Casavecchia & Pallagrello Wine Festival
The royal grape varieties of the Alto Casertano in the village of Pontelatone
About Casavecchia & Pallagrello Wine Festival
Three days among the royal vines of the Alto Casertano
The Casavecchia & Pallagrello Wine Festival is an annual event held in early July that turns the historic center of Pontelatone, a small hillside town in the province of Caserta, Campania, into an open-air wine cellar. For three days, the village squares and alleys host winery tasting stands, a food area dedicated to local products, conferences, masterclasses, and concerts. Admission is free, and the festival is organized by Pro Loco Pontelatone APS.
Casavecchia and Pallagrello: two native varieties to rediscover
The festival was created to showcase the two grape varieties that have made this corner of the Alto Casertano famous. Casavecchia is a red wine with origins shrouded in legend: its name is said to come from an old vine that survived powdery mildew and phylloxera epidemics, discovered near a ruined farmhouse. Today, the variety is recognized through the DOC Casavecchia di Pontelatone, which bears the town's name.
Pallagrello, available in white and black versions, is one of the so-called "royal grapes": it was a favorite at the Bourbon court in Caserta and was recovered by local producers after a long period of neglect. It is no coincidence that the hills around Pontelatone, with their volcanic and clay soils, are considered the ideal terroir for both varieties, in a territory inhabited since ancient times and linked to the Samnite-Roman city of Trebula Balliensis.
The wineries and the food area
The heart of the event is Piazza Cavour, dedicated entirely to producers: the old gazebos have been replaced by elegant tasting counters that encourage direct dialogue between the public and the winemakers. The most recent edition featured over twenty wineries, up from thirteen the previous year, including Alois, Vigne Chigi, Sclavia, Cantina di Lisandro, Laboris Catrame, Masseria Piccirillo, Le Fontanelle, Il Verro, Scaramuzzo, Canestrini, Sergio Sagliocco, Domus Vinaria, Viticoltori del Casavecchia, Vestini Campagnano, Selvanova, Le Ghiandaie, Gravina, Melone, and Civittolo.
Surrounding the tastings is a large food area curated by local restaurateurs and producers, with a gastronomic selection showcasing Caserta's finest:
- Campania buffalo mozzarella and fresh dairy products;
- cow and buffalo milk cheeses from local dairies;
- cured meats, extra virgin olive oil, and artisanal pasta;
- traditional peasant dishes from the Alto Casertano.
More than just wine: culture, music, and motors
The program goes beyond the glass. Each edition offers masterclasses led by sommeliers and industry journalists, in collaboration with AIS Campania and the AIS Caserta Delegation, as well as conferences that weave together wine, archaeology, and local memory, such as "Pontelatone: wine as the identity of the territory." There are also photo exhibitions, documentaries about the area, a vintage car rally, and evening concerts that bring the village squares to life until late.
From the Grape Festival to the Wine Festival
The event has its roots in the historic Casavecchia Wine Grape Festival, organized by the Pro Loco of Pontelatone, which reached its 39th edition in 2013, when it was held in September with taste workshops, winery visits, and folk shows. The transition to a "Wine Festival" format, moved to the beginning of summer and opened to the entire Alto Casertano wine sector, has given the event a more oenological and professional dimension without losing the village's popular character.
Organizers
The festival is promoted by Pro Loco Pontelatone APS, chaired by Lorenzo Monaco, in collaboration with the Strada del Vino Casavecchia di Pontelatone, led by Andrea Granito, with the patronage of the Municipality of Pontelatone and the support of AIS Campania and the AIS Caserta Delegation.
Casavecchia & Pallagrello Wine Festival — edition 2026
The festival grows: over twenty wineries in the village
From July 3 to 5, 2026, the historic center of Pontelatone, in the province of Caserta, hosted the new edition of the Casavecchia & Pallagrello Wine Festival, promoted by the Pro Loco Pontelatone APS with the Strada del Vino Casavecchia di Pontelatone, the patronage of the Municipality, and the support of AIS Campania and the AIS Caserta Delegation.
The most visible innovation was the organization of the spaces: Piazza Cavour was entirely dedicated to producers, with elegant tasting counters replacing traditional gazebos, while the rest of the village was occupied by the food area and cultural spaces. Over twenty companies were present, a clear step forward compared to the thirteen of the previous edition, confirming the growth of the Alto Casertano wine sector around the two native grape varieties.
Culture, music, and motors
Alongside the tastings, the program featured the conference "Pontelatone: wine as the identity of the territory," dedicated to the link between wine production, archaeology, and local memory, a masterclass on royal grapes paired with excellent cheeses, the unveiling of a historic plaque on Via Torre, a vintage car rally on Sunday morning, and three evenings of live music in the village squares.
Programme Casavecchia & Pallagrello Wine Festival 2026
Friday, July 3, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Masterclass "Royal Grapes and Excellent Cheeses" at Il Wengé, in Piazza Municipio: led by Manuel Lombardi, coordinated by Antonella Amodio, with Andrea Amadei and Mario Sanza; featuring buffalo cheeses from Caseificio La Baronia and Pezzata Rossa cow milk cheeses from Caseificio Antica Casella. Cost 25 euros, booking mandatory, limited seating.
- From 8:00 PM — Opening of the wine area in Piazza Cavour, the food area, and experience spaces.
- Evening — Concert by the Almanova Band in Piazza Cutillo.
Saturday, July 4, 2026
- 5:00 PM — Conference "Pontelatone: wine as the identity of the territory," covering wine production, archaeology, and local traditions.
- Unveiling of the historic plaque on Via Torre.
- From 8:00 PM — Tasting stands, food area, and live music with ZTL Live Band and Beat Bubble.
Sunday, July 5, 2026
- 9:30 AM — Vintage car rally in the village.
- 10:00 AM — Conference "Alcohol and Motors."
- From the afternoon — Reopening of the wine and food areas; evening concerts by O Rom and Jen's Groove.
Throughout the festival: winery tasting stands in Piazza Cavour, photo exhibitions, and screenings of documentaries about the territory.
Highlights Casavecchia & Pallagrello Wine Festival 2026
- Over twenty Alto Casertano wineries in Piazza Cavour: Alois, Vigne Chigi, Sclavia, Cantina di Lisandro, Laboris Catrame, Masseria Piccirillo, Le Fontanelle, Il Verro, Scaramuzzo, Canestrini, Sergio Sagliocco, Domus Vinaria, Viticoltori del Casavecchia, Vestini Campagnano, Selvanova, Le Ghiandaie, Gravina, Melone, Civittolo.
- Masterclass "Royal Grapes and Excellent Cheeses" with Manuel Lombardi and Antonella Amodio.
- Conference "Pontelatone: wine as the identity of the territory."
- Vintage car rally and "Alcohol and Motors" conference on Sunday morning.
- Three evenings of live music: Almanova Band, ZTL Live Band, Beat Bubble, O Rom, and Jen's Groove.
- Food area with buffalo mozzarella, cheeses, and Caserta culinary specialties.
Prices Casavecchia & Pallagrello Wine Festival 2026
Practical information — Casavecchia & Pallagrello Wine Festival
Getting there
Pontelatone is located in the Alto Casertano, about a 20-minute drive from Caserta and just under an hour from Naples. By car: from Naples, take the A1 exit at Santa Maria Capua Vetere; from Rome, exit at Capua, then continue on provincial roads toward Pontelatone. The most convenient train station is Caserta, which is well-connected to Naples, from where you can continue by car or local bus services. The nearest airport is Naples Capodichino.
Parking
During the festival, over 3,000 free parking spaces are available in areas set up around the historic center. The village is entirely pedestrian-friendly.
Admission and tastings
Admission to the festival is free. Tastings at winery stands and food purchases are paid for on-site; masterclasses have a separate fee and limited seating, with mandatory booking via WhatsApp at +39 351 3172715.
Tips
It is best to arrive early, especially on weekends, to find parking near the center and to enjoy the tasting stands at a leisurely pace. Comfortable shoes are essential: the village streets are uphill and paved with cobblestones. For those wishing to extend their visit, the Alto Casertano offers farmhouses and wineries to visit along the Strada del Vino Casavecchia, in addition to the Royal Palace of Caserta and the Campanian amphitheater of Santa Maria Capua Vetere nearby.
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Where does it take place — Casavecchia & Pallagrello Wine Festival
Centro storico di Pontelatone (Piazza Cavour, Piazza Municipio, Piazza Cutillo)