The Sagardoetxea in Astigarraga is managed by the Sagardun consortium. Founded three years ago, this consortium is made up of the City Council of Astigarraga, seven local cultural groups and twelve cider makers. In addition to managing the cider house, it also organizes other activities related to the cider. Joxe Mari Alberro is the manager of Sagardune and head of Sagardoetxea. In the words of this cider maker, “During the txotx season we saw the need to show people what’s behind the product. The Cider House serves this purpose: you can see how the cider is made and we have a cider house and a tasting area, among other things. The visitor actively participates in the visit.” The area

that opened its doors last September is divided into three parts: the museum, the cider house and the tasting place. The museum shows, through computer panels, interactive materials, photographs and games, how the world of apple and cider has been and is today. As well as the importance of all this in the culture of the Basque Country. It is located on the outskirts of Sagastia. The aim is to inform the culture of the apple in a dynamic and pedagogical way. For this reason, here you can see the evolution of the apple through seasonal exhibitions (vaccinations, apple harvesting, etc.). The Sagardoetxea offers the opportunity to see and analyze the different systems that exist for the cultivation of apples, as well as to publicize different varieties of apples in the Basque Country. Finally, the cider can be tasted in the tasting area.

According to Alberro, “La Sagardoetxea is very dynamic, the visitor can see and learn one thing or another depending on the season. At a certain time of the year you will see the apple trees in bloom, at another time they will be making grafts and by the autumn they will take the curls and collect the apples. If you want to, you can also cut them into pieces.”

Igartubeiti is a 16th-century winery, where there is a winery based on a large cider beam. In 1991, the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa acquired the farm with the intention of maintaining this heritage. Thus, between 1993 and 2001 it was restored respecting all the original features of a 16th century farmhouse. In the rustic atmosphere, the lighting and smells have made a special yawn. With images, sounds and smells, through emotions, the goal is to bring the visitor to that time.

Currently, it is planned to launch an interpretation center that will complement the farm, with the following characteristics: To work on the origin and evolution of Igartubeiti and the Basque farmhouse -with special attention to the dolar-; to work on the Farmhouse typologies; and to make known the way of life, customs, forms of production, social organization... that the members of the farm have had throughout history. Innovative audiovisual presentation systems based on new technologies will also be used. Work on the Interpretation Centre began in 2004 and is expected to be completed by the organization in 2007.

The City Council of Hernani, together with the Association of Natural Cider of Gipuzkoa, is working on the project of what will be SagardoGune. The SagardoGune would be located in the Villa Ave Maria farm in Hernani. This building, located in the center of Hernani and founded around 1920, was acquired by the City Council two years ago and can now be used for its activity by the cider industry. Next to this old building, a new one will be built: it will have a modern and functional design, but without losing its original identity (see image on the left). The idea is to inform about the cider industry that has managed to adapt to current times and consumer trends. To this end, it will have several exhibition spaces: a tasting area, a documentation centre, a screening or event room, a shop and an exhibition room. A restaurant is also planned and would specialize in cider menus.

The project, designed by the architect José Luis Loina, will have a total of 2,800 square meters between the two buildings. According to Rafa Zulaika, Technical Manager of SagardoGune, “It will be a service centre for the whole of Gipuzkoa. The land of cider will be its base and will focus on cider culture and cider making.” In particular, SagardoGune has set the following objectives: to develop knowledge, research and training in the cider industry; to show the characteristics and potentialities of cider; and to transmit the values of this community - linked to work, the festive environment and health. The promoters of the project believe that cider and cider, cider and apple are the ones that give this territory identity in landscape, culture

and economy. They want to pass on these values to future generations.