Where to Find the Best Cheese and Cider in Asturias

Did you know that Asturias produces 80% of Spain's cider!? Throw a stone and you'll find cider and delicious cheeses in Northern Spain, especially in the region of Asturias.

Sandwiched between Galicia to the west and Cantabria to the east, the region of Asturias is known for its greenery, breathtaking ocean cliffs, and mountainous peaks like that of the Picos de Europa.

Because of it's unique climate, namely cool and wet most of the year, it makes for ideal cheese aging conditions - especially in the depths of the many caves dotting the area.

The climate also yields the need for cozy home cooked meals, filling and warming for the weather. Hearty feasts of fabada (bean and sausage soup), cachopo (breaded schnitzel-like meat), and massive platters of cod fish, croquettes and jamón and cheese are the accompanying products to a true cider experience.

Together, cider and cheese have their place in Asturias, and they are absolutely worth seeking out from the source while you visit.

I'd have to do an intensive map search to note down every queseria (cheese shop) and sidreria (cider house) between Basque Country and Galicia, so instead I've rounded up some promising contenders. Note I haven't visited all of these, but share thoughts on the ones I have indeed seen first hand, as well as sharing ones on my 'next time' list.

Let's dive in below to learn more about where to sample cheese, take cheese tours (including farms and cheese caves!), as well as where to have a great sidreria experience and meal with cider tasting.

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Sample Cheese in Asturias

Often served in a variety plate accompanied with a dulce de manzana, which is a fruit spread, the cheese in Asturias ranges from aged and hard cheeses to soft and nutty, all the way to the king of stinky cheeses - Cabrales.

Cueva del Queso de Cabrales

This unique tour and museum is the best opportunity tourists may have to see a cheese cave up close. Because of the nature of the aging process, most cheese caves are inaccessible so as not to disturb the cheese.

At the Cueva del Queso de Cabrales (the Cabrales cheese cave), you will get to explore with interactive exhibits and videos, as well as visit a real cheese cave.

The tour ends with a tasting and cider.

Visitors cost 5 euros per person, with little kids being free. Tours last about 45 minutes. Tickets and reservations are not required in advance, but a call ahead is a good idea, especially in peak tourist season.

More info here: https://www.fundacioncabrales.com/cueva-exposicion/

Quesería Picurriellu

Minutes from Llanes, find an adorable cheese farm where you can take a tour of the farm and factory, along with a tasting. It's available most days of the week (except for Mondays) during the summer months from July to mid September.

Reach out directly to arrange anything outside those times and dates.

More info here: https://queseriapicurriellu.com/visita-guiada-queseria/

Queseria Main

Located in Sotres, seasonal visits allow for one of the most immersive cheese cave experiences on offer in Asturias.

Queseria Main has been awarded numerous times in the World Cheese Awards (which is a thing, and I need a ticket to attend), and for good reason.

Their tour, tasting and cave experiences is extremely popular and includes a visit to the actual cheese cave, a tour around their cheese factory, and a unique tasting at their farm house.

Unfortunately, I missed their tour openings by a couple of weeks being in the area in early April. They have dates available on their website after Easter.

Their website indicates that a visit is not recommended for children under 6 years old, due to the dangerous nature of the cave conditions. The cost is 11.50 euros per person.

More info here: https://quesosdecabrales.es/home/

Map of cheeses in Spain

Leche Leche Farm Tours

For something different, take a tour of the cow farm at Leche Leche and feed milk to the cows or even milk the cows!! Sample cheese and other milk products after the tour, which lasts 2.5-3 hours.

More information here: https://www.lecheleche.com/actividades/

Here's a couple more cheesy ideas for you:

• Ruta'L Quesu Y La Sidra

• Queliama Cheese Cave

Interested in more stories about cheese and such? Check out my post on Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese tours in Parma Italy.

Fly to Asturias on Vueling Airlines

From numerous cities across Spain, or even from London for as little as 15 euros per person!

Check the flights on offer

Fly into Oviedo for ultimate convenience in the heart of Asturias!

Have a Sidreria Experience

Cider houses are traditionally very casual, with giant casks lining the walls of a convivial dining space, where long benches allow you to make fast friends with those around you.

Cider is poured from three feet high into your glass, whether by your waiter or bartender, or straight from the cask on the wall.

There's also tableside machines that squirt out the perfect pour, which is a small gulp, meant to be taken in one swig.

Never let your cider sit. Slosh it down in one go.

If you are having a proper cider experience, you will no doubt need to get your stretchy pants on. There will be a lot of food.

Giant cachopo to share

Below I've rounded up some great places from traditional and adorable to casual neighborhood hangs where you can have a proper cider experience.

There are places to simply sample cider, but these are mostly restaurants and bars, so as to savor the whole experience as a proper Asturian.

Near Llanes

• Restaurant Casa Poli

• Sidreria Llagar Cabañón - Vegastur

• Casa Xico

• El romano bar

Near Canga de Onis

• Sidreria La Caldera

• La Sifonería

• Sidreria La Cueva

• Sidreria Moreno

• El Polesu

Near Luarca

• La Solarina

My Experiences with Cider in Asturias (and beyond)

I had the pleasure of dining at Restaurant Casa Poli and popped into El Polesu on my latest adventures.

I've also enjoyed cider in my part-time home in Zaragoza at Sidreria Begiris and Portal Asturiano. You'll see further examples of typical Cider House fare in the pictures below.

Museo de la Sidra

Learn more about cider at the Museum of Cider! Click here for more information.

Taking Your Cider Home

While you may want to stock up on cider to take home with you, it's kind of one of those 'drink it while you're in Spain' souvenirs. You don't want any effervescent explosions in the plane's cargo hold because of your cider.

That said, if you plan to travel around by car or train for a bit, absolutely consider getting yourself some luggage for the occasion. I often suggest my trusty 12-bottle wine suitcase, but that may be overkill here.

Instead, head over to the same brand's website at Vinegardevalise.com, and look for their 2-bottle carrier or their rolling 5-bottle Piccolo case.

Grab your Vin2Go case at Vingardevalise.com

These are great options for securely lugging your cider souvenirs around (until you drink them of course!), and then you have room for bringing home Spanish vermouth or a nice bottle of Garnacha when you travel home. If you use the link above or the code ALWAYS20 at check out, I can get you 20% off.

Added Bonus: Wineries to Visit

If you are into cider and cheese, it's a good bet you also like wine. While not a well known wine region, there's still Bodegas (wineries) to visit.

Here's two to whet your whistle on a Northern Spain road trip.

Bodega Monasterio de Corias

Learn about verdejo negro, the red variety of the more classically known verdejo (white wine). There, also discover the other four native varietals of grape native to Asturias, including Albarín blanco, Albarín negro and Carrasquín.

Bodegas y Viñedos Miradorio de Ruiloba

They offer tours and tastings, or you can drop in for a drink at their wine bar. There is also an option for a wine pairing meal.

Interested in more wine tasting information in Spain? Check out my write up on Wine Tasting Along Spain's Somontano Wine Route.

Attend a Private Dinner Party in Asturias

Lastly, for the foodies and oenophiles still reading, have you considered doing something off the wall for your Asturian travels?

For an Even More Unique Culinary Experience, book a private dinner party in Asturias.

EatWith is a trusted program that I work with who hosts meals all over the world. Often in people's homes or private semi-professional kitchens, they'll whip up feasts with local ingredients, host farm to table dining, offer market visits and cooking classes, and so on.

Near Gijon, there are two such dinner experiences available:

• Asturian fusion in a secret location. It's a clandestine meeting of travelers with wine and cider included.

  
  

• Your chef for this dinner party is a traveler bringing home Arabic, Indian and Asian dishes infused with Asturian traditional home cooking.

Before you go to your dinner party, be sure to brush up on 8 Facts and Misconceptions About Eating in Spain.

All in all, there are many wonderful culinary experiences in Asturias, but cheese and cider definitely take the cake. Enjoy and buen provecho!