Radici del Sud (Puglia)

Radici del Sud (Puglia) is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Puglia calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year. It is held at Castello Normanno-Svevo in Sannicandro di Bari, in the heart of one of Italy's most distinctive wine areas. The festival has been running since 2005 and reaches its 22th edition in 2026, giving it one of the longer track records among Italian wine events of its kind. Puglia's flagship contribution to the southern Italian wine and olive oil show held in Bari each June. The host region, Puglia presents its Primitivo di Manduria, Negroamaro, Salice Salentino, Castel del Monte and Itria Valley wines alongside the major olive oil producers of the region. Six days of programming combine producer tours, trade-focused sessions and a public day with awards for the Southern Italian Wine Competition. Italian wine trade fairs are the most efficient way to taste a broad cross-section of producers in a short time. Attendees can expect organised tasting halls grouped by appellation, masterclass programmes with guest speakers, sommelier-led sessions on individual grape varieties, and structured opportunities to meet producers. Most major events are reserved for trade visitors — buyers, importers, sommeliers, journalists, restaurateurs — but include public-facing days or evenings during the run of the event. The events have grown into key fixtures of the international wine industry calendar, with several Italian fairs now drawing buyers from over 60 countries. The event is organised by Radici del Sud / Propago, which sets the tone and direction of the programme each year. Puglia is the heel of Italy and the country's largest red wine producer by volume, dominated by Primitivo (related to American Zinfandel) and Negroamaro. The major appellations include Primitivo di Manduria, Salice Salentino, Castel del Monte, Brindisi, Squinzano and the Locorotondo whites of the Itria Valley. Strong investments in modern winemaking and wine tourism infrastructure have raised the region's profile substantially over the past two decades. The 2026 edition is scheduled for 3-8 June 2026. Cost details: Paid (entry fee for public day). Full programme, ticketing and updated information are published on the official site at https://www.radicidelsud.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. Puglia is reached via Bari or Brindisi airports, with the Itria Valley and the Salento as the main wine tourism bases. A festival visit combines naturally with Puglia's distinctive trulli architecture in Alberobello, the Baroque centre of Lecce, the cliffside city of Polignano a Mare, and the mosaic floors of Otranto cathedral. Apulian cuisine pairs the wines with orecchiette al ragu, burrata, fave e cicoria, panzerotti, and Adriatic seafood. The region offers strong value compared with Tuscany and Veneto.