Chianina & Syrah
The 'Buon Vivere' festival celebrating Chianina beef and Syrah wine in Cortona
About Chianina & Syrah
The 'Buon Vivere' festival in Cortona
In the heart of eastern Tuscany, in Cortona (Province of Arezzo), Chianina & Syrah has become one of the region's most anticipated food and wine events. For four days, the Etruscan city celebrates its motto, Buon Vivere (The Good Life), by bringing together two local icons: Chianina beef—the famous Vitellone Bianco dell'Appennino Centrale PGI, the first fresh Italian meat to receive European recognition in 1998—and Cortona DOC Syrah wine, a grape variety that has found one of its most successful Italian expressions in the hills of Cortona.
Between star-studded dinners and tastings
The festival takes place in two of the city's landmark venues. The Teatro Signorelli, a 19th-century jewel overlooking Piazza Signorelli, hosts grand gala dinners with Michelin-starred chefs. Meanwhile, the Centro Convegni Sant'Agostino hosts "Morsi e Sorsi" (Bites and Sips), the public section featuring tasting stands from Syrah producers and gastronomic offerings from participating restaurants, all centered around Chianina beef.
Michelin-starred chefs and global wineries
Each edition attracts a top-tier lineup: around fifty chefs, including about ten Michelin-starred names, alongside pastry chefs, sommeliers, artisanal gelato makers, and culinary artisans. Over fifty wineries participate in the tastings, with an increasing focus on international Syrah producers, while local restaurants showcase Chianina in every form, from steak to tartare.
More than just a meal
Beyond the tastings, the program offers wine masterclasses, cooking shows, talks on the 'Buon Vivere' lifestyle, workshops for children, cigar and spirit tastings, and in-depth sessions for industry professionals. It is a formula that blends haute cuisine, food culture, and the promotion of the Cortona region.
An event that tells the story of Tuscany
Promoted by the Consorzio Vini di Cortona and organized by Terretrusche Events with the support of the Municipality of Cortona, Chianina & Syrah is much more than a food festival: it is a true showcase of Tuscan gastronomic excellence, attracting enthusiasts, industry experts, and gourmet tourists from all over Italy and abroad. Visiting Cortona during the festival is also an opportunity to discover one of Tuscany's most beautiful art cities, with its Etruscan walls, Renaissance palaces, and sweeping views of the Val di Chiana.
Chianina & Syrah — edition 2026
The 2026 edition, the ninth of the event, confirmed Cortona as the capital of Tuscan 'Buon Vivere'. For the first time, alongside more than 50 Italian wineries, Syrah producers from France, Australia, Greece, Albania, Switzerland, and South Africa participated, reflecting the festival's growing international vocation. On the gastronomic front, about fifty chefs—including ten Michelin-starred ones—and over thirty local restaurants showcased Chianina beef in every possible form.
Programme Chianina & Syrah 2026
Friday, March 6 — Teatro Signorelli
- 19:30 — Welcome to Chianina & Syrah, opening with Ilaria Salvadori and Sara Bellinzona
- 20:00 — Gourmet dinner "The White Giant and the Prince Syrah" with Michelin-starred chefs (Chicco Cerea ***, Peppe Aversa *, Giuseppe Di Iorio * and others); Syrah wine pairing and presentation of the "Buon Vivere, City of Cortona 2026" Award
Saturday, March 7 — Centro Convegni Sant'Agostino
- 10:00 — "Che Syrah Sarà ", preview of Cortona DOC and Italian Syrah (press only)
- 12:30-17:00 — "Morsi e Sorsi": Chianina Experience (grilled steak), American BBQ, Hamburger Mania, Quinto Quarto Experience, La Chianina in Pot and tasting exhibition with over 40 wineries
- Masterclasses and workshops: "From Stables to Stars" with Michele Milani (game meat) and Filip Matjaz * (Chianina kebab), BBQ Show, wine workshop "Conversation on the Northern Rhône", Cigars & Spirits, cocktail bar, and Chianina & Piccini children's workshop
- 20:00 — Preview dinner at Teatro Signorelli with local Michelin-starred chefs (Silvia Baracchi *, Alessandro Ferrarini *, Florian Vogel * and others) and presentation of the "Cortona, Land of Syrah 2026" Award
Sunday, March 8 — Centro Convegni Sant'Agostino
- 11:00-17:00 — Repeats of gastronomic offerings and new events: wine workshop "The Rhône calls, Australia answers", cooking show "From Stables to Stars" with Michele De Blasio *, Simone Fracassi, Ilaria Salvadori, Sara Bellinzona, and Stefano Cecconi; talk "The Buon Vivere according to Luigi Franchi"; children's workshops with chef Lucia Mulinacci
Monday, March 9 — Auditorium Sant'Agostino
- 10:00 — Professional tasting reserved for industry operators (registration required)
Highlights Chianina & Syrah 2026
Prices Chianina & Syrah 2026
Practical information — Chianina & Syrah
Getting there
By car: A1 motorway, Valdichiana exit, then SS71 towards Cortona. By train: Camucia-Cortona station (Florence-Rome line), then shuttle or bus to the historic center.
Festival venues
Teatro Signorelli (Piazza Signorelli) and Centro Convegni Sant'Agostino, both in the historic center of Cortona.
Tickets
Gala dinners and many masterclasses require payment and advance booking; some events and workshops are free but require mandatory reservation. Tickets can be purchased online via the official Terretrusche box office.
Contact
Terretrusche Events, Via Nazionale 42, 52044 Cortona (AR) — tel. +39 0575 606887, email [email protected].
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Where does it take place — Chianina & Syrah
Teatro Signorelli e Centro Convegni Sant'Agostino
Via Nazionale 42, 52044 Cortona