Asturias, just saying that name seems very romantic to me. I can imagine the Sirens calling the name Asturias, Asturias to entice travelers but they would not be in the Mediterranean but in the Cantabrian Sea, the Southern part of the Bay of Biscay. Asturias where these wonderful Ciders or Cidre are from is located in what is known as Green Spain. It is bordered by Cantabria and Galicia, the Cantabrian Sea, and Castilla y Leon to the South. A very ancient region that was settled by tribes, almost conquered by Romans, and that held off the Moor invasion, this somewhat isolated was part of the Christian revolution known as la Reconquista which took back Spain from the Moors and created a unified Christian Crown.

For a time, Asturias was incorporated by its neighbor Castilla y Leon but then once again gained its independence in 1388, and was finally brought into the Kingdom of Spain.

Apparently Asturias had a spot in the limelight in the 18th century as a place of learning and culture as well as a strong commitment to freedom. The region resisted Napoleon in the 19th century and fought Franco during the Spanish Civil War.

While grape growing in this maritime climate has had its share of ups and downs with phylloxera and powdery mildew, and a massive hail storm in 1959, apples have been a successful crop for generations.

The Busto family began producing Cider in 1939. At the time using the brand M Busto after its founder Manuel, it later added the name Mayador. Consuelo Busto Alonso, Manuel’s youngest daughter, has been running the firm since Manuel’s passing, no small feat in a heavily male dominated country and industry.

The history of the family and their humble beginnings to expanded production, renting presses to buying them, creating traditions for drinking cider, apple cider vinegar, and inventing patents are all part of the mix. I was thrilled to discover this company and to receive these samples.

I can’t wait to go to a Chigres and drink Cider poured from a height. I loved these ciders, both of which are low alcohol, fresh and inviting ciders to serve at brunch or dinner. I found mine perfect with a frittata. I feel like this may be my new family drink as I try to move towards lower alcohol drinks.

Join our discussion later this morning on Twitter on Saturday, July 24th at 11am EST. Follow hashtag #WorldWineTravel and be sure to add it to anything you tweet so we can see it. Here are the articles the writers are sharing about Spanish hard ciders or ciders from around the world…

• A BBQ Party Featuring Spanish and French Ciders by Chinese Food & Wine Pairings
• A Crash Course in Hard Ciders by Somm’s Table
• Anna’s Ciders and Pier City Ciders by Wine Predator … Gwendolyn Alley
• Bodegas Mayador – A Taste of Asturias Cider by ENOFYLZ Wine Blog
• Cider Glazed Rotisserie Chicken and a Sampling of Hard Ciders by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Divide and Cider: Conquering Spanish Sidra with Mire by Asian Test Kitchen
• Falling In Love With Cider by Avvinare
• I am Cider Curious by Food Wine Click!
• One glass, Many ciders by Children of the Grape
• Pollo Con Ajoy y Limon and Spanish Hard Ciders by Our Good Life
• Put This Basque Beverage on Your Drink List! by Savor the Harvest
• Sidra from Asturias in Northern Spain – Its Culture and Traditions by Crushed Grape Chronicles
• Traditional Spanish Sidra, a Tipsy Trickster, & Tanuki Cider by Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Many thanks to Winesellers, LTD for providing the sample.