Last weekend in Santiago, Chile, I was invited by a dear friend to what I thought was a little pop-up event where there’d be homemade cider for sale. Little did I know that the night would turn into something much more, for a cause that made spending so many Chilean pesos completely worthwhile. What began as a simple afternoon of cider tasting would grow into a packed community event in a historic casa in the heart of Santiago.
A Homey Gathering with a Bigger Purpose
After meeting my friend at a local feria in central Santiago, we walked along the old city blocks in the heat of the summer sun. Barrio Matta Sur, as my friend explained to me, is a historic neighborhood, built for working-class families generations ago, home to factories, workshops, and artistry. Far from more tourist-heavy areas like Lastarria, this neighborhood felt quiet, filled mostly with brick, metal-roofed homes, completely authentic in character.
Reaching our destination, we knocked on a tall, narrow wooden set of double doors. Our host soon answered, and while my friend knew her previously, this was my first time to meet the owner of the local small-batch cider company, Sidra Santiago. A bubbly woman with endless warmth, Tanja greeted both of us as family and welcomed us inside what felt less like a private home and more like a small creative hub. As she showed us around, her blue sundress flowed around her, catching a breeze coming in from an open-air courtyard in the center of this beautiful home.
Tall paneled windows rose up between this home’s central hallway and the open courtyard that took up the entire center of the home, with a metal staircase leading up to a rooftop. We passed by huge barrels, which I learned are used to make the small-batch cider this business is known for. Rustic charm enveloped us as we moved to the kitchen, lined on one side by a brick wall with tasteful decorations. We were among the first to arrive, so the ambience was calm and quiet, with a few other locals mingling in the spacious living room next to the courtyard.
The purpose of this event, called Cidra Solidaria, was to raise funds for those affected by the horrible wildfires that devastated large regions of central-south Chile this summer, in January 2026. The money raised would go to communities in Ñuble and Biobío, the regions hardest hit. I was more than happy to support those communities in whatever way I could, and enjoying drinks and food from local businesses seemed like a win-win.
Cider & Tapa Tasting
In the kitchen, we were offered our choice of cider. All of the ciders were made with apples, each with a unique set of flavors, some shades of yellow and others shades of pink. Our first glass of choice was just made by our host. It was a refreshing, light cider, not too heavy, and not too sweet. I tried my best not to gulp it down (I was thirsty from the heat) and instead savor the crisp flavors she’d worked hard to concoct.
As for the first tapa, it was a deliciously fresh open-faced sandwich, topped with a sweet garlic sauce and smoked salmon that was imported directly from Chilean Patagonia. A bit of bright green herbs on top, plus fresh lemon slices, made these tapas look tantalizing. It was a Swedish tapa, as we both learned, thanks to our host’s Swedish roots.
Our second glass of cider, accompanied only by a small plate of black grapes and ripe strawberries, was a touch sweeter, with notes of cinnamon. While pouring our ciders in the kitchen, I noticed a couple of people gift-wrapping cider bottles, carefully inscribing notes on the wrapping paper. Everywhere I looked, people were acting with such intention: the host emphatically greeting guests, the kitchen attendant ensuring each guest had a new cider to taste, the Peruvian chef preparing the next tapa of Peruvian causa de pollo.
Sunset on the Hammocked Rooftop
With a bottle of red cider in hand, my friend and I carefully walked up the steep stairs to the rooftop, where only a handful of other people were sipping cider and chatting warmly. The rooftop offered a pretty view of the Andean foothills to the north, and we overlooked the other low-rise homes with their metal roofs spreading out around us.
A few hammocks were tied up on the rooftop, so we snagged one and enjoyed conversation over our glasses of cider. We reflected on the unfortunate theme of the wildfires—unfortunate being an understatement. I learned of the fires while I was back in the United States and felt helpless watching videos of the raging flames and hearing stories of families forced to abandon their homes. On the other hand, though, we heard of heartwarming tales of survival, neighbors helping neighbors, and other countries sending volunteer firefighting forces to Chile.
In that moment, taking in the scenery of the historic Barrio Matta Sur and the sinking sun over the distant mountains, we felt grateful for all of the community there is to be found not only in Santiago, but in the country and even on the continent. I felt grateful for the opportunity to take a small part in a cause close to my heart.
The Power of One Guitarist
We’d heard rumors of a musician arriving later in the evening, and sure enough, just as the sun had gone down, melodic guitar strums floated up from the courtyard below. We headed down to check it out, and saw that dozens of people—ciders in hand—had gathered around the guitarist. The sight was charming: dim lighting, a brick backdrop, people sitting and standing around the musician.
He introduced each song; some were his own, others were soulful melodies by other artists. My Spanish isn’t perfect, but I heard him singing about themes of pain and love. Each song left a unique vibe hanging in the room after the last few notes ended, and his performance was simply mesmerizing. I felt lost in time and enchanted as if by a spell—or maybe the buzz from all the cider was doing all the work. Either way, it was a charming end to an intimate evening.
Santiago’s Community Coming Together
By the end of the night, the same courtyard and living space that felt so spacious before was full of community members who’d come together to support the cause of helping those in need from Chile’s recent wildfires. This beautifully historic home had come alive with voices of old friends and new faces, clinking glasses, and soulful songs.
In the end, Sidra Santiago raised over 400,000 Chilean pesos for the cause. Grassroots fundraisers like this one don’t singlehandedly rebuild towns, but they certainly contribute. And they provide us with something that’s perhaps more valuable: a reminder that when there’s a need, communities will show up to lend a hand.
