Carrazeda de Ansiães: an active part of Europe’s apple and cider culture

Carrazeda de Ansiães, located in the historic subregion of Alto Douro (northern Portugal), is a municipality with a rich agricultural and cultural tradition. With an area of approximately 279 km² and about 5,490 inhabitants, it is composed of 14 parishes, where landmarks such as the Castle of Ansiães and the Romanesque Church of São Salvador de Ansiães stand out.

In addition to wine and olive oil, the apple has become an essential crop: the municipality dedicates more than 700 hectares to its cultivation, consolidating its key role in the local economy. This importance is reflected in the annual Feira da Maçã, do Vinho e do Azeite, which combines music, gastronomy and cultural activities, offering an attractive showcase for producers and visitors.

Since 2017, Sidra Alfa has stood out, a natural cider made exclusively from apple juice, with no additives or added sugars. This project has been awarded on several occasions in competitions such as the SISGA and other international contests, strengthening local cider innovation.

Carrazeda de Ansiães is a member of the European Network of Cider and Apple Cities (Cider Cities), an initiative that connects municipalities around apple and cider culture. In addition, it participates in the CIDEREU program, presented to the European Union, which promotes economic, cultural, and tourism development based on apple and cider production.

Carrazeda de Ansiães emerges as a benchmark in cider and apple production in the Atlantic European landscape: rooted in its land, open to innovation and a protagonist in continental collaboration networks.