Brumalia - Ancient Wine Festival

Brumalia, the ancient wine festival of Casal Velino

Brumalia is the wine festival that brings Casal Velino Capoluogo to life every autumn—a hilltop village in the municipality of Casal Velino, located in the province of Salerno, in the heart of the Cilento region of Campania. The name pays homage to the Brumalia, the ancient Roman celebrations linked to the darkest time of the year and the cults of Bacchus and Ceres. This inspired the organizers' motto, «Sine Cerere et Baccho friget Venus», which perfectly captures the spirit of the event: where wine, food, and togetherness are inseparable.

A village turned into a gourmet trail

For three days, the historic center becomes a continuous itinerary winding through alleys, squares, and open spaces. In the 2025 edition, there were over thirty food and wine stalls spread throughout the village, mostly managed by local producers, agritourism farms, and artisans. Offerings range from homemade pasta and grilled sausages to fresh catch-of-the-day fish, goat cheeses, extra virgin olive oil, traditional rustic desserts, and modern additions like artisanal Cilento spirits. In recent years, the organization has also introduced stalls with gluten-free and vegan options to ensure the festival is accessible to everyone.

Guided tastings: the oenological heart

What sets Brumalia apart from a typical local festival is its carefully curated wine program. Every evening, in the Town Hall's Council Chamber, a limited-seating narrated tasting is held, dedicated to a different Cilento winery. In 2025, featured wineries included Alfonso Rotolo, Cantine Cobellis, and Cantine Albamarina, with stories that go far beyond the glass, touching on history, grape varieties, and the landscape. Cilento viticulture, often identified solely with Aglianico, reveals its true variety here: Fiano, Piedirosso, Primitivo, and recovered ancient grape varieties tell the story of a territory that looks toward the sea while keeping its roots firmly in the hills.

The Palio delle Botti (Barrel Race)

The most festive addition of recent years is the Casalvelinese Palio delle Botti, launched in 2025. Teams from the village's various districts compete by rolling barrels and hoops through the streets, a race that immediately captured the hearts of residents and visitors alike. It is a moment of strong local identity, bringing community spirit and the historic bond between the village and its wine production back to the center stage.

Music, radio, and folk tradition

The soundtrack of Brumalia is provided by Cilento and Mediterranean folk music, with roving bands wandering the alleys, folk groups, singer-songwriters, and DJ sets closing out the evenings. The 2025 lineup included storyteller Domenico Monaco, Rittantico, Settebocche, the Fruitjoy Big Band, and I Figli del Sole, among others. Broadcasting everything live is Radio Brumalia, the festival's web radio station that transmits from the Town Hall, accompanying the public from the afternoon until late at night.

Sustainability and Cilento identity

The event, organized by the Vivimo_Casalicchio association, has made sustainability a core commitment since its early editions: reducing plastic usage, offsetting CO2 emissions, and focusing on short supply chains. Alongside the stalls, there are craft workshops, photo exhibitions, and meetings dedicated to sustainable viticulture and rural traditions. The festival is sponsored by the Municipality of Casal Velino and the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, a context that explains why wine is presented here in harmony with the landscape.

When to go

Brumalia is usually held in November, between Friday and Sunday, when Cilento has emptied of summer tourists and the village returns to its inhabitants. It is the perfect season to understand how this part of Campania experiences autumn: the days are still mild, the wineries have just finished the harvest, and the village lights up with warmth, scents, and voices until late at night. Casal Velino Capoluogo is just a few kilometers from the coast and the Marina, making it easy to combine with a visit to Ascea, Velia, and other inland Cilento villages.