Calici di Stelle / Lorenzinacht

Calici di Stelle in Bolzano: wine under the stars of San Lorenzo

Every year, in the first half of August, the city of Bolzano (Autonomous Province of Bolzano, Trentino-Alto Adige) celebrates the Night of San Lorenzo with Calici di Stelle / Lorenzinacht, one of the most beloved wine events in the South Tyrolean capital. The setting is the extraordinary Portici (Laubengasse), the ancient medieval arcades of the historic center, which for one night transform into an elegant open-air lounge dedicated to wine.

A journey through South Tyrolean labels

Along the Via dei Portici, Bolzano's wineries and producers set up their tasting stands, offering over fifty local labels, including regional white and red wines. The stars of the show are the indigenous grape varieties of South Tyrol, particularly Lagrein and Schiava (Vernatsch), while in Piazza Municipio, it is possible to sample a selection of Santa Maddalena wines, one of the capital's most celebrated crus. Accompanying the glasses are typical local gastronomic products: speck, mountain cheeses, bread, and local pastries offered at stands along the route.

The night of the shooting stars

The event takes its name from Lorenzinacht, the Night of San Lorenzo, when the Perseids meteor shower provides a true rain of shooting stars in the summer sky. According to popular tradition, the luminous trails are the tears of the saint: looking up at the sky between one glass and another, making a wish, is an integral part of the romantic and convivial atmosphere of the evening. Producers remain available to visitors until late in the evening to talk about their wines and the work of their wineries.

An appointment in the heart of Bolzano

Organized by the Bolzano Tourist Board with the patronage of the Municipality, Calici di Stelle is now a classic of the South Tyrolean summer and attracts numerous visitors to the pedestrian heart of the city every year. The combination of the quality of local wines, the beauty of the historic Portici, and the magic of the Night of San Lorenzo makes this evening one of the most characteristic food and wine events in the Province of Bolzano and the entire Trentino-Alto Adige region.