Cantine Aperte (Lombardia)

Cantine Aperte (Lombardia) is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Lombardy calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year. It is held at Multiple wineries across Franciacorta in Valtellina, 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 Lombardia 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. Lombardy spans an unusually wide range of wine styles within a single administrative region. Franciacorta produces Italy's most respected traditional-method sparkling wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Nero. Valtellina makes Alpine Nebbiolo (locally Chiavennasca) on steep terraced slopes along the Adda valley. Oltrepo Pavese is Italy's largest Pinot Nero plantation and a major source of Pinot Nero spumante. The Garda area, including Lugana DOC, completes a varied regional picture. 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. Lombardy is reached via Milan (Linate or Malpensa airports, central rail links), Brescia or Bergamo. Wine tourism in the region splits between Franciacorta (around Lake Iseo, an hour from Milan), Valtellina (near the Swiss border, reached via train through the Adda valley), Oltrepo Pavese (south of Milan in Pavia province) and the Garda lakefront (Lugana). Milan itself is the natural urban base for visits combining wine, design, fashion and Italian gastronomy.