Ice Cider, Valverán 20 Apples achieves international recognition

Ice Cider, Valverán achieves international recognition

Those of you who are wine lovers are undoubtedly familiar with the famous ‘Icewines’, the so-called ‘Ice Wines’ so well known in countries such as Germany, Canada, USA or Austria. So much so that we are finding lately wines made in a similar way in many countries.

Today we present you the ‘Ice Cider’, where the elaboration of these recognized wines is transferred to the world of cider.

And, as it could not be otherwise, we travel to Asturias, a reference point in our geography of cider production, to know Llagares Valverán.

In the town of Sariego we find this project that was founded in 1998. After ten years of research, it was in 2007 when this ice cider was born, being the first and most exclusive of the Iberian Peninsula. This is a cider whose production is inspired by that of Canadian ice ciders.

It is at this point where we must emphasize that, although in Spain the production of cider comes from generations, it has always been associated with the consumption of this type of drink at Christmas time (the commercial production) as an alternative to champagnes or traditional consumption with the well-known ‘escanciado’ that we find if we travel to Asturias or if we approach many cider houses that are spread throughout our geography.

And this if that, until not long ago, was a different element to the consumption of ciders in other countries, where they are consumed as any other type of drink, wines or beers, which makes it has become a drink in great demand, with numerous producers and different styles. In fact, just as there is a ‘world of its own’ within the world of beer, in many countries there is also a world within cider.

Valverán, a different project

Undoubtedly, within our gastronomy, the tradition of cider has been present for a long time, but it used to be limited to the Asturian geography. Therefore, in 2007 it seemed something new, groundbreaking, transgressor and of uncertain success to elaborate an ‘Ice Cider’.

And time has not only shown that it was a success, but this cider has achieved international recognition in many competitions, being the pioneer within the Spanish elaborations in this profile of beverages.

This success was the result of the visionary idea of José Masaveu, general manager of Bodegas Masaveu, being his most personal project of this family member, after almost ten years of research and trials.

Valverán 20 Apples‘ is the name of this drink, and its name contains an enormous curiosity since 20 apples are necessary to make each 37.5 cl. bottle, since it contains the concentrated must of at least 20 of these pieces of fruit.

How is it made?

For the elaboration of this ‘Ice Cider’ a complex process of freezing at 20 degrees below zero, a subsequent fermentation for 10 months and aging on fine lees for 8 months is required.

The entire period is usually around two years from the time the apples are harvested until the bottle reaches the final consumer, maintaining the initial fruity and sensory qualities.

Origin of the raw material

Today Llagares Valverán has 40 hectares registered as organic, which are located within the Protected Designation of Origin Cider of Asturias. Specifically we place them in the Finca El Rebollar in Sariego (Asturias), where we can find a whopping 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) that allow us to produce a limited edition of 20,000 bottles of this distinguished ice cider full of nuances.

This ice cider can be defined as a fresh and surprising drink that harmonizes perfectly with foie gras, cheeses and desserts that are not very sweet.

And it is a drink that can not only be consumed as a dessert, understanding this as a drink to be tasted after the meal. On the contrary, it presents a profile to enjoy it throughout a lunch or dinner, as is now the case with many sparkling wines that are made with a gastronomic profile.

It is possible to start our appetizer with this cider, continue the dishes with it and even accompany a dessert that is not too sweet.

Valverán 20 Apples, international and national recognition

Being as it is a reference cider in Spain, the latest awards received show that it has achieved international recognition of prestige and quality.

Great Gold in the First International CINVE Cider Competition or the Master Medal in The Global Cider Masters 2022 (highest distinction of the competition organized by the prestigious Anglo-Saxon publication The Drink Business), are two of the awards that this ‘ice cider’ has obtained in the past year and that have positioned it as a worldwide reference within the so-called ‘Ice Ciders’.

In addition to the two previous awards, Valverán 20 Apples has been awarded in different national and international competitions of great prestige such as World Cider Awards, Gilbert & Gaillard or Great Lakes International Cider & Perry Competition, where it competed ‘face to face’ with the famous Canadian ‘ice ciders’.