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november 2022
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drop 6
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november 2022 - drop 6 -
ITXAS-BURU SAGARDOA
HERNANI, GIPUZKOA
Itxas-buru was founded in 1982 by Ascensio Intxauspe. The family only produces around 70,000 liters per year, relatively small for a Basque ciderhouse.
This cider is made from apples grown in their own orchards. Urtebi haundi, urtebi txiki, moko, patzolua, and txalaka apples are harvested and pressed the same day before undergoing spontaneous fermentation.
We love the delicious combination of bubble gum, dried apple and a gentle smokiness. The wild yeast brettanomyces pitches in to provide a subtle horse blanket aroma – reminiscent of a farm in the best possible way.
Drink with grilled pork chops next to a fire pit.
750ml Bottle
$17.50
LIZEAGA SAGARDOA
DONOSTIA, GIPUZKOA
Lizeaga is the first ciderhouse we ever visited in Basque Country.
The ciders go through spontaneous alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel, before being transferred to giant wooden barrels - two of which were made by the family’s great grandfather Joxe Mari - for aging.
This bottle of Euskal Sagardoa is composed of 40% apples from the Lizeaga orchards and 60% from apple orchards throughout Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia. The cider is bursting with ripe banana, tropical papaya and floral quince flavors. The fruit character is balanced with a green bitterness, reminding us of alfalfa.
This will be excellent with Thanksgiving dinner and warm winter braises.
750ml Bottle
$17.50
drop five
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august 2022
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drop five - august 2022 -
GARTZIATEGI 700 SAGARDOA
DONOSTIA, GIPUZKOA
Gartziategi is a small traditional ciderhouse resting on the outskirts of San Sebastian.
Their 700 Sagardoa is a unique Sagardo sourced from an orchard perched 700 meters above sea level. Not dissimilar to alpine wines, the resulting cider is laser focused. It is immediately salty, with notes of bitter green citrus peel, think lime and yuzu. 700 is a lean and unique version of Gartziategi’s flagship Sagardo. As the cider spends time
on the palate a distinct flavor of green plum becomes apparent – mirrored by the color in the glass: a clear pale yellow with a hint of emerald green.
We think 700 will pair perfectly with simple dishes like grilled trout and aioli or a bowl of steamed clams.
750ml Bottle
$17.50
JOANES DE ZAPIAIN SAGARDOA
ASTIGARRAGA, GIPUZKOA
The Zapiain family has been making cider since the 16th century. Court documents dating from 1542 show that their ancestor, Joanes de Zapiain, was neglecting to pay the tax due on cider he was selling throughout Gipuzkoa. This single orchard cider is a tribute to him.
We have fallen in love with this cider. The Joanes de Zapiain is wonderfully rich and full. Honey and juicy orange peel combine with tropical mango and chamomile to create a complex and balanced Sagardo. This is one of the best ciders we’ve ever tasted. We hope you love it, too.
Pair with a generously salted ribeye and slow cooked piquillo peppers (like at Casa Julian in Tolosa).
750ml Bottle
$17.50
SON OF MAN SINGLE ORCHARD
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, OREGON
We’ve been working with Kevin Zielinksi at EZ Orchards for the last five years. We’d argue (and others in the industry would probably agree) he is the best cider apple grower in the country. We incorporate every apple we can get from his Willamette Valley farm into our ciders. In 2021, we decided to showcase Kevin’s incredible fruit by making a cider exclusively with apples from EZ.
This cider was inspired by the Joanes de Zapiain and the blend contains a higher ratio of bittersweet, tannic fruit. We love the impact on the finished cider.
This Sagardo is a beautiful golden straw color in the glass. Meyer lemon, Anjou pear and light tropical fruit flavors burst forth. The fruit flavors are balanced by a fresh cut grass note that keeps the cider refreshing, sip after sip.
Long pour alongside pork chops with apricots and coal roasted sweet potatoes.
750ml Bottle
$17.50
drop four
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may 2022
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drop four - may 2022 -
SETIEN SAGARDOA
OZTARAN, GIPUZKOA
The Setien ciderhouse sits between Hernani and Urnieta - two important villages in Basque cider history. The Setien family began producing cider in 1920. Today, three generations later, Eugenio Urruzola runs the show.
The ciderhouse is perched atop a hill surrounded by apple orchards. The cider is fermented spontaneously in a mixture of ancient chestnut barrels and stainless steel tanks. We first tried Setien's sagardoa in 2017 and immediately fell in love. It's a beautiful deep gold color with intense flavors of pineapple and apple skin. There is a hint of Brettanomyces at the very end - but in this case we feel it works perfectly. The rich, ripe fruit and touch of funk make this an addictive summer treat.
750ml Bottle
$17.50
drop three
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november 2021
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drop three - november 2021 -
IZETA SAGARDOA
AIA, GIPUZKOA
- released February 2022 due to shipping delays -
The Izeta ciderhouse is one of the prettiest places we’ve ever been. Perched on a hilltop in the small town of Aia, Izeta is surrounded by apple orchards. To the north, the Atlantic Ocean spreads to the horizon and the beach town of Zauratz is just visible. The ocean influence is clear with the first sip – this is a coastal cider.
An olive-like brininess is immediately apparent alongside a slightly herbaceous, savory quality. The salty minerality is balanced with flavors of cooked quince and citrus pith. The cider is full bodied and rich, with moderate acidity and a more pronounced tannic bitterness than the ciders in past drops. Enjoy with roasted chicken and the last of the winter produce before the green shoots of Spring!
750ml Bottle
$17.50
drop two
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august 2021
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drop two - august 2021 -
ETXEBERRIA SAGARDOA
ASTIGARRAGA, GIPUZKOA
The Etxeberria ciderhouse is perched atop of beautiful hillside overlooking miles of apple orchards and more than a few sheep. San Sebastian and the Atlantic Ocean are a stones throw away to the north.
Augustin Etxeberria now runs the ciderhouse and oversees the management of the family’s apple orchards covering surrounding hills.
The 2020 Premium Euskal Sagardoa is made from urtebi txikia, txalaka, urtebi haundia, goikoetxe and patzuloa apples. The cider is full bodied, warm and spicy. Musky aromas of leather, allspice and cinnamon appear first, with subtle cardamom coming behind. Orange peel on the palate make this the perfect cider to enjoy as the seasons start to change.
750ml Bottle
$17.50
OIHARTE SAGARDOA
ZERAIN, GIPUZKOA
Husband and wife team Haritz and Maite began rehabbing the Oiharte ciderhouse in 2000. They planted a large, certified organic orchard and remodeled the beautiful casa rural, or country inn, in order to create a sustainable farm and cidery deep in the Basque countryside. Although they had always made cider to drink at home, their first commercial vintage was released in 2010. They have continued to produce incredible ciders ever since.
The 2020 Oiharte Euskal Sagardoa is made with organic gezamiña, urtebi txikia and mozolua apples grown on their property. The cider has great body and a rich golden color. The nose is complex and offers up estery notes of banana and bubblegum, as well as bright, green aromas of freshly cut grass and flowers.
750ml Bottle
$17.50
drop one
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may 2021
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drop one - may 2021 -
ZAPIAIN WILD APPLE
ASTIGARRAGA, GIPUZKOA
The Zapiain family has deep roots in Basque cidermaking. Very deep. The family has been turning apples into liquid gold since the 1500s. Zapiain is simultaneously one of the oldest ciderhouses in Basque Country and one of the most innovative.
Wild Apple is a collaboration between Zapiain and Basquelands Brewery and is a slightly more modern take on the centuries-old beverage. Zapiain used four Basque apples – Urtebi Txiki, Txalaka (both high acid), Geza Mina (bitter) and Moko (bittersharp) – to create a clean, light bodied sagardoa. Expect green apple and lime on the nose. Wild Apple is super fresh in the palate with tropical fruit and a gentle astringency to keep you reaching for another swig.
750ml
$17.50
ABURUZA SAGARDOA
ADUNA, GIPUZKOA
The Aburuza ciderhouse is situated in the beautiful town of Aduna, roughly 15 miles south of Donostia and the rugged Atlantic coast. The Premium Euskal Sagardoa is made from a blend of three indigenous Basque apple varieties – Moko (80%), Txalaka (10%) and Urtebi Txiki (10%) – many of which are grown in the family’s own orchards.
The sagardoa is bright straw color with a clean, tropical nose. Floral flavors and notes of orange peel add complexity. Lower in acidity than some Basque sagardoa, Aburuza is easy to drink and has wonderful body and a tight, unctuous bubble.
750ml
$17.50