The 2020 Valverán 20 Apples ice cider, produced by Masaveu Wineries at its cider house in Sariego, Asturias, won a gold medal and was chosen as the Best Special Cider at the 2022 edition of the international “World Cider Awards.”
There are nine categories in the competition, and within these, other ice ciders, low-alcohol and non-alcoholic ciders, as well as experimental ciders from countries such as Canada, France, and the United Kingdom, have also been awarded, with Valverán being the only Spanish cider recognized in this group.
The World Cider Awards, held in the United Kingdom, select, recognize, and promote the “World’s Best Ciders” among consumers worldwide. This annual tasting is part of the renowned World Drinks Awards, which are presented by TheDrinksReport.com.
Valverán 20 Apples has been awarded in various prestigious national and international competitions, such as Gilbert & Gaillard, the International Gala Cider Exhibition, CINVE, the Great Lakes International Cider & Perry Competition, and the Global Cider Masters.
Valverán 20 Apples Ice Cider
Valverán was founded in 1998, but it wasn’t until 2007 that this ice cider was created, becoming the first and most exclusive ice cider in the Iberian Peninsula. The name Valverán 20 Apples comes from the number of apples needed to make each 37.5 cl bottle, as it contains the concentrated juice of at least 20 apples.
This beverage is produced through a complex process of freezing at minus 20 degrees Celsius, followed by fermentation for 10 months and aging on fine lees for 8 months. The entire process usually takes around two years from the moment the apples are harvested until the bottle reaches the final consumer, preserving its initial fruity and sensory qualities.
To create this exclusive and highly prized product, the visionary character of José Masaveu, CEO of Masaveu Wineries, was essential. This represents his most personal project within the family’s ventures, backed by nearly ten years of research and experimentation. It is the only one of Masaveu Wineries five projects rooted in its native land, Asturias.
Today, 40 hectares registered as organic, located in the Protected Designation of Origin Sidra de Asturias, specifically in Finca El Rebollar in Sariego (Asturias), with 20,000 apple trees of 11 different varieties (Blanquina, Xuanina, Regona, Raxao, Fuentes, Collaos, De la Riega, Verdialona, Perico, Durona de Tresali, and San Roqueña), make it possible to produce a limited edition of 20,000 bottles of this distinguished ice cider full of nuances. It can be defined as a fresh and surprising drink that pairs perfectly with foie, cheeses, and mildly sweet desserts.
It can be purchased through the Masaveu Wineries online store or by clicking here.
Masaveu Wineries
The Masaveu family began investing in the wine sector in 1974, when they acquired Bodega Murua in Rioja Alavesa. However, the family’s vineyard plantations date back to the mid-19th century, specifically in Castellar del Vallès, the family’s place of origin, where Federico Masaveu Rivell first took the steps that his descendants would continue a century later.
Since then, Masaveu Wineries has grown to become a benchmark in the industry, recognized for the quality of its wines across various DOs and for its environmental philosophy and utmost respect for the land, on which it owns its own vineyard plantations. Thanks to these vineyards, each bottle conveys the unique personality of its terroir. In this way, all the projects undertaken by Masaveu Wineries 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).
