Calici in Villa
Two evenings featuring wines from the Sannio region, flavors of the Valle Telesina, and poetry in the gardens of Villa Marchitto
About Calici in Villa
Calici in Villa: The Sannio in a glass
Calici in Villa is the food, wine, and cultural festival that brings summer to life in Puglianello, a small town of just over 1,200 residents overlooking the Valle Telesina, in the Province of Benevento, in the heart of inland Campania. For two evenings, the gardens of Villa Marchitto turn into a large open-air wine cellar dedicated to labels from the Sannio, one of the most extensive and productive wine-growing areas in Southern Italy. It is not a trade fair, but an evening stroll among winery stands, glass in hand, with the chance to speak directly with the winemakers.
Villa Marchitto, a 19th-century setting
The venue is one of the most charming spots in the village: a 19th-century residence surrounded by a large hazelnut grove and a well-kept garden, just a stone's throw from the Baronial Castle that shapes the historic center of Puglianello, among the best-preserved medieval architectures in the area. The producers' stands are set up along the paths and under the trees, allowing the tasting to become a small discovery of the village's heritage. It is a choice that says much about the event: wine as a key to entering a place, not just as a product to be sampled.
Local wineries and grape varieties
The heart of the event is the tasting. About twenty companies from the Sannio and surrounding areas present their wines, including some of the most representative names in the region: Fontanavecchia, Il Poggio, Janare - La Guardiense, Cantina di Solopaca, Vini La Fortezza, Cantina del Taburno, F Wine, Aia dei Colombi, Denica, Torre a Oriente, Vigne Storte, Vinicola Arenella, Cantine Tora, and others. In the glasses, you will find the symbolic grape varieties of this part of Campania, from Falanghina del Sannio to Aglianico, from Greco to Coda di Volpe: fresh and savory whites, well-structured reds, often at prices that remain among the most honest in Italy.
Wine and poetry: the cultural salon
What distinguishes Calici in Villa from a common wine festival is its second soul: the literary one. Working alongside the Municipality and the Pro Loco is the publishing house Selvaggio Edizioni, which brings a true cultural salon to the villa dedicated to the dialogue between wine and poetry. The format combines a guided technical tasting, entrusted to a sommelier who guides the public through the sensory reading of the wines, and a decanting of verses: guest poets read their own texts with discreet musical accompaniment, alternating glasses with words. A simple yet effective format that works well in a garden at night and has given the event a recognizable identity.
The flavors of the Valle Telesina
Surrounding the wineries are gastronomic stalls, curated by local operators and associations: local cured meats and cheeses, vegetables, and traditional Sannio peasant dishes, designed to pair with the wines on offer. The Valle Telesina is a land of oil, hazelnuts, produce, and livestock, and the selection of stalls reflects this local pantry. The evenings conclude with live music and DJ sets, with an audience that mixes residents, curious visitors from neighboring towns, and enthusiasts who have arrived for the producers.
Who organizes it
The event is promoted by the Municipality of Puglianello together with the Pro Loco of Puglianello, with the collaboration of Selvaggio Edizioni and the contribution of local associations and businesses that manage hospitality and catering. The municipal administration presents it as a tool for enhancing local products and the territory, in a logic of proximity tourism that is growing in the Sannio around its denominations.
Why it's worth an evening
Calici in Villa is an event tailored to the size of the village: no unmanageable crowds, free admission, an affordable tasting kit, and the chance to sample a wide range of Sannio production in just a few hours. Those visiting Campania outside the coastal circuits will find it a good starting point to explore the Valle Telesina, between Telese Terme, Solopaca, Guardia Sanframondi, and the hills of Taburno.
Calici in Villa — edition 2026
Calici in Villa 2026: two evenings of wine and verse
Promoted by the Municipality of Puglianello and the Pro Loco in collaboration with Selvaggio Edizioni, the 2026 edition occupied the gardens of Villa Marchitto on the weekend of June 27 and 28, opening at 8:00 PM. The goal stated by the organizers was to enhance the viticultural excellence of the Sannio territory and create a meeting point between culture, gastronomy, music, and poetry.
Wineries available for tasting
Among the announced producers were Fontanavecchia, Il Poggio, Janare - La Guardiense, Cantina di Solopaca, Vini La Fortezza, Cantina del Taburno, F Wine, Aia dei Colombi, Denica, Torre a Oriente, Vigne Storte, Vinicola Arenella, and Cantine Tora, for a total of about twenty companies from the Sannio and surrounding areas. The tasting kit, on sale for 10 euros, included a glass and five samples.
Wine and Poetry, the heart of Sunday
On Sunday, June 28, at 8:00 PM, the cultural salon dedicated to the dialogue between wine and poetry was held, introduced by the president of Selvaggio Edizioni, Maria Pia Selvaggio. The technical tasting was led by Tommaso Luongo, president of the Italian Sommelier Association (AIS) Campania, who guided the public on a sensory journey through the selected wines, paired with reading moments. Taking part in the 'decanting of verses' were poets Gaetano Fusco, Carlo Pastore, Dante Iagrossi, Michela Elvira Pietropaolo, Enza Zotti, Antonello Santagata, and Pellegrino Colangelo, with musical accompaniment.
Flavors and music
Four food stalls, curated by Nuovo Centro Studi Puglianello, Vincenzo Esposito, Sebastiano Pucella, and Antonio Amanteo, offered traditional dishes and products from the Valle Telesina. Saturday evening was accompanied by musical entertainment and DJ sets. Admission to the event was free.
Programme Calici in Villa 2026
Saturday, June 27, 2026
- From 8:00 PM - Opening of winery stands in the Villa Marchitto gardens
- Tasting of Sannio wines with glass + five-sample kit
- Food stalls with typical products of the Valle Telesina
- Musical entertainment and DJ set in the evening
Sunday, June 28, 2026
- From 8:00 PM - Reopening of tastings and food stalls
- 8:00 PM - Wine and Poetry cultural salon, with Selvaggio Edizioni president Maria Pia Selvaggio
- Technical tasting led by sommelier Tommaso Luongo, president of AIS Campania: sensory journey through selected wines paired with poetic moments
- Decanting of verses: readings by poets Gaetano Fusco, Carlo Pastore, Dante Iagrossi, Michela Elvira Pietropaolo, Enza Zotti, Antonello Santagata, and Pellegrino Colangelo, with musical accompaniment
Announced Wineries
Fontanavecchia, Il Poggio, Janare - La Guardiense, Cantina di Solopaca, Vini La Fortezza, Cantina del Taburno, F Wine, Aia dei Colombi, Denica, Torre a Oriente, Vigne Storte, Vinicola Arenella, Cantine Tora, and other Sannio producers, for about twenty companies in total.
Food Stalls
Four refreshment points managed by Nuovo Centro Studi Puglianello, Vincenzo Esposito, Sebastiano Pucella, and Antonio Amanteo.
Highlights Calici in Villa 2026
- About twenty Sannio wineries available for tasting in the 19th-century gardens of Villa Marchitto
- The Wine and Poetry salon on Sunday evening, with a technical tasting by sommelier Tommaso Luongo (AIS Campania president)
- Readings by seven guest poets, accompanied by music
- Four food stalls with typical products of the Valle Telesina
- Free admission: you only pay for the 10-euro tasting kit
Prices Calici in Villa 2026
Practical information — Calici in Villa
Where it takes place
Villa Marchitto, adjacent to the Baronial Castle, in the center of Puglianello (Province of Benevento, Campania). Postal code 82030.
How to get there
- By car: Take the Strada Statale 372 Telesina, which crosses the Valle Telesina connecting Caianello and Benevento; from there, continue toward Puglianello. Parking is available on the streets of the center, within walking distance of the villa.
- By train: The nearest station is Telese Terme-Cerreto, on the Caserta-Benevento line, a few kilometers from the village; the final stretch is by car or taxi.
- By plane: Naples-Capodichino airport, then take the highway and the Telesina road.
Hours and prices
The evenings begin around 8:00 PM and continue until late. Admission is free; the tasting kit (glass and five samples) is on sale on-site for 10 euros. Consumptions at the food stalls are paid for separately.
Tips
- Outdoor evening in the garden: comfortable shoes and a light sweater are recommended, as nights in the valley can be cool.
- If you are driving, consider carpooling or alternating tastings, as there are many wines to try.
- For accommodation, the widest range is in Telese Terme and nearby villages (farmhouses and small B&Bs in the Valle Telesina).
Information
Municipality of Puglianello, Piazza Municipio 7 - tel. +39 0824 946985. Updates and posters are available on the social media channels of the Municipality and the Pro Loco.
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Where does it take place — Calici in Villa
Villa Marchitto