Tomorrow begins the 15th International Hall of Gala Ciders (SISGA), running from September 25 to 28, with more than two hundred ciders from 68 cider mills across 18 countries.
This major sector gathering brings together cider professionals from all over the world: importers, exporters, hospitality representatives, and communicators. Since its beginnings, SISGA chose Xixón and has since consolidated itself as an international benchmark for the cider sector, while also offering the general public the opportunity to take part in several of its activities.
The inauguration will take place tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. at the Hotel Tryp Rey Pelayo, with a presentation by Marcos Abel Fernández, president of the Asturies XXI Foundation, and an opening tasting led by Irish cider maker Eamon Lucey (Stonewell Cider).
In the afternoon, activities will move to Villaviciosa and Nava, with a visit to Llagar Cortina and the Asturias Cider Museum. There, participants will not only tour the facilities but also be welcomed by Mayor Juan Cañal and take part in a roundtable discussion on the possibilities of cider- and apple-related tourism, sharing experiences from different countries.
As a prelude, this afternoon at the Hospitality and Tourism Training Center of Gijón (CIFP), the School of Sommeliers will host an activity focused on ice and fire ciders, featuring Alfonso Castañón (oenologist at Llagar Castañón), Juan Luis García, and Benedicta Zurro, both professors at the center. The day will conclude with a guided tour of Llagar JR Cider mill.
The SISGA program is both intense and comprehensive, aiming, in just four days, to provide international participants with the broadest and most accurate vision of the Asturian Cider Culture. Activities will include visits to cider mills, museums, orchards, and cider houses; guided tastings; debates on the sector and its future; institutional events; and an introduction to Asturian gastronomy through Alimentos del Paraíso.
For the general public, the highlight will be the Open Tasting, a meeting point with ciders from around the globe that represents a unique opportunity to gain, for just ten euros, a global perspective on the vibrant international cider scene. Attendees will be able to sample more than 200 cider products —each more surprising than the last— directly from their makers, and even purchase some of them: brut, sparkling, table, ice, fire, semi-dry, vermouth-style, or brandy ciders, among others.
The Open Tasting will take place on Saturday, September 27, at the Congress Pavilion of the Asturias International Trade Fair (FIDMA), coinciding with the AGROPEC fair, from 12:00 to 15:00 and 17:00 to 20:00. In addition to the exhibition and product tastings, several cider presentations open to the public will also be held that day.
PROGRAM – THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Morning
11:00 a.m. Inauguration.
Presentation of the 15th SISGA by Marcos Abel Fernández Marqués, President of the Asturies XXI Foundation.
Opening tasting of Stonewell Cider (Ireland), led by Eamon Lucey.
2:00 p.m. Reception and visit to Llagar Cortina, with guided ice cider tasting led by Tino Cortina.
Afternoon – Asturias Cider Museum (Nava)
4:30 p.m. Official reception by Juan Cañal (Mayor of Nava) and Juan Stové (Director of the Asturias Cider Museum).
5:00–6:30 p.m. Roundtable: Tourism linked to cider and apples.
Asnate Ziemele (Baltic Cider, Latvia)
Mariana Santos (Cider Cities)
Mª José Valente (Portugal)
6:30 p.m. Vermouth/cider-based cocktail tasting and visit to the Cider Museum.
9:00 p.m. De chigres per Nava – Visit to cider houses.
The main event for the general public will take place on Saturday, September 27, at AGROPEC (FIDMA Congress Pavilion), with the Open Tasting.
Admission: €10.
Includes tasting of over 200 cider products and the opportunity to speak directly with the cider makers.
Schedule: 12:00–3:00 p.m. and 5:00–8:00 p.m.
Public presentations of ciders will also be held.
