A Talgarth company that’s striving to restore the connection between land and produce to put Wales on the map as a top food and drink destination has been recognised for sustainability.

Sobremesa Drinks, based in Talgarth, won the Excellence in Sustainability Award, sponsored by Welsh Government, at the prestigious Powys Business Awards 2025 held at The Hafren, Newtown on Friday, 17 October.

Organised by Mid Wales Manufacturing Group, the awards showcase the diverse range of successful enterprises within Powys.

A multi-disciplinary enterprise, Sobremesa Drinks creates terroir-driven, farmhouse beers and natural ciders on the edge of Bannau Brycheiniog, as well as growing organic soft fruits to flavour drinks. When it comes to cider making, nothing is added or taken away. All the company’s ciders are wild fermented, unfiltered, unfined and unpasteurised with no added sulphites.

“We feel very privileged to receive this award because we are a relatively new company,” said Adrián Morales Maillo, founder and chief executive of Sobremesa Drinks who runs the business with his partner, Alys. The award comes close to their daughter Eylo’s first birthday.

“The award means a lot to us because it was a challenge coming from another country – Spain – and setting up a business in a rural area, but we have been made to feel very welcome in our community.”

The company handpicks all its apples from unsprayed orchards near its premises in Talgarth and is one of the few current breweries using only British malts and hops and also incorporating Welsh ancient grains.

Sobremesa Drinks works with a circular economy model - growing its own organic fruit which is used within the drinks and turning the sub-product into a tasty cracker which is served with cheese and charcuterie boards at the company’s Tap Room.

The innovative ‘beer cracker’ is the result of support from the Zero2Five team at Cardiff Metropolitan University and collaboration with Cradoc's Savoury Biscuits, Brecon, Halen Mȏn sea salt from Anglesey and rapeseed oil from Pembrokeshire Gold.

Further collaboration has also seen the company work with Câr-y-Môr and Halen Môn to make beers with seaweed and salt and spent Solaris grapes from Dell Vineyard are used to create a skin contact beer - fermenting a beer with the addition of grape or other fruit skins.

Adrián and Alys also grow 800 plants organically on land at Racquety Farm near Hay-on-Wye, which provide a range of hand-picked berries and rhubarb used to flavour the company’s drinks.

Sobremesa Drinks has also created a ‘Welsh heritage’ series of ciders that celebrate apples native to Wales that have been at risk of disappearing.

“The award will allow us to give Sobremesa Drinks the recognition it deserves as the leading producer of new and exciting beers and ciders in Bannau Brycheiniog,” added Adrián.

“We know that the area around Talgarth has a long history of producing cider. Therefore, we strive to restore this connection between land and produce in order to put Wales on the map as a top food and drink destination.

“The award will help us achieve our long-term goal of playing a part in changing the current food system by making drinks in a more sustainable way that prioritises short supply chains, local produce and the Welsh terroir.”

The award judges said: “Sobremesa Drinks is a truly inspiring example of how embedding circular economy principles can drive innovation and business success whilst aligning with heritage and demonstrating community impact.”