The warm reception that Valverán 20 Apples ice cider has received from consumers, produced at a cider mill (llagar) in Sariego, Asturias, has led Masaveu Wineries to increase its production by 36% for the 2022 vintage, which will be released to the market in March 2024.
In this way, the wine group aims to meet the growing demand for this cider, made from the apple trees that shape the landscape of the estate the largest apple orchard (pomarada) in Asturias, covering 40 hectares, and the largest in Spain when it comes to native Asturian varieties.
Recognition among consumers, along with the resulting increase in production, has gone hand in hand with the success achieved in several international competitions, such as the prestigious award recently granted at the International World Cider Awards, which named this Spanish ice cider, Valverán 20 Apples, the Best Specialty Cider among entries from countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, France, England, and Ireland. It is the only cider from Spain to have won a Gold Medal.
“This award is like the Oscars of cider, and the winners are considered the best in the world. It is a great honor and satisfaction that Spain is represented thanks to our Valverán 20 Apples ice cider. It is always rewarding to see the work and effort behind a project that has been created with great passion, determination, and the commitment to offering a premium, high-quality product recognized,” explains José Masaveu, General Manager of Masaveu Wineries.
The increase in production is possible, in part, thanks to the construction carried out on the boundaries of the plot, which includes an industrial building covering an area of 329 square meters. The covered space is powered by an electrical supply from a photovoltaic solar panel installation and also features a rainwater collection system for tasks related to the operation’s activities.
Careful production process
Valverán was founded in 1998, but it was not until 2007 that this ice cider was born, with the Masaveu family becoming pioneers in the production of ice ciders on the Iberian Peninsula. The name Valverán 20 apples comes from the number of apples needed to produce each 37.5 cl bottle, as it contains the concentrated juice of at least 20 apples..
The production of this beverage involves a complex process that begins with the harvesting of native Asturian apples, which are hand-picked, washed, and carefully inspected one by one. They are then crushed and pressed, and the resulting must is clarified in stainless steel tanks through the application of cold.
Once clarified, it is frozen at minus 20 degrees. After a process of separating the ice from the must, the extracted essence ferments for 10 months at a temperature of 10°C and then remains for eight months in stainless steel tanks on its lees.
It is a slow production process that requires time and patience; in fact, two years pass from the harvesting of the apples at the cider house to the commercialization of this ice cider.
Today, the estate has 40 hectares registered as organic, located within the Protected Designation of Origin Sidra de Asturias, specifically at Finca El Rebollar in Sariego (Asturias), where 20,000 apple trees of different varieties allow the production of this distinguished ice cider full of nuances.
It is a fresh and surprising wine that pairs perfectly with foie, cheeses, and mildly sweet desserts.
About Masaveu Wineries
The Masaveu family began investing in the wine sector in 1974, when they acquired Murua Wineries in Rioja Alavesa. However, the family’s vineyard plantings date back to the mid-19th century, specifically in Castellar del Vallés, their place of origin, where Federico Masaveu Rivell started the vineyard endeavors that a century later would be continued by his descendants.
Since then, Masaveu Wineries has grown to become a benchmark for the quality of its winemaking across different DOs and for its environmental philosophy and deep respect for the land. The group owns its own vineyard estates, which allow it to capture and convey, in every bottle, the unique personality of each terroir. In this way, all of Masaveu Wineries’ projects across different regions share a common denominator: Fillaboa (DO Rías Baixas), Leda (Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León), Murua (DOCa Rioja), Pagos de Araiz (DO Navarra), and Valverán (Asturias).
