History and atmosphere
About Bordatto
Bordatto is the farm run by Bixintxo Aphaule and Pascale in Jaxu (Jatsu), a mountain village in Lower Navarre about ten minutes from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. They set it up in 2001 as young farmers, starting almost from scratch: finding land and gradually buying everything from the first pruning hook to the press and the vats. Today they farm a few hectares of apple trees and a little vineyard organically, the latter producing wine under the Irouléguy appellation.
When it comes to cider, Bordatto is one of the names behind the revival of sagarno (Basque cider) in the French Basque Country (Iparralde). It brings back old local varieties (anisa, eztika, mamula, eri sagarra, ondo motxa and gordin xuria, among others), presses each variety separately and ferments with native yeasts. All its ciders are vintage-dated: Txalaparta is a dry “apple wine” fermented in barrel and amphora; Basandere and Basajaun become sparkling naturally in the bottle, pet-nat style; and Sagar Lore is apple juice with no additives. Bixintxo Aphaule also chairs the Iparralde cider makers’ union, which manages the Euskal Sagardoa appellation there.
The farm can be visited by appointment all year round, and during the school holidays from April to September it opens in the afternoons, with a free tasting for individual visitors. There is a shop on the farm and it also sells through its website.
Sources: Official website, Official website: products, Tourisme 64 (Bordatto Etxaldea), En Pays Basque (sagarno), INAO (AOP Euskal Sagardoa).
Gallery
Photos of Bordatto
From tree to bottle
What Bordatto makes
Makes its own cider and sells it direct: at the cellar, in shops or online.
- Making cider since
- 2001
Quality labels
- Organic production Cider with the EU organic logo (the Euro-leaf), certified by the body in its territory: ENEEK-Ekolurra in the Basque Country, CPAEN in Navarre, an approved certifier in the French Basque Country (with the optional AB logo), COPAE, ODECA or CRAEGA.
- Vignobles & Découvertes French wine tourism label from Atout France, awarded to a wine destination and to the houses that welcome visitors within it. In the French Basque Country, the destination is Irouléguy.
What you can buy
Its bottles
Bordatto’s ciders
What it offers
Services and facilities
Services
At the table
Facilities
Visits and sales
Location
How to get to Bordatto
450 chemin de Bordatto, 64220 Jaxu Open in Google Maps-
By car
Look up the address in your satnav. In season, cider house car parks fill up early on Saturdays.
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By bus
Some bus routes run near the area. Check the timetable before you go, especially for the way back.
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As a group
Many cider houses arrange a coach for groups: ask when you book.
In the media
News about Bordatto
Photo: Sagardoaren Lurraldea
Festivals and events
Cider Week Astea reaches the Bidasoa with fifteen venues
From 16 to 22 November, bars and restaurants in five Gipuzkoa towns bring together local ciders and others from Brittany, Italy, Germany, Norway and Sweden. For the first time, two venues in Hondarribia are taking part
Via Sagardoaren Lurraldea 3 min read
