Traditional Cider House Tour | Zabala, San Sebastián

Discover the art of Basque cider-making on a guided tour from San Sebastián. Visit a traditional cider house, learn about the cider-making process, and enjoy a tasting of several ciders.
Discover Craft Basque Cider at Zabala
Zabala is a family-run sagardotegia where visitors can experience Basque cider culture from orchard to table. With more than 200 years of family history, Zabala is known for its dedication to natural cider, local apples, and careful small-scale production.

The guided tour takes place before lunch or dinner and introduces the history of the cider house, the family story, the apple orchards, and the full cider-making process—from harvesting, washing, sorting, and pressing the apples to fermentation, barrel aging, and bottling. Visits can be offered in Basque, Spanish, or English, and include the cellar, barrels, press, grill, and both the old and new dining rooms.

Zabala owns thousands of apple trees and places great importance on making cider from its own apples whenever the harvest allows. The cider is naturally fermented with wild yeasts, and decisions such as fermentation and bottling are made carefully, taking into account the weather, climate, and even the moon. During the tour, guests taste several ciders from barrels and bottles, usually moving from younger cider to older cider to appreciate the changes in aroma and character.

Alongside its traditional natural cider, Zabala also produces Sagar Blue, a distinctive cider made with hops found and cultivated on their own land. Authentic, intimate, and full of family character, Zabala offers a deeply personal look into Basque cider craftsmanship.

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.

This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.