Catone DiVino

A wine festival in the heart of the Castelli Romani

Catone DiVino is the food and wine event that enlivens Monte Porzio Catone every autumn. Located in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in the Lazio region, the town overlooks the Colli Albani. For an entire weekend, the historic center turns into an open-air winery: local wine producers set up tasting stalls in the village squares, creating a continuous journey of wine, music, and storytelling.

A volcanic territory dedicated to wine

Monte Porzio Catone sits on a volcanic plateau that, along with neighboring towns, forms the historic Frascati DOCG district. Within just over ten square kilometers, a dozen wineries coexist, many of which are family-run. The festival was created specifically to showcase this productive density: it is not a general fair, but a narrative of an agricultural landscape that has shaped the town's identity, its tuff caves, and its terraced hillsides.

How the tasting works

The system is simple and well-loved by visitors: you purchase a tasting kit, which includes a branded wine glass, a glass-holder pouch, and a series of tokens to spend freely at the winery stalls scattered throughout the village. In recent editions, the kit was priced at approximately 7 euros for online pre-sale and 10 euros on-site, including five tastings. Those looking for a deeper experience can sign up for masterclasses and guided tastings hosted at the Wine Museum.

The Wine Museum, the event's headquarters

The organizational heart is the Wine Museum in Piazza Trieste, housed in a restored former railway station: archaeological finds, ancient winemaking tools, and interactive installations tell the history of local viticulture. During the festival, the museum hosts opening ceremonies, meetings with historians and agronomists, presentations on the agricultural landscape of the Castelli Romani, and guided tours designed for families.

More than just wine: music, theater, and activities for children

Catone DiVino is a deliberately multidisciplinary event. Alongside the tasting stalls, you will find concerts by Roman singer-songwriters, folk music groups, theatrical performances, and readings. For the little ones, the Children's Grape Harvest (Vendemmia dei bambini), archaeological-themed workshops, and team games like the Il Codice diVino treasure hunt are organized. The social dining tables set up in the square, featuring dishes from local restaurants, are among the most popular moments.

Wineries and partners

Recent editions have featured wineries such as Villa Simone, Poggio Le Volpi, Cantina Villafranca, Gabriele Pulcini Vini, Borgo del Cedro, Poggio agli Ulivi, L'Olivella, Cantina Ribelà, Cantine Santa Benedetta, and Cantine San Marco, alongside the Biodistretto dei Castelli Romani and the Consorzio Tutela Denominazioni Vini Frascati. The event is promoted by the Municipality of Monte Porzio Catone with the Iperico Servizi per la Cultura Cooperative.

When to go

The event is traditionally scheduled for the first weekends of October, just after the grape harvest, when the days in the Castelli Romani are still mild and the wineries have just finished picking. It is the ideal time to combine a visit to the festival with a walk in the Castelli Romani Park or a stop in nearby Frascati.