Italy | Cider Says

Review of Angioletti’s Secco cider, from Italy. It is my first time trying this cider.

Cider: Secco sparkling Italian craft cider
Cidery: Angioletti Vero Sidro Italiano
Cidery Location: Italy
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottle
Style: Italian craft cider

Availability: unknown

Cider Description: Made from 100% Italian apple juice (no concentrate). 5% vol. Style: ‘Secco’ / Medium-dry. Tasting note: Fine bubbles; aromas of fresh apple and white blossom are followed by intense, fresh flavours of orchard fruits, and a satisfying, clean, crisp aftertaste. Serving suggestion: Serve chilled in a large flute glass as an apéritif or alongside antipasti. Cider-maker: Matteo Corazzolla. Closure: Mushroom cork. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Gluten Free.

Cidery Description: Angioletti craft Italian ciders are made from selected apples exclusively grown in the Italian dolomites. Our ciders are made from 100% juice and contain no artificial flavourings or colourings. Based in the UK (the world’s largest cider market), we are the sales office for family-run craft Italian cider and beer ‘Sidro Birrificio’ Lucia Maria Melchiori, where all our craft ciders and beers are made. As well as Angioletti craft Italian ciders, we supply the Birra Val Di Non range of unfiltered Italian craft beers, named after the picturesque valley in which our ‘Sidro Birrificio’ is situated.

Price: $5.99
Where Bought: Total Wine in Southern CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing, on a work trip

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, slightly sweet and acidic, and somehow reminiscent of sparkling wine.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of green apple, lemon, mineral, and floral. Quick finish, with the flavor and bubbles going flat.. Low apple flavor and overall flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I thought this was pretty average. $5.99 is quite a low price though, so maybe my expectations were too high.

Most Similar to: Scandinavian Green Apple Craft Cider, although Angioletti Secco had much lower carbonation (Maybe it was an old bottle though? I’m guessing imports don’t move as quickly as local favorites.)

Closing Notes: I prefer the only other Italian cider I’ve tried, Bertolinos.

Have you tried Angioletti Secco? What did you think?

Review of Bertolinos Hard Cider, from Italy. Its the first Italian cider I’ve tried. Here is an interesting article I found on the Italian cider industry.

Cider: Hard Cider
Cidery: Bertolinos
Cidery Location: Friuli Italy
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 750ml bottle, wine cork
Style: Italian cider, made from native apple varieties

Availability: unknown

Description: The Da Pozzo Family has been making the highest quality hard cider in Friuli Italy using only 100% pure Friuli apple juice at Ecomela for over two decades. They have been recognized at the World Cider Awards in England as making the Best Cider in the World, medium category. This is a full bodied, very well balanced Cider with an intense floral fresh Friuli apple Aroma! Please join us and enjoy Bertolinos. From our Family to yours!

Price: $7
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I was intrigued as I’ve never tried Italian cider, and it was affordable.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Moderate carbonation with some foam. Smells of apple juice and honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of honey, pineapple, and grapefruit. High apple flavor. Moderate to high sessionability. Low complexity. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Yum! I enjoyed it. It was definitely on the simpler side, but was tasty and easy to drink. I can see this being a very widely appealing cider, as long as someone doesn’t mind on the slightly sweeter end of the spectrum.

Most Similar to: French cidre, except without the richness (as it was apple-forward and higher carbonation). I like this better than most apple-forward sessionable American ciders.

Closing Notes: I’m curious if I’ll be able to find any more Italian ciders locally, as this is the first I’ve seen.

Have you tried Bertolinos? What did you think?

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