The Sagardo Forum International Cider Competition has awarded a Gold Medal to the Asturian ice cider Valverán 20 Apples 2021, produced in Sariego by the wine group Masaveu Wineries, in the dessert cider category.
This is an event that honors the leading producers and creations of apple and its derivatives, where international experts have tasted 262 ciders from 19 different countries, divided into 9 categories.
In this competition, held in its 4th edition on December 2, 2023, in San Sebastián, nine Asturian cider houses were awarded bronze, silver, and gold medals. In the case of Valverán ice cider, produced in the largest apple orchard in Asturias, in the heart of the cider region, it received a Gold Medal with over 92 points.
Valverán 20 Apples has also been awarded the highest distinction this year, 2023, in other prestigious national and international competitions such as the World Cider Awards, the Global Cider Masters, and the NAVA Cider Festival.
The success and accolades of this ice cider are such that this Asturian cider mill had to increase its production by 36% for the 2022 vintage, which will be released on the market in March 2024.
Valverán 20 Apples Ice Cider
Valverán was founded in 1998, but it was not until 2007 that this ice cider was born, making it a pioneer in the production of ice ciders and the most exclusive ice cider on the Iberian Peninsula. The name Valverán 20 Apples comes from the number of apples required to produce each 37.5 cl bottle, as it contains the concentrated must of at least 20 apples.
This beverage is produced through a complex process that involves freezing at -20°C, followed by fermentation for 10 months and aging on fine lees for 12 months. The entire process usually takes around two years from the moment the apples are harvested until the bottle reaches the consumer, while 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 are certified organic, located within the Protected Designation of Origin Sidra de Asturias, specifically at Finca El Rebollar in Sariego (Asturias). The estate’s 20,000 apple trees, comprising 11 different varieties (Blanquina, Xuanina, Regona, Raxao, Fuentes, Collaos, De la Riega, Verdialona, Perico, Durona de Tresali, and San Roqueña), allow for the production of this distinguished ice cider, full of nuanced flavors. It is a fresh and surprising beverage that pairs perfectly with foie, cheeses, and lightly 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 Bodegas Murua 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 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).
