Calici di Stelle in Taurasi (Marchionale Castle)

A night of wine and stars in the heart of Irpinia

In Taurasi, a village in the province of Avellino in Campania, the Marchionale Castle hosts the Campanian leg of Calici di Stelle every August, the major summer event of the Movimento Turismo del Vino. For one night, the courtyards and halls of the manor fill with tasting booths, the aromas of Irpinian cuisine, and eyes turned toward the August sky: it is the most direct way to understand why this corner of the Campanian hinterland is considered one of Italy's capitals of red wine.

The evening is not just a simple tasting. The formula developed by MTV Campania weaves together wine, heritage, gastronomy, astronomy, technology, and music: you enter the castle, move from one booth to another, go up for a guided tour, look through a telescope, put on a headset for a virtual journey through the vineyards, and finish the night with a DJ set. A path designed for those who love wine, but also for those simply looking for a beautiful summer evening in an extraordinary place.

The Marchionale Castle, the setting for the event

The castle dominates the historic center of Taurasi and houses the Regional Enoteca of Irpinian Wines: it is therefore much more than a backdrop; it is the symbolic place where the territory tells the story of its winemaking vocation. During Calici di Stelle, the manor opens up with guided tours that alternate between history and legend, leading visitors through rooms that remain closed on other nights of the year.

The layout of the spaces is part of the experience: the winery booths occupy the courtyards, the food and wine route unfolds along the halls, while astronomical observation takes place outdoors, where the sky of upper Irpinia—far from the light pollution of large cities—still shows the trails of August shooting stars.

The wineries and Irpinian cuisine

The stars of the evening are the wineries associated with the Movimento Turismo del Vino Campania, which present to the public the labels that have made the name of Taurasi famous and, more generally, the regional production. Recent editions have seen the participation of historic local entities such as Mastroberardino and Antica Hirpinia, joined by a large group of Campanian companies offering their wines directly at the booth, with producers ready to talk about vineyards, vintages, and winemaking.

Alongside the glasses is the table: the Irpinian menu proposed during the event features traditional local dishes, with first and second courses designed to accompany the wines being tasted. In past editions, the food and wine route has also hosted special guests, from pizza makers of the True Neapolitan Pizza Association to pairing workshops led by sommeliers.

Astronomy, virtual reality, and music

The distinctive feature of Calici di Stelle is looking upward. In Taurasi, astronomical observation is guided by an expert who leads the public to discover the constellations visible on the nights around San Lorenzo. Completing the picture are the immersive virtual reality experiences by Winestour, which allow you to walk virtually through the rows of vines and inside the cellars, and the musical entertainment that accompanies the entire evening until the final DJ set with a cocktail bar.

Calici di Stelle, a national appointment

The Taurasi leg is part of the Calici di Stelle calendar, a widespread event promoted by the Movimento Turismo del Vino that involves hundreds of wineries, villages, and squares from the north to the south of the peninsula every summer. The theme of the 2026 edition, Toast to Life!, emphasizes wine as a cultural and convivial experience, conscious consumption, and dialogue between generations: a message that in Taurasi translates into an accessible, familiar evening deeply linked to the Irpinian landscape.

Why come to Taurasi

• One of the few opportunities to visit the Marchionale Castle in the evening, with a guided tour included in the ticket.
• Direct tastings with Campanian producers, without intermediaries.
• Observation of the summer sky with an astronomer in a hilly area with low light pollution.
• Irpinian cuisine served in the castle, with vegetarian and gluten-free options.
• An evening format that lends itself well to an August trip to Irpinia, perhaps combined with a visit to the surrounding wineries.