Cantine Aperte (Marche) is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Marche calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year. It is held at Wineries across Castelli di Jesi in Conero, 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 Marche 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.
Marche is best known for Verdicchio, made in two distinct DOCs: Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi (the larger, near the Adriatic coast) and Verdicchio di Matelica (smaller, inland, with a different style). Both have Riserva DOCGs above. The region also produces the powerful Conero DOCG and Rosso Piceno reds from Montepulciano and Sangiovese, alongside sparkling Verdicchio. Marche wines offer strong value compared with neighbouring Tuscany and Umbria.
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.
Marche is reached via Ancona airport or by train along the Adriatic coast from Bologna or Pescara. The Castelli di Jesi area sits in the hills above Ancona, with Cupramontana and Jesi as practical bases for Verdicchio-focused visits. Marche cuisine pairs the wines with vincisgrassi (the local lasagne), olive ascolane (deep-fried stuffed olives from Ascoli Piceno), brodetto (Adriatic fish stew) and the local pecorinos. The region offers a quieter wine tourism experience than Tuscany or Umbria.
