Cantine Aperte (Basilicata)

Cantine Aperte (Basilicata) is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Basilicata calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year. It is held at Wineries across the Vulture in Matera and Tarsia areas of Basilicata, in the heart of one of Italy's most distinctive wine areas. It has been running since 1993, with a long unbroken local tradition behind it. Italy's biggest open-cellar event, organised by the Movimento Turismo del Vino. On the last Sunday of May each year, more than 20,000 wineries across Italy open their doors for tastings, vineyard tours and producer-led events. The Basilicata chapter coordinates participating estates in the area, giving visitors a chance to meet winemakers and taste current and library vintages directly at the cellar. Cantine Aperte is the entry point of Italian wine tourism for many visitors, giving direct access to producers who are otherwise hard to visit without prior arrangement. Most participating wineries offer free or low-cost tastings, with optional paid masterclass sessions, vineyard walks and food pairings. The atmosphere is informal and the focus is on direct producer contact rather than large-scale events. Visitors typically plan a route covering 3-5 wineries across a single day, often combining cellar visits with stops at local restaurants or food producers in the same area. The event functions both as a commercial opportunity for the wineries and as a community celebration, drawing returning visitors year after year. The event is organised by Movimento Turismo del Vino, which sets the tone and direction of the programme each year. Basilicata's most important wine is Aglianico del Vulture DOCG, a structured red grown on volcanic soils around the extinct Mount Vulture in the north of the region. The wines are among southern Italy's most age-worthy reds, often compared to Taurasi (also Aglianico-based) for their structure and longevity. The Matera DOC and other smaller appellations support a small but quality-focused wine scene. The 2026 edition is scheduled for 31 May 2026 (last Sunday of May). Entry is free, with optional paid tasting passes or guided sessions available on site. Full programme, ticketing and updated information are published on the official site at https://www.movimentoturismovino.it/it/cantine-aperte. Visitors are advised to check directly with the organiser for the latest schedule, as Italian festival programmes are sometimes updated close to the event date. Basilicata is reached via Bari (in neighbouring Puglia), Naples or Potenza, with Matera — the UNESCO-listed cave-dwelling city — as the most popular tourism base. The Vulture wine area sits in the north of the region, around 90 minutes from both Bari and Naples. Lucanian cuisine pairs the wines with peperoni cruschi (dried Senise peppers), salsiccia lucana, lagane e ceci, podolica beef, and pecorino di Filiano cheese.