Calici al Borgo

Calici al Borgo: Irpinian wine in the historic center of Montefusco

Calici al Borgo is the autumn food and wine festival of Montefusco, a village of just a few hundred inhabitants in the province of Avellino, Campania. The event is promoted by the Pro Loco Montefusco and is part of the coordinated program of Irpinian Pro Loco associations published by UNPLI Avellino, which brings together events from 56 local organizations. The format is the classic Southern Italian village style: a tasting trail where you wander through the historic center with a wine glass around your neck, stopping at various stations to enjoy local wines and traditional snacks.

A village overlooking the Sabato Valley

Montefusco sits atop a hill overlooking the Sabato River valley, in a panoramic position that has made it a prime vantage point over Irpinia for centuries. The town retains a compact medieval layout, characterized by narrow alleys, stone portals, and sudden glimpses of the surrounding mountains—a setting that, on November evenings, with lights aglow and tasting stalls set up along the route, becomes the true stage for the event.

The village's most famous landmark is the Bourbon Prison, a monumental complex linked to the history of the Risorgimento in Southern Italy, now open to visitors thanks to the efforts of the Pro Loco. The village also houses the Historic Cellar of Irpinian Wines, a space the Pro Loco regularly uses for its guided tastings.

In the land of Greco di Tufo DOCG

Montefusco belongs to the production area of Greco di Tufo DOCG, one of the most iconic white wines in Italian viticulture, which here coexists with other notable Irpinian denominations, from Fiano di Avellino to Taurasi. This is no minor detail: the town's winemaking vocation is at the heart of several regional promotion initiatives involving Montefusco alongside the neighboring towns of Torrioni and Santa Paolina. Calici al Borgo fits into this context as a more convivial and popular moment, open to visitors and enthusiasts rather than just industry professionals.

What to expect

• Wine tastings at stations set up along the historic center route
• Tastings of local products and seasonal Irpinian dishes
• Strolls through the ancient village, with the chance to discover corners and monuments usually less frequented
• An intimate evening atmosphere, typical of autumn events in small towns

As it is a village-scale event, the crowds remain manageable and participation is primarily local and provincial: this, however, is exactly what makes it so appealing to those seeking an authentic experience far from the major wine tourism circuits.

The Pro Loco Montefusco calendar

Calici al Borgo is not the only event organized by the association. The annual program of the Pro Loco Montefusco also includes the Chestnut Festival in October and Open Doors to the Village in July, as well as guided tours and tasting initiatives like DegustArte. Those arriving in Montefusco for Calici al Borgo can easily incorporate the day into a broader itinerary through the villages and wineries of Irpinia.

When it takes place

The event is usually held in mid-November, over the weekend: the edition documented in the UNPLI Avellino calendar took place on November 15th and 16th. The dates for the next edition have not yet been officially confirmed: it is advisable to check the Pro Loco Montefusco channels before planning your trip.