Interview with Italian Apple Cider Producers: Sidro Vittoria

Who is Sidro Vittoria and What is Their Story?

Our cider is born from the ancient English tradition of Lord Scudamore (1601–1671), who, in the seventeenth century, helped transform a local artisanal product into a beverage appreciated on the tables of kings and lords, so much so that it was described by an Italian prince visiting Oxford as “Scudamore’s Wine.” The reputation of his sparkling ciders, precursors to the later French champagne, spread quickly, with enthusiastic testimonies of how they surpassed the best Spanish and French wines.

What Are the Characteristics of Your Cider and How Is It Different from Other Types of Cider?

In honor of “Scudamore’s Wine,” we chose to produce our ciders through the classic method.

We do not aim to revolutionize anything but only to respect excellent raw materials from the orchard to the cellar, seeking to achieve each year a product that increasingly approaches the traditional idea of cider: a balanced, complex apple wine that we hope is also a bit surprising.

Which Apples Do You Use to Produce It?

Ancient varieties of Italian apples such as:

• Campanina
• Calamana Trevisana
• Limoncella
• Renetta del Canadà Also, English cider apple varieties planted in our orchards in Vigo di Cadore.

How Is Your Cider Received Nationally and Internationally?

So far, we have recorded good feedback from both the Italian and international markets. We have received several recognitions, and our cider is available in Italy and some countries abroad like Portugal.

How Do You See the Cider Market Today?

It is definitely a growing market. It remains a niche, but more and more customers, especially young people, are approaching this beverage.

Is There Room for Innovations and to “Reinvent Cider” in a Modern Key?

Like all sectors of food and wine, it is a balance between tradition and innovation. For us, innovation consists of working in respect of nature and the millenary tradition of cider. We aim, over time, to reduce rather than add, aiming to obtain products that are increasingly pure with minimal intervention in the cellar.

Is Cider a Niche Beverage in a Country Like Italy Where Wine Dominates?

Cider is certainly a niche beverage. Those who discover it, at least in our experience, tend to be fascinated and surprised by it.

Cider Drinker Profile: Who Is the Cider Lover According to You?

A curious person with an open mind who tends to listen to their taste buds before their preconceptions.

Do Young People Today Drink Cider?

Increasingly so. Young people tend to be naturally more curious and open-minded. They also don’t have pre-established archetypes that prevent them from trying new experiences.

Cider and Craft Beer: Competition and Rivalry or Do They Get Along?

We tend to see cider more like wine than beer. The production technique and the nature of the product itself (a fruit ferment, not grains) make it extremely akin to wine, just like in 17th-century England, perhaps the peak of this product’s expression. That said, today consumers are increasingly “omnivorous” and switch between wine, beer, and cider more frequently without focusing on a specific product. In summary, there is space for everyone.

Where Can You Buy Sidro Vittoria?

At selected wine shops, restaurants, and retailers, as well as on our website: Sidro Vittoria Shop