Cantine Aperte a Natale (Molise) is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Molise calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year.
Cantine Aperte a Natale is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Molise calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year. Held at participating wineries across Molise, it is the December edition of the Movimento Turismo del Vino calendar, with a consistent place in the regional programme.
What to expect
Producers across the Biferno valley and the Isernia hills open their doors for Christmas-period tastings of Tintilia, Montepulciano-Aglianico blends, and a small but growing range of whites. It's a practical option for choosing festive wines directly from producers, often paired with seasonal Molisan specialities.
Most wineries offer free or low-cost tastings, with optional paid masterclasses, vineyard walks and food pairings. The atmosphere is informal, with the focus on direct producer contact rather than large-scale events. Visitors typically plan a route of three to five wineries in a day, combining cellar visits with stops at local restaurants. The event is organised by Movimento Turismo del Vino Molise.
About the Molise region
Molise is one of Italy's smallest and least-known wine regions, sitting between Abruzzo and Puglia. Its flagship is Tintilia del Molise DOC (DOC since 2011) — an indigenous red grape that nearly went extinct before its 1990s revival. Other production centres on Biferno DOC and Pentro di Isernia DOC, built on Montepulciano, Aglianico, Trebbiano Toscano and Bombino Bianco. Molise was part of Abruzzo until 1963 and only began bottling under its own name in the 1980s.
Dates and practical information
The 2026 edition is scheduled for weekends in December 2026 (dates to be confirmed). Entry is free, with optional paid tasting passes or guided sessions on site. The full programme and updates are published at. Check directly with the organiser for the latest schedule, as Italian festival programmes are sometimes updated close to the event date.
Getting there and local cuisine
Molise is reached most easily by car, with Termoli on the Adriatic coast as a popular entry point and Campobasso inland. The region rewards quiet exploration: the Roman ruins of Saepinum, the Lombard castle of Bagnoli del Trigno, the medieval villages of Civitacampomarano and Larino, and Termoli's historic seafront. Local cuisine pairs robustly with the wines — cavatelli with pork ragù, pampanella (spicy roast pork), scamorza molisana, and the slow-cooked sheep stew known as pezzata.
