Autumn is greeted sweeter with empty vineyards. The bottling of Beaujolais, Novello and Federweiser generates a map of current travel destinations: after all, in order for the product not to lose its taste and aroma, it must be drunk immediately. New wine holidays begin in Europe in September, so now is the time to pack your suitcase and remember which cheese is suitable (spoiler: Camembert or Brie).

Since ancient times, autumn has been the hour for winemakers. Thanks to a glass of barely fermented wine, plantation owners decided whether to cooperate with the producer next year. The main wine date in the calendar today is November 11, the Day of St. Martin, who became the Dionysus of Christian bottling. Then, over dinner with the obligatory baked goose and a fresh drink, they celebrate a kind of birthday of the first wine of the year. And in each country it received a special name: federweiser in Germany, storm - among the Austrians, and in the Czech Republic - burchak. The tradition of the celebration is so old and strong that it is inherited in European folklore - from the Italian proverb “On St. Martin, open the barrel and taste the wine” to the widespread in Croatia “St. Martin, make a hole in the barrel!” Today, the grape harvest and holidays-festivals begin in September, and by the end of autumn, wine cellars across the continent willingly open their doors so that satisfied tasters crawl back on their eyebrows.

What is new wine?

The differences begin with the grape variety: as a rule, perishable berries are used without a twinge of conscience for young wine. This is the story, for example, of the most famous of them, dry Beaujolais wine. The significant difference is concentrated in technology: for fresh wine, the fruits are not pressed, but are left to ferment hermetically sealed in a large amount of carbon for a short period of time. Voila! Maximum taste and color in minimal time. However, due to the alcohol and polyphenols, you will have to drink this within a year.

Young wine is considered almost a panacea. Connoisseurs readily believe that it cleanses blood vessels of cholesterol, removes toxins, increases appetite and even prevents colds. But it can only harm those with allergies or those with liver problems.

How to drink?

Young wine does not last long. It needs to be protected from aging in the first 6-12 months after production. Pay attention to the dates: the deadline for bottling is December 31 of the year the grape harvest is harvested. In this drink, it is not so much its quality or bouquet that is valued, but the ritual itself. Taste chilled to 13°C. Complement the ritual with cheese or cold cuts.

France: Holidays of Beaujolais Nouveau

The third Thursday of November in France is Beaujolais Nouveau Day, La Fete de Beaujolais nouveau. At first, the holiday was a commercial ploy (from that day on, wine went on sale en masse), but it caught on so well that it soon became a tradition. Shortly before the holiday, posters appear in cities: “Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrive?!” (“Beaujolais Nouveau has arrived?!”). The celebration itself begins at midnight: fireworks roar among the fairs, and fresh wine flows from barrels installed in advance in the squares. The most intense events take place in Burgundy, because there, on plantations to the north, red Gamay grapes are grown for Beaujolais.

Beaujolais spoils quickly, but that's not his problem, it's yours. French winemakers Jules Chauvet and Georges Duboeuf, in order to sell out the drink, formulated its concept as follows: “Since the wine is not stored, it must be drunk immediately!”

Beaujolais spoils quickly, but this is not his problem, but yours: since the wine is not stored, it must be drunk immediately!

In the Beaujolais region alone, 120 new wine festivals take place in the fall. France does not skimp on celebrations in other provinces: no less fun is guaranteed on the banks of the Loire and Rhone, in Touraine, Gaillac, Côtes du Rhône or Languedoc. The most colorful holiday - Le Sarmantel (Les sarmentelles - “vine shoots”) in the city of Bozhe. A solemn procession with music and torches from the vineyards to the central square awaits tourists and lovers of Beaujolais Nouveau. Excitement awakens among visitors in the morning. The winner of the competition who drinks the most Beaujolais is promised as much wine as he or she weighs. Even if you refrain from competitions, fireworks, free tasting and joyful cries of “Beaujolais Nouveau has arrived!” will provide immersion in the atmosphere! (“Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrive”!)

The holiday has gained such popularity that it has migrated to the neighboring continent, just as the French grapevine once moved there. For about half a century, Beaujolais Nouveau Day has been celebrated annually in the United States (in Los Angeles, Newston, and Charlotte), tasting both Californian young wine and imported Beaujolais Nouveau straight from the Old World.

Italy: Novello Holidays

At the end of October and beginning of November, from north to south, Novello, the local young wine, is on everyone’s lips. Unlike French, its shade is bright red due to large quantity carbon dioxide. And if Beaujolais is produced faithfully to the only grape variety, Gamay, in Italian vineyards one’s eyes run wild: along with the popular Merlot, Cabernet and Sauvignon, a dozen other grape variations are found in production. The only condition is that the berry must be red.

In terms of the opening date of the season, Novello is two weeks ahead of Beaujolais due to the milder climate of the Apennines. But the celebration scheme is the same: festivals with music, dancing, competitions, festivities and tastings of “newborn” wine cover an impressive territory. By the beginning of November, enotourists (that is, wine tourists) are eagerly awaiting wineries in Piedmont, Veneto, Marche, Sicily and Sardinia.

Grape harvest celebrations, with masquerades and traditional donkey races, flourished in Italy back in the 17th century. The modern version of the celebration began only half a century ago. Now the wine season still opens on St. Martin's Day, but not on November 11, but on November 6. The National Salon of Wines Novello begins a galaxy of tastings (Salone Nazional edel vino nouvello) in Vicenza: the first day is for professionals, and then everyone can try Novello. Vicenza celebrates Novello in the Piazza earlier than in other regions. (Novello in piazza), where the grapes can even be crushed. And in the fairgrounds, between the artisans' shops and street performers, you can find not only novello, but even roast on a giant spit.

At the end of October, from the north to the south of Italy, Novello, the local young wine, is on everyone's lips.

Under the patronage of the Wine Tourism Movement (Movimento Turismo del Vino) In Italy, St. Martin's Day is celebrated annually in a wine cellar. For this wine and gastronomic event in different regions 200 wine cellars in the country invite you to taste Novello along with local products collected in the new season.

In addition to large celebrations celebrating fresh wine, there are a dozen colorful local events. In the Tuscan city of Vignanello, a similar celebration grows to the scale of a medieval fair. Novello and Young Festival olive oil (Festa del vino e dell "olio novello) will not leave you without bread and circuses: traditional dishes and current drinks are accompanied by historical reconstructions and entertainment in the spirit of jugglers or fire swallowers. In the Emilia-Romagna region, from the end of October until the onset of winter, every Saturday winemakers welcome guests, treat them and tell them wine stories. And on Sundays, as part of the same event, “Growers in enotecas and tastings in shops” (Vignaioli in Enoteca e Banchi di Assaggio) , there they taste wines, comparing different years harvest and production methods.

In the first week of November, on the Port Square in Bardolino, they organize their own festival of young wine, la Festa del Novello: an important winemaking event in these latitudes, because it is Bardolino Novello (Bardolino Novello) the first of the young drinks to receive DOC certificate (Denomiazione di origine controllata - “Denomination controlled by origin”) . Puglia has its own atmosphere, where every November there are three-day festivities in honor of the first wine of the new harvest - the Novello Festival (Novello in Festa). No matter where you look on the map, in the fall Italy becomes a continuous enoteca.

Spain: Vendimia and Vino Nuevo holidays

Vino nuevo, a young wine, does not make as much of a splash in Spain as in neighboring countries. With greater joy, locals sip mature wines, well-aged in oak barrels. But the fashion for young wine did not pass by, and demand gave rise to supply: from the late 90s of the last century, Spain was also drawn into the wine-making arms race.

Since the late 90s of the last century, Spain has also been drawn into the winemaking arms race.

The grape harvest festivals, Vendimia, begin in September. And they deserve special attention in, where fresh wine is called “mosto”. Include the Vendimia in Montilla and in the calendar, and the Royal Vendimia in Palma del Condado crowns everything.

When the new wine is ready to be poured into glasses, the Spaniards do not organize lavish festivities, such as they greet Beaujolais or Novello. Locals prefer quiet gatherings with nuevo wine and a piece of ham that has just been roasted over the fire. If you want to see how it happens, go to Malaga or Colmenar in November for the fair of mosto and chacina - new wine and blood sausage. Taste only in an authentic tandem!

Germany: Federweisser holidays

In terms of drinks, there is something else worthwhile in Germany, besides beer. Local vineyards will exceed expectations both in terms of picturesqueness and harvest. Along the Rhine or, for example, the Ahr River, the tradition of winemaking has become so firmly ingrained in German everyday life that it has become a way of life.

New wine in Germany is called Federweisser (Federweisser), translated as “with white feathers,” which resembles a whitish sediment of yeast particles. Technically, this substance is grape must, which has begun to ferment, but has not yet become a finished drink. You can try federvicer only in the fall, in September or October, depending on the region. Don’t let the cloudy liquid confuse the taster: everything is under control, because this is fresh wine. You will also find nuances in the color scheme: in addition to red berries, the Germans also use white ones.

In autumn, in many German cities, stalls and roadside inns are set up to sell new wine. In addition to the prosaic tasting of the purchased federweiser, you can also drink it at winegrowing festivals in honor of the new harvest season. For big extravaganzas, head to the German Vintage Festival in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse (Neustadt an der Weinstraße) or for the Autumn Festival in Rüdesheimer Herbstschluss in Rheingau. The latter is included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list, so the atmosphere at the wine celebration there promises to be special. For refined local uniqueness, head to the wine-growing village of Maischoss (Mayschoß) in the valley of the Ar River. Its population barely exceeds a thousand people, but the local wine festival, which takes up the entire October weekend, is as famous as any other. The winegrowers of Saxony also organize a colorful Federweiser festival. All the delights of rural wine production can be experienced, for example, in the village of Disbar-Zoyslitsa (Diesbar-Seußlitz) near the Elbe.

Austria: holidays Junger Osterreicher, Heuriger

It's time to put on your hunting hat with a feather and go for a tasting! In Austria, most of the wines are produced in Styria, and local young wines have been sold under the general brand Jünger Österreicher since 1995 (Junger Osterreicher). Every year at the beginning of November, the Jünger Osterreicher holiday is held at the Austrian Museum of Modern Art, at an exhibition of young artists. This opening day from November 11 is picked up by Heuriger (Heuriger), this is another name for Austrian young wine after the place where producers present it to the public. According to tradition, the owner of a heuriger could sell a drink made from grapes only from his plantations, and no more than 300 days a year.

Like Federweisser, Austrian young wine can be red, white, or rosé. The locals call white “Storm”. Note to beginning sommeliers: unlike Beaujolais Nouveau or Novello, neither Sturm nor Federweisser are considered actual wines; rather, they are fermented wort.

Czech Republic: Burcak

The Slavic wine rave attracts oenophiles from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Croatia and Czech cities. In Karlovy Vary and in September, the grape harvest takes place and, in parallel, its celebration, complete with all types of folk entertainment. It is worth trying products that were produced in small family wineries of Mikulov, Znojmo, Melnik, Moravia or, for example, the Templar Cellars of Cejkovice. With the onset of the harvest season, a taster in the Czech Republic will definitely like local cheeses, sausages and baked goose with cabbage to pair with wine.

With the onset of the harvest season, a taster in the Czech Republic will definitely like local cheeses, sausages and baked goose with cabbage to pair with wine.

Burchak is a wine that needs to be “caught” in the first days of fermentation, while the ratio of sugar and alcohol in it remains equal. You need to have time to stop the process in time, and keep the bottles with burchak open all day long so that more air gets into the drink. The winemaking tradition in the Czech Republic has been developing, as in Italy, since about the 17th century. Therefore, over the centuries, they have developed an ideal holiday plan for the fall: throughout September the country celebrates the grape harvest: September 13, 20-21 and 27-28 in Prague; September 3-5, 12-13 and 11-14 - in South Moravia. And a little later, for the St. Martin’s celebrations, it’s time to uncork the Czech Beaujolais.

Photo by Peter Bender

Italy - autumn holidays will continue until December.

BALLOON FESTIVAL

Florence, Hippodrome del Visarno (Tuscany region)

On the weekend of the second and third weeks of October in Florence (at the Hippodrome Visarno, located at Piazzale delle Cascine, 29) a colorful Festival will take place balloons. On festival days Balloons will decorate the sky over the city. You can fly along a random route at a height of 45 meters, or you can make tethered ascents to a height of 5 meters. Guests will have the opportunity to take part in a variety of free workshops for adults and children, such as how to make kites. After sunset, you can admire a truly fabulous show of illuminated balloons that will rise and move to the beat of the music!

Free flight: departure at 8:00 from San Casciano in Val di Pesa, minimum age 6 years.

Tethered lift: take-off from 10:30 to 12:30 and from 16:30 to 21:00, minimum age 2 years.

MOSTARDA FRUIT SAUCE FESTIVAL

Mantua, Loggia del Grano (Lombardy region)

Cremona, city garden, pl.Roma (Lombardy region)

In Mantua and Cremona, on the weekends of the second and third weeks of October, you will find a delicious Mostarda Festival, hot sauce made from fruits marinated in mustard and syrup, a typical dish from northern Italy.

In Mantua, on Saturday 13 October, festival guests will have the wonderful opportunity to visit the Palazzo Andreani (Calvi, 28), built in the Art Nouveau style, where the Chamber of Commerce and Industry is located and an important collection of 20th-century art is stored. On Sunday, the program includes tastings and sales of high-quality locally produced products and, of course, mostarda from producers.

In Cremona, the festival will take place over two weekends in the specially built Pala Mostarda pavilion in the city garden in Piazza Roma. Here guests can taste mostarda with cheeses, beer, salami and yoghurt.

Tasting hours in Cremona: Saturday 20 October 14.00-19.00, Sunday 21 October 15:00-19.00

FRENCH IMPRESSIONISTS:

FROM MONET TO CEZANNE

Rome, Palazzo degli Esami (Lazio region)

This fall in Rome, in the halls of the Palazzo Legli Ezami, located in the Trastevere district, a colorful multimedia exhibition is being held dedicated to the work of the French impressionists and the fabulous atmosphere of Paris reflected in their works late XIX centuries. Thousands of images are shown on huge screens, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the world of paintings by Monet, Degas, Pissarro and Cezanne, accompanied by music from the most iconic composers of the era, from Debussy to Tchaikovsky.

PICASSO: METAMORPHOSES

Milan, Royal Palace (Lombardy region)

The exhibition "Picasso: Metamorphoses", which opens on October 18 at the Royal Palace, will be one of the main artistic events in Milan this autumn season.

The exhibition included paintings that reflected mythological and ancient motifs that interested the famous Spanish master throughout his entire career. creative path, which is presented to the audience precisely from this point of view. On the canvases included in the exhibition, antiquity comes to life in the form of recycled myths.

The Milan exhibition is one of the stages of the European three-year project “Picasso - Mediterranean”. It has about two hundred exhibits: the paintings of the Spanish maestro are compared with ancient works of art: ceramics, vases, statues, votive tablets, reliefs, idols and steles that served as his source of inspiration, collected from the collections of the Louvre, the Picasso Museum in Paris, Barcelona and Antibes, Vatican Museums, National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Lyon Museum fine arts, Center Pompidou, Parisian Orangerie Museum and others.

The exhibition “Picasso: Metamorphoses” added to the list of exhibitions at the Royal Palace of Milan, dedicated over the years to the work of the famous Spanish master.

INTERNATIONAL WINE FESTIVAL IN MERANO

Merano (Bolzano province, South Tyrol region)

Fans of winemaking and haute cuisine have been waiting all year for these few days, during which 462 wine cellars and 120 private estates will present their products.

This festival, which takes place in the elegant Kurhaus von Meran, is considered one of the most exclusive and prestigious wine and gastronomic events in Europe. Here wine producers from all over the world, as well as young Italian wineries, present their exquisite wines.

FEAST OF YOUNG WINE IN CONVERSANO

Conversano (province of Bari, region of Apulia)

In mid-November, in the typically Apulian town of Conversano, not far from Bari, a festival of young wine (in Italian “novello”) takes place called “Novello sotto il Castello” - “New wine at the walls of an ancient castle”. Here you can taste the best wines and locally produced products. This is a holiday for true gourmets and connoisseurs of excellent cuisine, who will have to undergo numerous tastings of typical Apulian products and local gourmet delicacies with dedication, but only at will. Local delicacies will be washed down with local vintage wines, and for entertainment and delight of the soul, the holiday program will be decorated with performances of a traveling theater, performances by street performers and magicians, live music, traditional songs and dances, and an exhibition of handicrafts.

FEAST OF TURRON

Cremona (Lombardy region)

The city of Cremona in northern Italy is preparing to receive tons of turrone, Italian nougat, of all possible varieties, shapes and tastes, brought from all over the country on the occasion of one of the most long-awaited and beloved gastronomic events by Italians - the Festa del Torrone, the holiday of turrone.

The Turron festival always means delicious delicacies, cheerful music and exciting performances.

More than 60 tons of Italian nougat have already been prepared to be served during the planned 250 tastings, celebrations, historical reconstructions, events, master classes and street performers.

Hundreds of stalls set up on the central streets of the city will be filled with this most famous typical Cremonese delicacy, prepared for every taste: with ice cream, pistachios, chocolate, coffee, limoncello, as well as fantastic recipes for salted turron and all sorts of its original variations.

HISTORIC PROCESSION IN HONOR OF THE DUKAL WEDDING

Cremona (Lombardy region)

On November 18, you will be able to see one of the key events of the Turron holiday - a historical procession dedicated to the wedding of the Duke of Milan Francesco Sforza and Bianca Maria Visconti, which took place back in 1441. As legend has it, it was on the occasion of this wedding that two Lombard pastry chefs prepared turrón for the first time. In the afternoon, a historical cortege will pass through the central streets of the city, in which 150 people, dressed in rich Renaissance costumes, will take part. The cortege is accompanied by performances by jugglers, flag bearers and musicians . The procession will end in Piazza del Comune, where the wedding will be celebrated.

The history of this historic marriage is closely connected with the history of the city: in 1430, when Bianca Maria Visconti was only five, she was officially declared the bride of the commander Francesco Sforza, who at that time turned 29 years old. On this occasion, the bride's father, Duke of Milan Filippo Maria Visconti, granted Francesco Sforza Cremona as a future dowry and in exchange for a promise to serve him. On October 25, 1441, Filippo Maria Visconti completed negotiations regarding the marriage of his daughter, and on the appointed day, Bianca Maria arrived in Cremona, where the wedding took place. Bianca wore a red dress - according to the zodiac, the color of Aries - and she sat on a white horse covered with a golden blanket.

Lovers of wine and fun holidays will be interested in knowing where and when is the best time to go on wine holidays in Italy.

We were at four holidays, in different regions and in different time of the year.

As an example of a neutral and very positive experience, I will describe two holidays: in La Spezia (Liguria, summer) and in Canelli, Asti (Piedmont, autumn).
There was no negative experience, because even if the organization and course of the holiday were not up to par, this did not stop us from enjoying new cities, wines and Italian flavor.

Wine festival in La Spezia (Liguria). Neutral experience.

The celebration took place in July, three evenings in a row in the city center on one of the pedestrian streets of La Spezia.

Several dozen tents were put up, where it was offered to try about 200 varieties of Ligurian wine.

We tried “our own”, Arcolian. So-so, a C grade.

We liked the Cinque Terre wine the most; we tried two varieties out of the seven presented.

Those wishing to taste for 10 euros were offered 3 tasting coupons and a branded glass with the symbols of the holiday.

They poured a third of the glass and took the ticket. Not a very generous offer.

For comparison, at the wine festival in the province of Asti, which I’ll talk about later, 6 tastings were offered for 6 euros and they actually poured as many times as you wanted :)

There were few visitors near the wine stalls (locals can spend 10 euros more wisely, for sure), the main crowd was at the kiosk with focaccia and pizza, as always:)

There was a feeling that wine producers didn’t really need this holiday, and the city didn’t do much to organize it.
They sell off the leftovers before the new season, as my husband said.
By the way, the weather was beautiful and there were no problems with parking in the city.

I would like to end the story about the holiday with a photograph of the Garibaldi monument in the center of the park, which ends the “wine street” Corso Cavour in La Spezia.

Signor Garibaldi, on the occasion of the sluggish holiday, would have shouted to the Spezians if he could: “Hey, have fun, pour it - don’t be sorry!” ;) And he waved his sword so that the wine flowed like a river...

New Wine Festival in Asti (Piedmont)

I really liked the 2011 wine festival, which took place in the fall in the town of Canelli, in the wine province of Asti, no less than the wine region of Piedmont.
It was cool, it should be like this everywhere.

The whole town was filled with tents with wine and all sorts of delicious food, the eyes were running wild and the head was spinning from the smells. The tents were of varying degrees of originality, not standard as in La Spezia.

They poured wine from the heart, without looking at the coupons.

The streets were decorated, they brought carousels for children, horses and trains gave rides to everyone sober and drunk :)

Orchestras played, costume performances about the history of the city from the Middle Ages to the present day took place on the square.

Local residents also walked around in costumes and willingly took pictures.

People were walking around happily, even firefighters and paramedics who were on duty at the festival (although this may not be right, just in case)

The otters on the river were taking something out of the water and eating in the reeds so that tourists wouldn’t take it away, probably :))

The local winery offered a large selection of good wines at retail prices at wholesale prices.

Garibaldi didn’t wave his saber because he was happy :)

If someone is going to Canelli, in Asti, then to complete the impressions of the wine region, I highly recommend staying in the authentic little hotel I tre poggi.


Located on a hill among vineyards. The food is delicious and well received. The views are amazing, Canelli is in full view, and the silence...
The hotel manager, who is also a winemaker, looks a lot like Quentin Tarantino :)

“Tarantino,” by the way, told us how difficult it is to grow sweet grape varieties, from which sweet unfortified and sparkling wines are traditionally made in Asti. He also said that the love of Italians and French for dry wines is explained not so much by a love for the taste itself and the meat with which this wine is served, but rather by a reluctance to bother with these finicky “sweet” varieties.

Laziness determines habits.
Asti has truly excellent wines, many varieties of which do not even reach Russia. The wine is sold out for seasons to come and goes to the cellars of special connoisseurs around the world and to good restaurants.

To participate in have a nice holiday wine, it seems to us that it is necessary:

Firstly, go to the “wine” province, where the traditions of this holiday are strong and it is celebrated on a grand scale;

And secondly, do it in the fall, when the festival of new wine takes place and the last of it flows like a river.

Here is the schedule of wine holidays in Italy for 2016, choose:
http://www.festedelvino.it

Have a good trip and good impressions!

It took place three evenings in a row in the city center on one of the pedestrian streets.
Well, what can I say, we expected more.
Several dozen tents were put up, where it was offered to try about 200 varieties of Ligurian wine.

We tried “our own”, Arcolian. So-so, a C grade.

We liked the Cinque Terre wine the most; we tried two varieties out of the seven presented.

Those wishing to taste for 10 euros were offered 3 tasting coupons and a branded glass with the symbols of the holiday.

They poured a third of the glass and took the ticket. Not a very generous offer.

For comparison, at the wine festival in the province of Asti, which I’ll talk about later, 6 tastings were offered for 6 euros and they actually poured as many times as you wanted :)

There were few visitors near the wine stalls (locals can spend 10 euros more wisely, for sure), the main crowd was at the kiosk with focaccia and pizza, as always:)

There was a feeling that wine producers didn’t really need this holiday, and the city didn’t try very hard. By the way, the weather was beautiful and there were no problems with parking.

Our main taster was my husband, and the children and I had fun in the city park due to the lack of entertainment at the holiday. Magnolias are blooming in the park now.

I admired the flowers, and the children collected magnolia cones (mom, we will plant them in our garden!)

This is a monument to Garibaldi in the center of the park, which on the occasion of a sluggish holiday would definitely shout: “Hey, have fun, pour it - don’t be sorry!” ;) And he waved his sword so that the wine flowed like a river...

Here is a seagull that was constantly hiding something in this flowerbed among the stones.

I didn’t allow the children to trample on the flowerbed to see what exactly she was hiding, the youngest even cried. Did not help. The sober mother is adamant.

That's all about the wine festival in La Spezia.

Conclusion:
To take part in a good wine festival, we think you need to:
- firstly, go to the “wine” province, where the traditions of this holiday are strong and it is celebrated on a grand scale;
- and secondly, do it in the fall, when the festival of new wine takes place and the last of it flows like a river.

I’ll briefly tell you about the festival of young wine at the end of September 11, which took place in the town of Canelli, in the wine province of Asti, no less than the wine region of Piedmont.
It was cool, it should be like this everywhere :)

The whole town was filled with tents with wine and all sorts of delicious food, the eyes were running wild and the head was spinning from the smells. The tents were of varying degrees of originality, not standard as in La Spezia.

They poured from the heart, a lot, without looking at the coupons.

The streets were decorated, they brought carousels for children, horses and trains gave rides to everyone sober and drunk :)

Orchestras played, costume performances about the history of the city from the Middle Ages to the present day took place on the square.

Local residents also walked around in costumes and willingly took pictures.

People were happily walking and having fun, even firefighters and paramedics who were on duty at the festival (although this may not be correct, just in case :))

Unfrightened otters on the river took something out of the water and ate it in the reeds so that the ducks wouldn’t take it away :)

The local winery offered a large selection of good wines at retail prices at wholesale prices.

Garibaldi didn’t wave his saber because he was happy :)

If someone is going to Canelli, in Asti, then to complete the impressions of the wine region, I highly recommend staying in the authentic little hotel I tre poggi.

Located on a hill among vineyards. The food is delicious and well received. The views are amazing, Canelli is in full view, and the silence...
The hotel manager, who is also a winemaker, looks a lot like Quentin Tarantino :)

“Tarantino,” by the way, told us how difficult it is to grow sweet grape varieties, from which sweet unfortified and sparkling wines are traditionally made in Asti. He also said that the love of Italians and French for dry wines is explained not so much by a love for the taste itself and the meat with which this wine is served, but rather by a reluctance to bother with these finicky “sweet” varieties.

Sagra is a festival of local products in Italian cities. As a rule, this city (or any locality) is very small, which does not in any way affect the scope of the holiday. Sagras attract crowds of people from all nearby regions. In the main square, tents with food and local crafts are set up, chestnuts are roasted and wine is poured. In the evening, lights are lit on the streets and musical performances are held. But what to try on sagra in the fall?

White truffle fair, Sant'Agata Feltria, Emilia-Romagna
(every Sunday in October)

Every Sunday in October, Sant’Agata is immersed in the cozy atmosphere of a country fair, filled with unforgettable aromas of the gifts of autumn nature. On its streets and squares, stalls with local products appear, and unusual events take place: “wine races” from local winemakers, a truffle-hunting championship among dogs.

A visit to Sant’Agata in the autumn is an excellent opportunity to admire the local architecture: the ancient theater “Angelo Mariani”, the Rocca Fregoso fortress, the monastery of St. Hierolam, and the city fountains.

During the truffle fair, you can see performances by artists, musicians, and thematic exhibitions on the streets.

Eurochocolate, Perugia, Umbria (18-27 October)

"Eurochocolate 2019" - chocolate and everything connected with it: tastings, sculpture, master classes and other events for children and adults. The International Chocolate Festival takes place in Perugia in October for the 26th time!

Last year it was visited by almost 1 million visitors. The theme for 2019 is buttons! In Italian there is an expression attaccare un bottone, that is, to start a casual conversation with a stranger. Usually, we're talking about about flirting with a member of the opposite sex.

"Bitto in Centro", Morbegno, Lombardy (October 12-13)

“Bitto in centro” is a celebration of Lombard cheese “Bitto” Bitto is one of the most famous and high-quality cheeses in Italy. It is brewed exclusively from milk obtained from June to September, when animals graze freely in mountain meadows at an altitude of 1400-2000 meters. Minimum aging is 70-90 days. A version of the same cheese, Bitto Storiko, also known as Storico Ribelle, is made using even more strict technology (for example, the milking process should not exceed 30 minutes so that the milk does not have time to cool, minimal use of automation, but most importantly - aging for at least 10 years) .

It is the most expensive mass-produced cheese in the world., which will be held for the 112th time! Tastings and master classes take place both on city streets and in ancient palazzos. The best chefs in Italy participate in culinary shows dedicated to this unique cheese. There are concerts, performances, and tents street food. The organizers place the main emphasis on using purely local products, calling this approach the “zero kilometer concept”. You can take your children with you – interesting events are also organized for them.

Ein Prosit 2019, Malborghetto and Tarvisio, Friuli-Venezia Giulia
(22-28 October)

The XXI Ein Prosit will take place from October 22 to 23 in Tarvisio and from October 24 to 28 in Udine. Four days of presentations, tastings, meetings, lectures from the best wine experts and journalists.

Over the years, Ein Prosit has become one of the main winemaking conventions in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, in which producers of the region's best wines consider it an honor to take part. The wine exhibition is complemented by masterpieces of national cuisine. Every year wine connoisseurs come here from all over Italy, as well as nearby Slovenia and Austria.

"Bacco Nelle Gnostre", Noci, Apulia (9-10 November)

The once humble Sagra has become one of the most anticipated food and wine festivals in Apulia. During Bacco Nelle Gnostre, you will be served with new wine and roasted chestnuts, warming your guests from the inside during the autumn chill. On the streets of the town of Nochi, where the festival takes place, you will see street performers and musicians who will not let you get bored.

“Bacco” is Bacchus, the god of wine, and “Niostre” is the common courtyards of the city center, a symbol of communication between citizens, whose ancient atmosphere is perfect for holding such holidays.

During this November weekend, more than 100,000 guests come to Nochi, who are fed and watered by more than 200 sommeliers, chefs and volunteers, offering the best local cuisine: fresh pasta, vegetables, meat and mushrooms, pastries and cakes made only in the city and its surroundings.

National Chestnut Festival, Cuneo, Piedmont (October 18 - 20)

The National Chestnut Fair takes place in Cuneo for the 21st time. This wine and gastronomic festival has become a real salon, or showcase, for the culinary traditions of this region of Piedmont. The main feature of local products is their highest quality, which can be seen at numerous tastings.

In addition to groceries, you can also buy goods here self made from local craftsmen. And, as usual, the program includes master classes, cultural events, exhibitions, performances, concerts and excursions. A great reason to spend a week in this not very popular city in Italy.