We’ve covered Basque cider a lot on the blog. It’s one mark of the identity of our culture and traditions and an important part of our country, which has a large population of apple trees. But the news we bring you today is quite special for us, because it’s about a project that involves the collaboration of Basques from all the territories, overcoming the administrative divisions that divide us.
All Basque cider producers, within a few months, are going to find themselves under the protection of the same umbrella: that of the official designation of origin Euskal Sagardoa. It will be the first time in Europe that a designation of origin crosses a border under the same set of rules.
Until now, this designation was applied to cider produced within the three Basque territories that make up the Basque Autonomous Community: Alava, Biscay, and Gipuzkoa.
For some time, the producers north of the Pyrenees, in Soule, Lower Navarre, and Labourd, had been expressing their interest in joining in on that designation. This movement also had the support of the INAO (National Institute of Origins and Quality in France) and the technical personnel at HAZI (Basque Government research foundation), along with the coordination and support of the Basque Government and the Euskal Hirigune Elkargoa – Agglomeration Community of the Basque Country (the administration that covers all of the territories of the Northern Basque Country).
Once the agreement was reached, it was sent to the French and Spanish ministries, who have already set in motion the procedure to send the paperwork to every country in the European Union. Once all administrative authorizations have been received, it will be up to Brussels to close the deal and sign off on the Euskal Sagardoa’s new characteristics. In Europe, there are no other designations of origin that cross borders with one set of rules, and this will be the first one of its kind.
Euskal Sagardoa will extend from Gipuzkoa, Biscay, and Alava into Labourd, Lower Navarre, and Soule. The geographical area will also be extended to include within the single set of rules the types of apples found on both sides of the mountains.
Once Brussels has authorized it, Navarre will also become part of the designation of origin. The Regulating Council, the Basque Government, and the Government of Navarre have agreed to start proceedings on incorporating the Navarrese cider sector into Euskal Sagardoa.
The cross-border designation of origin will then be officially called Euskal Sagardoa/Sidra del País Vasco, Cidre du País Basque/Euskal Sagarnoa.
There is no doubt that this is huge news, and one of those movements that helps consolidate relations between every part of our country.
We found it so interesting and important that we broke our rule on excluding local media in order to share it with you.
Euskal Sagardoa – 19/1/2024 – Euskadi
Euskal Sagardoa, Hacia La Primera Denominación De Origen Transfronteriza
La Denominación de Origen Euskal Sagardoa, que en 2024 cumple 6 años tiene novedades. El sector de la sidra de Zuberoa, Behe Nafarroa y Lapurdi ha mostrado su compromiso de formar parte de dicha Denominación de Origen. De hecho, comparten nombre e incluso sidra.
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France 3 – 20/1/2024 – France
“C’est un jour historique”. Le cidre basque pourrait bientôt obtenir une AOP, une première pour la communauté transfrontalière
<C’est le premier projet concret de coopération transfrontalière du Pays basque. Un dossier vient d’être déposé à la commission européenne pour faire labelliser le cidre basque, une boisson millénaire typique de cette région du sud-ouest de la France.
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Last Updated on Feb 12, 2024 by About Basque Country