Two Basque cider houses have won the top award in their category at the International Cider Competition of the 6th Sagardo Forum: Zapiain, from Astigarraga, in natural cider, and Kuartango, from Álava, in the open category. The prizes were presented this Wednesday at the Basque Culinary Center in San Sebastián, at an event organised by Sagardoaren Lurraldea.

A total of 204 ciders from 17 countries were entered, spread across nine categories. According to the organiser, the jury awarded 58 gold, 81 silver and 34 bronze medals. The newspaper Naiz adds that the panel was made up of 30 international tasters, including sommeliers, oenologists and producers.

Cydonia, best of the competition

The highest award, the Best of Show, went to Cydonia, from the German producer Weidmann & Groh, which also won the flavoured or mixed ciders category. The winners of the other categories come from outside the Basque Country: dominant acidity went to the Latvian Mr. Plume Cidery; dominant bitterness and premium sparkling, to the American South Hill Cider; perry, to the German Gutshof Kraatz; modern ciders, to the Asturian Gaitero Rosé; and dessert ciders, to the Catalan Mooma Obrador.

Zapiain’s Premium 2024 and Kuartango’s vermouth

In natural cider, the txapela (the Basque beret awarded to champions) went to Zapiain Euskal Sagardoa Premium 2024, from Zapiain Sagardotegia. The prize was presented by Xabier Urdangarin, mayor of Astigarraga and president of the Sagardun consortium.

The open category was won by Kuartango’s Vermú con sidra (cider vermouth). It was not its only prize: Gasteiz Hoy counts five medals for the Álava cider house, three of them gold (two in the open category and one in dessert ciders), a silver in flavoured or mixed ciders and a bronze in natural cider. The people behind it, Iñigo Unamuno and Benito Peciña, told that outlet they have been “making a very big effort in R&D for several years” and that their aim is “to give the apple back the standing it deserves”.

Basque medals in natural cider

Natural cider saw 8 golds, 18 silvers and 9 bronzes, shared with producers from Asturias, the Canary Islands, the United States and Wales, among others. The golds include Zapiain, Etxeberria/Gurutzeta and Petritegi. Silver went to Zapiain, Etxeberria/Gurutzeta, Isastegi, Calonge, Alorrenea, Zeberio and Olletako Sagardoak. And bronze, to Egiazki Txopinondo, Olletako Sagardoak, Harismendia Etxaldea, Mizpiradi, RBLD Sagardoak, Kuartango and Petritegi.

The Sagardo Forum is held every two years and brings together technical sessions, the competition and an international cider fair. At this edition, from 20 to 22 November, the competition and the fair moved to the Basque Culinary Center for the first time.

Sources