Sidra Real Etiqueta Blanca: Tasting Notes and Recommended Pairings

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Sidra Real is the longest-running cider in CCU Argentina’s portfolio, the brand the company used to present as the leader of the Argentine cider market, and its Etiqueta Blanca (White Label) is the variety the house itself offers as an everyday cider.

According to the brand, Sidra Real is born in the Alto Valle de Río Negro, where the apples are picked by hand, and it is made from a selection of red and green apples to achieve a refreshing, aromatic and light blend.

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General Information

Name: Sidra Real Etiqueta Blanca
Producer: CCU Argentina
Origin: Alto Valle de Río Negro, Argentina
Style: Common Cider
ABV: 4.3%
Sweetness: Sweet
Calories: Not declared
Apples: Red and green
Glassware: Wide tumbler

Tasting Notes and Impressions

The Etiqueta Blanca is a sweet, simple cider, with sweet apple and an acidity with a vinegary edge, more sweet than fresh. It lacks great nuance, and its sweet finish is what stays in the memory.

1. Appearance

Pale straw yellow with faint greenish highlights, clean and transparent, with fine bubbles rising through the glass without forming a head.

2. Aroma

The nose brings sweet apple, over a somewhat odd, rustic background and a faint reminder of apple cider vinegar.

3. Flavor

The entry is sweet apple, mid-palate an acidity with a touch of apple cider vinegar appears, and the finish turns sweet again, with a sweetness that can be somewhat bothersome and that overrides the freshness.

4. Mouthfeel

Light body with a simple structure, with a sweet finish that is what stands out most on the palate and that ice helps to lighten.

5. Overall Impression

Sidra Real Etiqueta Blanca is a decent cider for a toast and little more, sweet and simple, never quite as fresh or as light as one would expect from an everyday cider. Well chilled and over ice it does its job on a holiday table, but anyone looking for a cider with character will find more interest in other labels.

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Suggested Pairings

Its sweetness brings it close to the Argentine holiday table, especially cold savory dishes and not-too-sugary Christmas sweets.

1. Main Courses

Vitel toné or matambre arrollado, two classics of the Argentine Christmas table, find a sweet counterpoint in this cider, especially if it is served well chilled and over ice.

2. Cheeses

A fresh cheese or an Argentine queso cremoso works better than intense cheeses, because their mild flavor does not compete with the sweetness of the cider.

3. Vegetarian Dishes

A fruit and green leaf salad or vegetable empanadas work well, since the cider’s acidity accompanies the fresh flavors and the ice tempers its sweetness.

4. Desserts

Holiday pan dulce and dried fruit are its natural territory, as long as they are not sweeter than the cider itself.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

1. What do drinkers think of Sidra Real Etiqueta Blanca?

On Untappd it has 67 ratings, with an average of 2.89 out of 5. Those who try it describe it as sweet, with sweet apple and a touch of apple cider vinegar, and several consider it decent but nothing special, with a sweet finish that some find bothersome. Most of the descriptive comments are several years old.

2. What is the difference between Sidra Real Etiqueta Blanca and Etiqueta Negra?

The Etiqueta Negra (Black Label) is made from Red Delicious apples from the Alto Valle de Río Negro, is sweetened with cane sugar and is 5.5% alcohol, compared with the 4.3% listed for the Blanca on Untappd. Users describe the Negra as having a fresh red apple aroma and being too sweet, with divided opinions on its carbonation.

3. Who makes Sidra Real?

It is made by CCU Argentina, part of the Chilean brewing group CCU, which entered the cider business in 2011 and describes it as the longest-running cider in its portfolio. According to the company itself, its cider brands account for more than 50% of the Argentine market.

4. How should Sidra Real be served?

The brand recommends drinking it well chilled, in a wide tumbler with ice, and tilting the glass to 45° when pouring so it does not lose its fizz. It also states that it is suitable for people with celiac disease.

5. How much alcohol does Sidra Real have?

The brand’s website does not state the alcohol content. On Untappd, the Etiqueta Blanca is listed at 4.3%, and CCU announced the Etiqueta Negra at 5.5%.