069: Marlene Sofia Sousa Araújo |Araújo Monte, Portugal

Araújo Monte, Lda is Portugal's first commercial cidery for the country that borders Spain and its million of Sidra drinking fans. Marlene Sofia Sousa Araújo whom I speak to in this chat, with the help of Anzu Fernandez as translator, was trained to be a scientist. When she and Patrícia Araújo Monte entered into a contest for entrepreneurs and decided to look at making cider as part of this project, they had no idea that they would win. With the winnings they received basic infrastructure to help launch the cidery along with help for specialist such as enologist (winemakers). Today the cidery has three partners, Marlene,  Patrícia and Pedro Miguel Bravo de Faria Marlene has been making cider since 2011. She received her degree in Biotechnology at Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo [IPVC] thinking she was headed for a career in science. So suffice to say, she didn't plan on becoming a cidermaker. Araújo Monte, Lda is a costal cidery. They are currently using all sorts of apples and are trying to distinguish which ones create the correct blend. Currently the main apples used are culinary or table apples. They cidery uses steel tanks. With winemaking so prominent in Portugal they use wine yeast. The first cider they made is called Corrupia 6.0% alcoho by volume Since I spoke to Marlene they now have a new cider on the market called "Cider Sparkling Corrupia" (7.0%) Who are the cider drinkers in Portugal? That remains to be seen who will be the cider drinkers in Portugal. Right now they are looking to the drinkers who look outside of the box. Attending the International Hall of Gala Ciders was one of the key reasons why Marlene and Patrícia traveled to Asturias so that they could get a better understanding of the market worldwide. The Portuguese wine cultural is dominant and Araújo Monte has a big task ahead of them to win over their country's thirst. Who governs cider in Portugal? It falls under the wine label…sort of. Right now it looks like "Araújo Monte really doesn't have any limitations because they are setting the standard in Portugal for cider." There are no limitation on the alcohol level because it is the first cidery in Portugal. Contact info for Araújo Monte Address:  Old Cooperative of Estorãos Place of Tenães Nº 5 4990-590 Estorãos -bridge From Lima Telephone +351924404831. Where can their cider be found, besides going to Araújo Monte. Shops in Lisbon Porto Bridge from Lima Viana do Castelo. Follow this cidery on the Facebook page for Sidra Minho Ask for the following 6 #CiderGoingUP Campaign cider supporters - By supporting these cider makers, you in turn help Ciderville. Kurant Cider - Pennsylvania : listen to Joe Getz on episode 14 Big Apple Hard Cider - NYC : listen to Danielle von Scheiner on episode 35 Oliver's Cider and Perry - Herefordshire/UK ; listen to Tom Oliver on episode 29 Santa Cruz Cider Company - California : listen to Nicole Todd on episode 60 Ethic Ciders - California Albermale CiderWorks : listen to Chuck Shelton on episode 56 Go to this page to see the ciderchat.com show notes page with photos Please Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio and where ever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on twitter @ciderchat