Sagardoa Route, the Route of Basque Cider
The strategic and tourist Agency of the Basque Country Cider Houses Association.
We are a receptive travel agency of the Basque Country and our main axis is the Basque culture, the territory and its people. Our specialty is rural tourism and the culture of Basque cider, although we offer various activities throughout our territory. Our starting point is the first sector, the one that works the land, apple orchards, livestock and maintains the cultural landscape of the Basque Country. Nature is our home, and therefore, we organize our routes in a sustainable way, maintaining the philosophy that makes us unique: to teach what we are. One of the details that we like to take care of and maintain is meeting the people who work in these trades in person, being with them and learning more about their way of life, their history and their philosophy. Our experiences are characterized by close contact with local producers and learning more about their way of life.
Gipuzkoa Cider House Association
We have been working for the Basque cider sector since 1977.
The Gipuzkoa Natural Cider Association was officially set up in 1977 and today is made up of 50 cider makers producing natural cider. Its main functions are to promote cider and to protect the interests of the members of the association.In recent years major steps have been taken to professionalize the industry and improve the quality of the product, and our aim is to continue to progress in this direction, strengthening traditional ways of working and exploring new ones.
The association is located in Astigarraga, where it has an office and a space for trainings, tastings, seminars and so on. The Cider Houses Association organises numerous events throughout the year, and has two essential aims: on the one hand, to improve the image of the product with regular consumers, and on the other, to publicize cider beyond the Basque Country, at different international trade fairs.
The association has as its main objective guaranteeing the sector's future. Its work focuses on strengthening collaboration among cider houses, promoting quality and sustainable production, and fostering cider culture as an essential part of Basque heritage. Through various initiatives, the association works to ensure generational change.
Our team
We represent the Cider Sector of the Basque Country.
The Association is made up of professional cider houses. Each one with its own characteristics, all of them have one thing in common: they are natural cider producers. Today, we have 50 cider producers within our Association. The Association has a president and a board of directors of six associate members elected by vote every 4 years.
The Euskal Sagardoa Regulatory Council is made up of the apple and cider producers' associations of Bizkaia, Araba, and Gipuzkoa, along with the three provincial councils of these territories and the Basque Government. It has a Board of Directors composed of representatives from the different associations, and its main coordinator is Unai Agirre Goia.
The staff of the Cider House Association of Gipuzkoa and of the Designation of Origin Euskal Sagardoa is formed by:
- Unai Agirre (Manager of the Euskal Sagardoa Denomination of Origin label).
- Olatz Mitxelena (Coordinator of Gipuzkoa Ciderhouses Association’ and Member of the Desgignation of Origin)
- Ana Larred (Administrative and Sales Responsible of Gipuzkoa Ciderhouses Association)
- Amaia Zubeldia (Founder and Manager of Sagardoa Route, the Route of Basque Cider)
- Maddalen Olmedo (Comercial Director & Tour Guide of Sagardoa Route, the Route of the Basque Cider)
Unai Agirre
Olatz Mitxelena
Ana Larred
Amaia Zubeldia
Maddalen Olmedo
Services to our associates
We work for the cider houses, to create the future, giving security in the present, guiding the path.
We maintain a close and continuous relationship with all our associates, to help them in all aspects that their business may need, offering a wide range of services and individualized advice. Furthermore, as an association, we have a direct relationship with official bodies and institutions, as well as other sector associations in Gipuzkoa, Bizkaia and Araba. The activities we carry out are always intended to revitalize the sector and transform it so that it has greater social and economic benefits for its associates.
Direct attention to cider makers
General advice
General administration
Centralised purchasing
Organisation of events
Presence in the media
Communication strategies
Communication supports
Travel services
Product commercialization
Tourist services
Tourist promotion
Strategic projects for associated cider houses
Our purpose is to highlight the value of the product and prepare for the future.
Sagardoa Route
Strategic and tourist agency of the Basque cider sector.
Euskal Sagardoa - Basque Cider D.O.
Denomination of Origin for Basque cider, 100% local apple, quality and guarantee certificate.
Working on the future of the sector.
At Sagardoa Route, the Association of Cider Houses of Gipuzkoa, and Euskal Sagardoa, the Designation of Origin for Basque Cider, we work every day to build the future of the Basque cider sector by combining tradition and innovation. Our approach is based on three fundamental pillars: the apple, the essence of our land; the cider, the result of our passion and expertise; and the cider house, the place where history and modernity meet to offer a product of exceptional quality.