Chestnuts and Novello Wine Festival

Chestnuts and Novello Wine in Castelguidone

Every autumn, the village of Castelguidone, a tiny municipality in the province of Chieti perched in the Abruzzo Alto Vastese, comes alive with the "Chestnuts and Novello Wine" festival. The event, organized with passion by the Castelguidone Pro Loco, has become a staple of the local calendar, celebrating the two products that best define the season: the roasted chestnut and the young, fragrant Novello wine.

A Community Celebration

More than just a food festival, it is a gathering point for the entire village and surrounding areas. Over the years, the Pro Loco has chosen to "de-seasonalize" its events, moving some outside the classic summer period to bring life to the autumn months—a strategy that has yielded excellent results in terms of participation. In one past edition, over two hundred meals were served in a single evening, a testament to the event's strong roots in the village's social fabric.

Autumn Flavors

The heart of the festival is, naturally, the roasted chestnuts prepared on the spot and the Novello wine from local wineries, accompanied by artisanal cured meats, cheeses, and traditional sweets like mostaccioli and ferratelle. There is no shortage of live folk music and entertainment for all ages, transforming the evening into a true village celebration.

Castelguidone and the Alto Vastese

With its few inhabitants, Castelguidone is one of the smallest and most charming villages in the Abruzzo hinterland, bordering Molise. Visiting during the festival means discovering an authentic corner of the hilly and mountainous Abruzzo, where food and wine traditions remain a living, shared heritage.