Italy's most famous wine event: Cantine Aperte

Movimento Turismo Vino Italia's nationwide event is undoubtedly Italy's best-known wine event. Since the first edition of 'Cantine Aperte' (open cellars) in 1993 (actually the start of wine tourism in Italy as we know it these days), it has grown into an annual wine festival where more than 6 million visitors are introduced to Italy's many hospitable wineries. Where only 25 wineries participated in 1993, nowadays over 20,000 wineries are opening their doors.

So when are the wine festivals in Italy?

Wine lovers who enjoy attending wine festivals and fairs would almost have a day job in Italy. During pretty much the whole year, there are plenty of opportunities to experience a wine festival or harvest festival.

Sometimes there is a wine festival to celebrate the start of the wine year. But usually the wine festivals (festa dell'Uva) are in autumn, to celebrate the harvest of the grapes with each other.

Below is the comprehensive calendar of all Italian wine festivals.

Movimento Turismo Vino's five national wine events are:

Cantine Aperte 2024

Date: 25 and 26 May 2024

The first wine event of the year, and also the wine festival that started it all, is 'Cantine Aperte'. On the last Sunday of May, this event attracts millions of wine lovers to the various wineries across Italy.

• Cantine Aperte on the Movimento Turismo del Vino Italia website
• Cantine Aperte on the Movimento Turismo del Vino Toscana website

Calici di Stelle 2024

Date: 10 August 2024

On the night of San Lorenzo (annually on 10 August), wine tastings are held under the stars during the wine festival 'Calici di Stelle'

Cantine Aperte in Vendemmia 2024

Date: varies by region/winery (in September and October 2024)

During harvest, 'Cantine Aperte in Vendemmia' offers a unique opportunity to discover the vineyards while picking the grapes.

Cantine Aperte a San Martino 2024

Date: between 4 and 12 November 2024

Several days in November during 'Cantine Aperte a San Martino', you can taste new wines from the latest harvest.

Cantine Aperte a Natale 2024

Date: varies by region/wine house (in December 2024)

To end the year, wine can be tasted in December (bought in for the December festive month) during the 'Cantine Aperte a Natale'.

Valdichiana Wine Festival 2024

See the website

Date: 4 & 5 May 2024

Location: Castiglion Fiorentino (Tuscany)

Sicily En Primeur

Festival website

Date: 7 - 11 May 2024

Location: Taormina

Porto Cervo Wine & Food Festival

Festival website

Date: 9 to 12 May 2024

Location: Porto Cervo (Sardinia)

A Roma / Oscar Champagne 2024 (Oscar del Vino)

Festival website

Date: 10 - 11 May 2024

Location: Roma

Nizza è Barbera

Festival website

Date: 11 - 12 May 2024

Location: Nizza Monferrato

Le Contrade dell’Etna

Festival website (Facebook)

Date: 11 - 13 May 2024

Location: Castiglione di Sicilia

Regina Ribelle - San Gimignano Wine Fest

Website Regina Ribelle - San Gimignano Wine Fest

Date: 16 to 19 May 2024

Location: San Gimignano

Barolo Boys in... fuorigioco - 2024

Festival website

Date: 17 & 18 May 2024

Location: Monforte d'Alba

Bologna Wine Week

Website Bologna Wine Week

Date: 17 to 19 May 2024

Location: Bologna

Pentecoste a Castellina

Festival website

Date: 17 - 19 May 2024

Location: Castellina in Chianti 

I Vini nel Castello

Festival website

Date: 18 & 19 May 2024

Location: Montefioralle

Via Vinaria Montecarlo 2024

Festival website

Date: 18 & 19 May 2024

Location: Montecarlo

Cantine Aperte 2024

Date: 25 & 26 May 2024

Website Movimento Turismo Vino

Location: national wine event

Mostra del Chianti Montespertoli

Festival website

Date: 28 May to 5 June 2024

Location: Montespertoli

Palio del Chiaretto 2024

Website Palio del Chiaretto

Date: 31 May to 2 June 2024

Location: Bardolino

Amontefalco, terra per il vino

Festival website

Date: 12 & 13 June 2024

Location: Montefalco

Sound Polis Cellae

Festival website

Date: 15 June 2024

Location: Valpolicella region (various locations)

Vinòforum

Website Vinòforum

Date: 17 to 23 June 2024

Location: Rome

Red Montalcino 2024

Website festival

Date: 21st June 2024

Location: Montalcino

Chianti Natural Festival 2024

Website festival

Date: 28 - 30 June 2024

Location: Radda in Chianti

Terre Sicane Wine Fest

Festival website

Date: 26 - 28 July 2024

Location: Parco dei Monti Sicani

Calici di Stelle

Date: 10 August 2024

Location: national wine event

Coriano Wine Festival

View website

Date: 17 & 18 August 2024

Location: Coriano

Wine festivals in 2025

Wine In Venice 2025

Visit festival website

Date: 31 January - 3 February 2025

Location: Venice

Recent wine festivals in 2023

Jazz & Wine in Montalcino

View website

Date: 18 - 23 July 2023

Location: Montalcino & Poggio alle Mura

Lamole under the Stars

View website

Date: 5th August 2023

Location: Lamole, Greve in Chianti

ViniMilo 2023

Visit festival website

Date: 28 August - 10 September 2023

Location: Milo

Festa del Vino di Montecarlo di Toscana

Festival website

Date: 31 August to 10 September 2023

Location: Montecarlo di Toscana

Festa dell'Uva di Castellarano

Festival website

Date: 14 to 17 September 2023

Location: Castellarano

UWine - UmbriaWine – Festival del Vino

Website UmbriaWine

Date: 15 - 17 September 2023

Location: Perugia

Franciacorta in Cantina Festival

Visit the Festival website

Date: 16 - 17 September 2023

Location: Franciacorta region

Oltrepò: Terra di Pinot Nero 2023

Festival website

Date: 25 September 2023

Location: Oltrepò Pavese

Grape Festival of Impruneta

Website of the Grape Festival

Date: 1 October 2023

Location: Impruneta (Florence)

i Sapori di San Martino

Date: 12 November 2023

Location: Collecorvino