The cider sector presented the 2026 txotx season, when cider is served straight from the cask, this Friday in the Plaza de la Constitución in San Sebastián at a joint event: alongside the cider makers of Gipuzkoa, Bizkaia and Álava, the provinces that currently make up the Euskal Sagardoa Designation of Origin (DO), there were also representatives from Navarre and the French Basque Country (Iparralde). Each territory opened a kupela (cask) of its cider so that the public could taste it.

The weather did not cooperate. According to Naiz, rain and gusts of wind shook the marquees set up in the square and forced the event indoors, although there was time for the group photo and the first txotx. This year’s slogan is “Bertako plazerra”, which in the Spanish versions has been rendered as “¡La temporada del txotx, un auténtico placer!” (“The txotx season, a real pleasure!”).

Fewer apples than expected, lighter ciders

The 46 cider houses of Euskal Sagardoa have made 3.1 million litres of cider from 4.4 million kilos of apples. The DO has 250 sagargiles, the apple growers, with a combined 475 hectares of orchard. The harvest was large and of good quality, but overall around 15% less fruit was picked than expected, mainly because of the lack of cold weather in winter.

The result, according to the producers, is ciders that are generally lighter than last year’s, at around 6% alcohol, and with a wide range of profiles and degrees of ripeness. The sector wants both the number of sagargiles and the area under apple trees to grow, to even out harvests from one year to the next: in Gipuzkoa 170 new hectares have been planted in recent years, which will gradually come into production over the next three or four.

One designation for the whole country

Euskal Sagardoa explains that the extension of the designation to the French Basque Country is already under way and that, once it has been achieved, Navarre’s entry is committed. Part of that process is Malus Bat, an 18-month project involving apple and cider producers from all seven territories, which already has its apple strategic plan ready. Naiz notes that the project is awaiting the final permits from Europe.

Among the officials present, the Government of Navarre’s director general for Rural Development, Rubén Goñi, stressed, according to Noticias de Gipuzkoa, “how important it is for Navarre to join the Designation of Origin”.

Opening calendar

Then come the local openings, area by area:

  • 14 January: Txotx Berri eguna in Astigarraga, organised by Sagardun Patzuergoa, and opening event at Petritegi.
  • 15 January: Goierri cider houses at Oiharte (Zerain), Álava’s at Trebiñu (Treviño) and Navarre’s at Toki Alai (Lekunberri); in the evening, opening at Saizar (Usurbil).
  • 16 January: Urnieta cider houses at Eula and Andoain’s at Mizpiradi.
  • 20 January: Bizkaia cider houses at Uxarte (Amorebieta-Etxano).

Sources