Cantine Aperte (Campania)

Cantine Aperte (Campania) is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Campania calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year. It is held at Wineries across Irpinia in Sannio, 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 Campania 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. Campania's wine culture rests on ancient varieties cultivated since Greek and Roman times: Aglianico (the structured red of Taurasi DOCG and Aglianico del Taburno), Fiano (Fiano di Avellino DOCG), Greco (Greco di Tufo DOCG), Falanghina, Coda di Volpe and Piedirosso. Volcanic terroirs around Vesuvius and the Irpinia hills give the wines distinctive minerality. The region also includes the dramatic vineyard landscape of the Costa d'Amalfi and the islands of Capri and Ischia. 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. Campania is reached via Naples (Capodichino airport, central rail station with high-speed connections to Rome). Wine festival visits combine naturally with Campania's exceptional cultural offerings: Pompeii and Herculaneum, the Amalfi Coast, Capri, Ischia, the Royal Palace of Caserta, the Greek temples of Paestum. Neapolitan cuisine pairs the wines with pizza, ragu napoletano, mozzarella di bufala, sfogliatelle and the granita-based desserts of the south.