It has been 22 years since José Manuel Álvarez (Tinéu, 1964) decided to settle in El Cerillero and ride El Paneru. At 54 years of age, he looks back and remembers how sacrificed this business is, but that did not stop him from enjoying his family and his other great passion, the rallies. In addition, he prefers to stay with the good times and with all those people who throughout this time passed by there.
How did you start in the world of cider bars?
I was about fifteen years old and worked at the Campiello Bar. Then I learned to pour cider by raising the bottle and serving icider glasses all time. Then I went through another two or three businesses before deciding to take care of El Paneru in 1996.
What memories do you have of all these years?
Many, both good and bad, but we have to stay with the good ones and, most importantly, with the people who passed by, and to whom we have to thank for having supported and trusted us. This is a very sacrificial world, which has you tied up, but I was able to enjoy my family and run with my son in rallies. At the beginning we ran together, but when he turned 18 we started competing separately and I will continue to do it until I can.
