Cantine Aperte (Umbria) is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Umbria calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year. It is held at Wineries across Montefalco in Orvieto, 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 Umbria 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.
Umbria is best known for Sagrantino di Montefalco — one of Italy's most tannic indigenous red wines — and for Orvieto's blended whites from Trebbiano Toscano (locally Procanico), Grechetto and other varieties. Other appellations include Torgiano, Trasimeno and Spoleto, and the region offers a less crowded wine tourism experience than neighbouring Tuscany. Sagrantino, in particular, has gained significant international recognition over the past two decades.
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.
Umbria is reached via Rome, Florence or Perugia airports. Assisi, Perugia, Orvieto and Spoleto are the main tourist bases. The Sagrantino zone of Montefalco sits centrally between Perugia and Spoleto. Umbrian cuisine pairs the wines with cinghiale al Sagrantino (wild boar), strangozzi al tartufo (handmade pasta with Umbrian black truffles), porchetta, and the regional pecorinos. Umbria offers a quieter, more contemplative wine tourism experience than its more famous neighbour Tuscany.
