Cantine Aperte a San Martino (Calabria)

Cantine Aperte a San Martino (Calabria) is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Calabria calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year. The festival is held at Participating wineries across Calabria, in the heart of the Calabria wine area. It is an annual event with an established local audience and a consistent place in the regional calendar. November edition of the Movimento Turismo del Vino's nationwide programme, timed to Festa di San Martino — the traditional moment when the previous year's wines are first opened. Wineries in Calabria pour the new vintage alongside roasted chestnuts and seasonal local cooking. 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. Calabria produces wines from Gaglioppo (Ciro DOC), Magliocco, Greco Bianco, Greco di Bianco (the rare sweet wine appellation) and other native varieties. The Ciro appellation is one of the oldest documented wine areas in the world, with winemaking referenced in ancient Greek texts. The region has strong potential and a growing wine tourism scene, but smaller international recognition than its southern Italian neighbours. The 2026 edition is scheduled for Weekend nearest 11 November 2026 (Festa di San Martino). 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/. 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. Calabria is reached via Lamezia Terme, Reggio Calabria or Crotone airports. The Ciro wine area sits on the Ionian coast in the centre-east of the region, while other appellations are spread across the broader regional area. Calabrian cuisine pairs the wines with 'nduja (the spreadable spicy salami), spicy soppressata, pecorino crotonese, swordfish, sardines, and the Calabrian chili pepper that runs through much of regional cooking.