This is from which this tasting action takes its name and,…
