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El Gaitero Clásica is the traditional sparkling cider of El Gaitero, the house that brothers Alberto and Eladio del Valle, Bernardo de la Ballina and Ángel Fernández founded in 1890 in Villaviciosa, Asturias, and that today presents itself as the cider famous the world over.
The company was born making sparkling cider, or sidra champanada, because the gas helped the drink withstand the long voyages of Asturian emigrants to the Americas. According to the house’s product sheet, it is made from a blend of apples chosen for their aromatic richness, ferments slowly at low temperature and is then clarified, filtered, sweetened and carbonated.
General Information
Name: El Gaitero Clásica
Producer: El Gaitero
Origin: Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain
Style: Asturian sparkling cider
ABV: 4.1%
Sweetness: Extra semi-dry
Calories: Not declared
Apples: Blend of cider apples
Glassware: Flute
Tasting Notes and Impressions
El Gaitero Clásica is a semi-dry sparkling cider that divides opinion, sweet for some and dry for others, with fermented apple and abundant bubbles. It is a simple, easy-drinking cider, more for an aperitif than for close tasting.
1. Appearance
Straw yellow with golden hues, clean, with abundant bubbles and above-average carbonation that shows lively in the glass.
2. Aroma
The nose recalls fermented apple juice, with fresh fruit and a hint of green apple, and in some bottles a slight rustic touch comes through.
3. Flavor
The entry is sweet and prickly at once, with fermented apple and a green apple acidity that balances the sugar, mid-palate a light bitterness and some astringency appear, and the finish is dry, with a reminder of yeast.
4. Mouthfeel
Light body, with high and somewhat prickly carbonation, a soft astringency and an easy passage that makes it very drinkable well chilled.
5. Overall Impression
El Gaitero Clásica is not a complex cider, and its modest average rating reflects that, but it delivers as a sparkling aperitif cider, with apple, bubbles and a sweetness that makes it approachable. Anyone looking for the apple and acidity of a natural Asturian cider will find more character in a bottle meant for traditional pouring from height.
Suggested Pairings
The house itself recommends it with light meals and as an aperitif, and its acidity and bubbles make it especially useful with savory and fried dishes.
1. Main Courses
Clams a la marinera or hake in cider are natural pairings, because the cider’s acidity lifts shellfish and white fish, and the bubbles cleanse the palate of the sauce between bites.
2. Cheeses
Soft Asturian cheeses such as afuega’l pitu, or a young goat cheese, find a fresh counterpoint in its acidity, while a blue cheese such as cabrales needs the bubbles to clear its intensity.
3. Vegetarian Dishes
Mushroom croquettes or a Spanish potato omelet work very well, since the carbonation cuts through the frying and the acidity lightens the egg and potato.
4. Desserts
Rice pudding or casadielas, two Asturian sweets, call for a cider with some sweetness like this one, as long as the dessert is not much sweeter than the drink itself.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. How much alcohol does El Gaitero cider have?
El Gaitero Clásica is 4.1% alcohol, according to the house’s product sheet. The 25 cl bottle of its traditional sparkling cider has the same strength.
2. Is El Gaitero cider sweet?
The house defines it as extra semi-dry. On Untappd, where it has almost 2,900 ratings with an average of 3.25 out of 5, opinions are divided, because some find it sweet and very approachable and others dry and refreshing, and some regular drinkers note that it is sweeter today than it was years ago.
3. What is the difference between El Gaitero Clásica and El Gaitero Etiqueta Negra?
The Clásica is a 4.1% carbonated sparkling cider. The Etiqueta Negra is a 7% sparkling natural cider with the Sidra de Asturias Protected Designation of Origin, made from Asturian varieties such as Raxao and Perico and with natural gas from a second fermentation.
4. How long has El Gaitero been around?
The company was founded in 1890 in Villaviciosa, Asturias, by the Valle, Ballina and Fernández families. It started out making sparkling cider so that it would withstand the voyages of Asturian emigrants to the Americas.
5. At what temperature should El Gaitero Clásica be served?
The house recommends serving it at 7 to 10 °C. The product sheet also states that it is gluten-free, suitable for vegans and contains sulfites.
Recommended
- The Culture of Asturian Cider, Production, Consumption, and Denomination of Origin
- What Is Cider? History, Production, Varieties and Main Characteristics
