Basque cider has made its way to the most important European stage, with Gipuzkoa as the guest territory at Cider World 2026, a leading international gathering for the sector held in Frankfurt (Germany). The cider houses of Astigarraga Zapiain, Petritegi, and Gurutzeta are responsible for representing and promoting the Basque product and local gastronomy.
For Basque producers, attending this event is crucial. According to Ion Zapiain of Zapiain cider house, the fair is “one of the most important reference points in the cider sector, especially in Europe.” The event not only fosters relationships but also attracts foreign clients and generates visibility, helping importers and consumers discover new products.
The Gipuzkoan participation is prominent this year, with the three cider houses occupying the main stand. In addition to the exhibition, they are conducting special tastings for a smaller, more detailed audience. Gastronomy also has its place with a dinner for 100 people at a Frankfurt restaurant, aimed at tour operators and producers, where they offer “some delicacies we bring from here.”
“"When you taste Norwegian cider, you would say it's more like wine than cider."
Among the international varieties, Ion Zapiain highlights Norwegian cider, which particularly surprised him. He describes Norwegian ciders as beverages that, due to their production, resemble wine more closely, reaching 12 degrees of alcohol compared to the 6-7 degrees of Basque cider. They are “more wine-like” and filtered, with a “very different” way of serving and consuming.
As part of the program, the three cider houses participated on Thursday, April 16th, in a technical working meeting organized by the Tourism Department of the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council, aimed at tourism sector professionals and gastronomic journalists. Following this, a 'txotx' style dinner for 100 people was held at the Bornheimer Ratskeller restaurant in Frankfurt, featuring several traditional cider barrels.
On April 17th, various speakers gave talks on cider, and Sagardoaren Lurraldea discussed Gipuzkoa's cider houses. Additionally, under the title 'Sagardoa Meets Apfelwein', the Zapiain, Petritegi, and Gurutzeta cider houses conducted a guided tasting of their ciders for competition judges, international producers, and enthusiasts at the Apfelweinkontor cider house, located in Frankfurt's oldest building.
Finally, on Saturday, April 18th, Gipuzkoa had the main stand at the fair, and an Euskal Sagardoa masterclass was held in the afternoon. The Txotx season in Euskadi concludes with a very positive outcome, and the sector faces the challenge of effectively communicating the value and quality of its product.
