Cider: ESPAÑAR SIDRA DE ASTURIAS 2011
Maker: Llagar El Gobernador Origin: Viadi (orchards), Asturias, Spain
website: www.sidraelgobernador.com
Importer: Rowan Imports website: rowanimports.com
ABV: 6 % Bottle: 750 ml, cork
Style Notes: Asturian cider, naturally occurring indigenous yeasts used in fermentation.
Fruit: Apples.
Makers Fruit Notes: A blend of three hand picked DOP/PDO (Denominaciones de Origen Protegidas-protected designation of origin) certified heirloom cider apples varietals: Raxao, Regona, and Durona de Tresali (pictured). Apples are allowed to fall and mature on the orchard floor before processing.
Tasting Notes: In The Glass: Bright, clear, golden, green. Tart green apple, grass, wet straw, citrus, winey, yeasty, slightly tannic.
Our Pairings – The Tasting Lab: We tried with Jasper Hill Farm’s Winnimere, a raw cows milk washed rind cheese from Vermont.*
Note: An earlier tasting successfully paired Españar Sidra de Asturias with spicy marcona almonds, and Asturian cheeses: Queso de Valdeón, Afuega´l Pitu, and Ahumado de Pria, a smoked mixed milk cheese, and walnut date cake. Read more about Asturian Cheeses at Quesos de Asturias.
Overall Impressions: A clean, crisp, Asturian cider that drinks like a light, white wine.
*This cider was part of a Murray’s Cheese tasting class This Cider House Rules: Paring Cider and Cheese, in January of 2013. Rowan Imports was on hand to discuss this cider and Asturian cider making practices.
Apple images from www.sidradeasturias.es
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