The SISGA’21 International Gala Cider Salon awarded Valverán 20 Apples this past weekend the prize for Best Ice Cider. Yesterday, Sunday, the awards of this salon — celebrating its eleventh edition this year — were presented during a gala brunch held at the NH Gijón Hotel. A professional jury and a specialized tasting committee evaluated 230 ciders from 73 producers participating from 23 countries.
This highly innovative product, crafted by Masaveu Wineries at its cider mill in Sariego, has received numerous prestigious national and international awards, including the Global Cider Masters 2021, the CINVE International Cider Competition 2021 (Gold Medal), and the Nava Cider Festival 2021 (Best Ice Cider), among others.
Valverán 20 Apples Ice Cider
Valverán was founded in 1998, becoming the first and most exclusive ice cider produced on the Iberian Peninsula. The name Valverán 20 Apples comes from the minimum number of apples required to make each 37.5 cl bottle, as it contains the concentrated must of at least 20 apples.
This beverage is obtained through a complex process that involves freezing the apple must at –20°C, followed by a 10-month fermentation and aging on fine lees for 10 to 12 months. The entire process typically takes around two years from the moment the apples are harvested until the bottle reaches the final consumer, while preserving the cider’s original fruity and sensory qualities.
To achieve this exclusive and highly esteemed product, it took the visionary spirit of José Masaveu, General Director of Masaveu Wineries, combined with nearly ten years of research, experimentation, and dedication. This is the most personal project of this member of the Masaveu family, and the only one rooted in his homeland, Asturias.
Forty hectares of organically certified orchards, located within the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Sidra de Asturias, specifically at Finca El Rebollar in Sariego (Asturias), are home to 20,000 apple trees that make it possible to produce 20,000 bottles of this distinguished, nuance-filled ice cider.A total of 11 different apple varieties are cultivated on the estate, but five are used to craft this ice cider: Verdialona, Durona de Tresali, Raxao, Fuentes, and Collaos.
It can be described as a sensual, fresh, and surprising beverage that pairs perfectly with foie gras, cheeses, and lightly sweet desserts.
Masaveu Wineries
The Masaveu family began investing in the wine sector in 1974, when they acquired Bodegas Murua, but the family’s vineyard plantings date back to the mid-19th century, specifically in Castellar del Vallés, the family’s place of origin, where Federico Masaveu Rivell laid the foundations that his descendants would continue a century later.
Since then, Bodegas Masaveu has continued to grow, becoming a benchmark for the quality of its wines produced in different Designations of Origin (DOs), as well as for its environmental philosophy and deep respect for the land. The winery owns its own vineyard plantations, which allow it to capture and convey, in every bottle, the unique personality of each terroir.
In this way, a common thread unites all of Masaveu Bodegas’ projects across different regions: Fillaboa (DO Rías Baixas), Leda (Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León), Murua (DOCa Rioja), Pagos de Araiz (DO Navarra), and Valverán (Asturias).
