This week we’ve got the very finest of festivals for you,
celebrating one of Italy’s very finest products: WINE. We thought we’d post
this one a bit in advance of the sagra itself, just in case anyone felt the
overwhelming urge to hop on a plane and find their way to Italia for Cantine Aperte on May 30th-31st.
Cantine Aperte means “open cellars” and this Italian festival
of wine really does do what it says on the metaphorical tin. All across the
country, some of Italy’s finest wineries open their cellars to the public. It
is organised by the Movimento Turismo del Vino or “Wine Tourism Movement” (yes,
it is a real thing…) and has been happening every year since 1993.
What happens during Cantine Aperte will vary from region to
region, but almost always involves a tour of the vineyards and wineries, a peek
at the cellars, with an explanation of how everything works, and the
opportunity to taste and buy some of the finest wines in the world. Some places
also offer special admissions where you can eat as well and even enjoy al
fresco entertainment. It has become a key time for local communities, who
organise a variety of cultural, artistic, and folklore-based events along the
wine festivities.
One of the joys of Cantine Aperte is that it is just as
popular with locals as it is with tourists. According to the Movimento Turismo del Vino’s website, “Cantine Aperte” has evolved over the years to be far more
than just a wine festival, it has become a philosophy, denoting a way of
travelling and discovering more of Italy and its wine territories. Year on year
it attracts more tourists and wine-lovers from all over the globe. Unlike
Vinitaly in Verona, this is not an event aimed at sommeliers and wine
professionals, but at wine enthusiasts – a chance for winemakers to share their
lives’ work with others.
Cantine Aperte is generally free and there is no need to
reserve so if any of you decide to call in sick on Friday 29th and
get yourself over Tuscany, we won’t judge…
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