Traditional Cider House Tour | Zabala, San Sebastián

Basque Cider Tour at Zabala from San Sebastián

This guided tour suits visitors interested in traditional Basque cider, offering transport and tastings from San Sebastián.

Highlights

• Discover Basque cider-making on a guided tour from San Sebastián
• Visit a traditional cider house and learn the cider production process
• Taste cider directly from the barrel in the Txotx experience
• Try several ciders, progressing from younger to older varieties
• Learn about the history and cultural importance of Basque cider

Description

Zabala is a family-run sagardotegia with over 200 years of history, producing natural cider from local apples with small-scale care. The tour, offered in Basque, Spanish, or English, includes the cider house cellar, barrels, press, grill, and dining rooms.

The visit covers the cider-making process from orchard management to apple harvesting, washing, sorting, pressing, fermentation, barrel aging, and bottling. Zabala’s orchards provide most apples, with natural fermentation using wild yeasts influenced by weather and lunar cycles.

During the tour, guests sample ciders from barrels and bottles, moving from younger to older varieties to explore evolving aromas and flavors. Zabala also produces Sagar Blue, a cider made with locally cultivated hops. The experience offers an authentic insight into Basque cider craftsmanship.

Includes

• Round-trip transportation from San Sebastián city center
• Guided cider house tour
• Traditional Basque cider tasting
• Traditional Txotx experience (cider directly from the barrel)
• Access to cider production facilities
• Reservation for the traditional Basque course meal

Excludes

• Traditional Basque cider house meal (approximately €45–50 per person, payable at the restaurant)
• Optional tasting of specialty products (if applicable)
• Optional private guide

Important Information

• The Txotx experience involves sampling cider directly from the barrel during service.
• The cider house meal is not included in all tour fees.
• After booking, we coordinate with you and the cider house to confirm the tour date and time; please allow time for confirmation.

Easy Cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

For the best experience, bring comfortable walking shoes and arrive prepared for outdoor orchard visits. Tours typically take place before lunch or dinner.