Wine Tasting - Wine Tours in Italy

August 10 is a very important date for wine lovers in Italy.

“Calici di Stelle” — “Goblets of Stars” –, major wine event in Italy, takes place during the night of August 10 — the night of St. Lawrence aka “the Night of the Shooting Stars” — as Italians enjoy wine tastings while watching the falling stars in the hope that their wishes will come true.

It’s a romantic night. A number of events are scheduled in hundreds of locations throughout Italy, with people enjoying wines and traditional delicacies in venues including Medieval squares, castles and vineyards.

To find out the selected locations as well as the programme of “Calici di Stelle” please visit this page.

Where: August 10 (annual)
When: selected locations throughout Italy.

The wonderful medieval village of San Donato in Poggio, located in Tuscany, in one of the major Chianti growing zones, hosts the fifth edition of “Chianti in Musica” festival from July 24th to July 31st.

Located in the heart of Chianti, midway from both Florence and Siena, with “Chianti in Musica” San Donato in Poggio offers a week of tastings of the fine red wine produced in the Chianti region accompaned by a number of classical music concerts as well as by culinary and wine theme events.

When: July 24 - 31, 2010 (annual)
Where: San Donato in Poggio (Tuscany)
Directions by car: take the Florence-Siena superstrada, and exit at San Donato in Poggio.
Find out details on http://chiantinmusica.it/eng/index.php .

A number of selected wineries and distilleries in Italy open to the public the last week end of May offering tastings and a variety of initiatives.

With this event, named “Cantine Aperte” — “Open Wineries”, wine-makers located throughout Italy offer visitors and wine enthusiasts a chance to learn to distinguish and appreciate fine Italian wines.

“Cantine Aperte” is sponsored by Italy’s Wine Tourism Movement.

when: May 30, 2010 (annual)
where: throughout Italy (to learn details of the event as well as the list of wineries joining “Cantine Aperte”, please visit the website http://movimentoturismovino.it/).

The Altamarca Trevigiana, that part of Veneto comprised between the Pre-Alps mountain chain and Venice, every Spring welcomes wine enthusiasts with “Primavera del Prosecco Docg” — Prosecco Docg Spring — festival.

The event offers 17 wine shows and a number of wine themed initiatives, mostly concentrated in the week-ends, from March through June, held in hill towns located in this land.

Major wine-growing zone, the area is well known for its excellent wines, with Prosecco being one of them.

“Primavera del Prosecco” offers Venice visitors ideas for day trips including visits to historic towns, wineries, and wine shows and tastings.
The calendar of the events scheduled in spring in Altamarca Trevigiana at “Primavera del Prosecco Docg” festival is available at primaveraprosecco.it.