Zapain Ice Cider

Zapain Ice Cider

Regular price £36.00 £0.00 Unit price per
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The Basque Country has local apple varieties that have been used to make cider since time immemorial. There are sharp, sweet and bitter varieties. Some are early ripening and others late ripening, among which the Errezil variety stands out. Sharp and rich in sugars at the same time, aromatic and long-lived once harvested. Its natural tendency is to raisin; in its over-ripening phase it loses water and wrinkles instead of rotting. During this process, all its values are concentrated: acids, sugars, aromas, etc. It is an ideal raw material to make an ice cider.

Made in Zapiain’s own facilities, at the end of December, they take the overripe fruit, wash it, crush it and press it, obtaining an exquisite juice. They force the concentration of sugars until their content reaches 300 grams per litre, then allow the alcoholic fermentation to develop, until 10.5% ABV is produced. At this point, we force the fermentation to stop, leaving 120 grams of sugar per litre.

Once produced, the young product is stored in a steel tank for 2 years where it is rounded and evolves into ripe fruit aromas and flavours. Before bottling, it is filtered and sulfur dioxide is added as a preservative. Only native Errezil variety apples are used in the production of this cider.