Marco Manfrini was the first Italian to become an accredited Pommelier through the Beer and Cider Academy in 2019. Since 2011 Marco Manfrini has worked in the sector of the production of grapes, apples, wine and beer. Since 2019 he has been working as a consultant in various environments of cider advocacy, collaborating with producers, retailers, publishers, training institutions and various competitions and festivals. Marco is the president and founder of the Associazione Pommelier e Assaggiatori di Sidro (Association of Pommelier & Cider Tasters) Beginning in 2023, he has been coordinating with other volunteers of the Council to create various activities to promote Italian cider throughout the country.

Attentive to healthy eating, an athlete, and a supporter of the importance of biodiversity, as well as reducing food waste, Monika Sut dedicates herself to researching and promoting sustainable drinks both for health and the environment. Not particularly fond of the high alcohol content of wine, and the bitter taste of beer, Monika turned to cider: not an easy journey, however, given the scarcity of information and options in her country, Italy.

Awareness of these difficulties, combined with the desire to spread cider culture in Italy, has led Monika to work on creating a place – in the Italian language – accessible to enthusiasts, the curious, and the creative, with all the necessary information to discover an extra alternative when it comes to drinking.

Cider is on par with wine and beer; everyone should have the opportunity to approach and choose this product. Precisely to promote and tell the story of cider, Monika decided to become a Certified Pommelier.

Her commitment is focused on communication (to disseminate information and involve as many people as possible) and continuous training, to inspire the public and improve their experience with cider. She also collaborates with “Sidro and Cider”, the only online shop in Italy dedicated to cider, to expand the cider market and bring it to the tables of homes and establishments.