Castelforte Grape and Wine Festival

A festival rooted in the grape harvest

The Grape and Wine Festival is one of the most cherished and historic events in the calendar of Castelforte, a town in lower Lazio in the province of Latina, bordering Campania. The event takes place every September in the Ciesco district, along Via Martiri d'Ungheria and around Piazza Falcone e Borsellino, transforming the village into a grand celebration dedicated to the fruits of the harvest.

Origins: from 1930 to today

The first Grape Festival in Castelforte dates back to 1930 and was held for six consecutive years until 1935, featuring grape-laden carts decorated in Piazza Muraglia and awards for the best producers. The war interrupted the tradition for a long time, but it was later resumed and has now surpassed its 40th edition. Today, the festival celebrates grapes not only as a gastronomic product but as a symbol of peasant culture and everything in the region linked to vineyard work and the harvest.

A territory of great ancient wines

The Castelforte area boasts an ancient winemaking heritage: as early as the time of Pliny the Elder, these lands were identified as the production area for some of the most famous wines of antiquity, Falerno and Cecubo. The Grape and Wine Festival honors this legacy, bringing it to life through tastings of local wines, made possible by the presence of wineries from across the Lazio and Terra di Lavoro regions.

What to expect at the festival

The two-day event alternates between social, cultural, and musical moments. Highlights include:

• Wine tastings of local labels and food and wine stalls;
• Traditional peasant dishes, such as quail with grapes and mulled wine;
• Distribution of grape baskets to visitors;
• Craft and flea markets, along with stalls selling local products;
• Live music and evening concerts in the square;
• Fireworks display to close the event.

Admission is free, and the atmosphere is that of a traditional village festival, drawing visitors from across the province of Latina and neighboring towns in Campania.

Castelforte and lower Lazio

Nestled between the Garigliano River and the slopes of the Aurunci Mountains, Castelforte is a village in southern Lazio rich in history and folk traditions. The Grape and Wine Festival is the moment when the community gathers to celebrate its agricultural roots, offering visitors an authentic opportunity to discover the flavors, wines, and conviviality of this corner of the Latina province.