Barbera Fish Festival
Norway meets Monferrato in Agliano Terme
About Barbera Fish Festival
A festival uniting Monferrato and Norway
The Barbera Fish Festival is a premier food and wine event that transforms Agliano Terme—a small town in the Province of Asti nestled within the UNESCO-listed Monferrato wine landscape—into the stage for an unusual and highly successful encounter: the pairing of Barbera d'Asti wine with Norwegian cod, prepared as both stockfish and salt cod. Born as a cultural and gastronomic experiment, the festival has grown into what Patrizia Masoero, president of the Barbera Agliano Association, calls "a deeply identity-defining event for our territory."
Four days of flavor in the historic center
The festival takes place over a long weekend, bringing the village streets and squares to life, with the main hubs located at Piazza San Giacomo and the BAart multifunctional center. The program balances high-end culinary experiences with popular offerings: ticketed masterclass lunches and dinners, two evenings dedicated to gourmet street food, tastings of over one hundred Barbera d'Asti and Monferrato wines, seminars on sustainable viticulture, and plenty of live music to accompany your gastronomic strolls.
Norwegian chefs take center stage
At the heart of the festival is the collaboration with the Norwegian Culinary Teams, Norway's national cooking squad, led by team manager Gunnar Hvarnes, a bronze medalist at the 2011 Bocuse d'Or. Working alongside these Nordic chefs are talented students from Norwegian hospitality schools and the Colline Astigiane Vocational Training Agency, fostering a dialogue between culinary traditions that elevates ingredients from seemingly distant worlds.
A territory to experience
Beyond the table, the Barbera Fish Festival is a perfect opportunity to discover Agliano Terme and the Barbera hills: visit local wineries, dine at village favorites like Osteria La Milonga, Villa Fontana, and Il Gatto Verde, and enjoy a landscape that ranks among the most picturesque in Piedmont. The event is supported by the Municipality of Agliano Terme in collaboration with the Barbera d'Asti and Monferrato Wines Consortium and the Langhe Monferrato Roero Tourism Board.
- Where: Historic center of Agliano Terme (AT), Piedmont
- Theme: Barbera d'Asti wine and Norwegian cod (stockfish and salt cod)
- What: Masterclass dinners, street food, wine tastings, live music
- Who: Norwegian Culinary Teams, Michelin-starred chefs, local producers
Barbera Fish Festival — edition 2026
Seventh edition: a new spring look
The 2026 edition of the Barbera Fish Festival inaugurated a seasonal change, moving from its traditional autumn slot to a spring date, from May 28th to 31st. Four days of events spread between Piazza San Giacomo and the BAart multifunctional center in Agliano Terme.
Program
Opening on Thursday, May 28th, with a masterclass dinner at BAart hosted by the Norwegian Culinary Teams. Friday, May 29th, featured the opening ceremony and a toast in Piazza San Giacomo, followed by wine tastings and street food with live music. Saturday, May 30th, included a seminar on vineyard sustainability, a masterclass on historic vintages with sommelier Isella Zanutto, themed dinners in local restaurants, and another evening of street food. The grand finale took place on Sunday, May 31st, with a masterclass lunch.
Programme Barbera Fish Festival 2026
Thursday, May 28th
- 7:30 PM – BAart (Piazza San Giacomo): Masterclass dinner with the Norwegian Culinary Teams (by reservation)
Friday, May 29th
- 6:00 PM – Piazza San Giacomo: Opening ceremony and toast
- 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM – Wine tastings
- 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM – Street food and live music in the historic center
Saturday, May 30th
- 10:00 AM – BAart: Seminar on sustainable solutions for vineyards
- 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM – Wine tastings in Piazza San Giacomo
- "Historic Vintages" Masterclass with sommelier Isella Zanutto
- 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM – Street food and live music
- Themed dinners at restaurants: Osteria La Milonga, Villa Fontana, Il Gatto Verde
Sunday, May 31st
- 12:30 PM – BAart: Masterclass lunch (by reservation)
Highlights Barbera Fish Festival 2026
- Norwegian Culinary Teams led by Gunnar Hvarnes (2011 Bocuse d'Or bronze medalist)
- Masterclass dinners and lunches at BAart by reservation
- Tastings of over 100 Barbera d'Asti and Monferrato wines
- Two evenings of gourmet street food with live music
- "Historic Vintages" Masterclass with sommelier Isella Zanutto
- Themed dinners at the village's historic restaurants
Prices Barbera Fish Festival 2026
Practical information — Barbera Fish Festival
Getting there
Agliano Terme is located in the Monferrato area of Asti, about 20 km from Asti. By car: A21 Turin-Piacenza motorway, exit at Asti Est, then follow provincial roads toward the hills. By train: Asti station, then local bus connections to Agliano. Nearest airports: Turin Caselle and Milan Malpensa.
Admission and bookings
Access to wine tastings and street food in the historic center requires purchasing glasses and food tickets on-site. Masterclass dinners and lunches at BAart require advance booking. For information: [email protected], tel. +39 0141 1490964, or visit barbera-agliano.com.
Tips
We recommend booking masterclass experiences in advance as spots are limited. The street food and live music evenings are the perfect way to explore the village on foot.
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Where does it take place — Barbera Fish Festival
Centro storico di Agliano Terme
Piazza San Giacomo, 14041 Agliano Terme