Cupramontana Grape Festival

The Verdicchio festival in the heart of the Castelli di Jesi

Perched at over 500 meters above sea level among the hills of the Province of Ancona, Cupramontana has always been considered the capital of Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi. It is not surprising, therefore, that the village is also the home of the Grape Festival, the oldest food and wine event in the Marche region: the first edition dates back to 1928, and for almost a century, the festival has represented the moment when the entire community celebrates the end of the grape harvest.

Allegorical floats and Grape Stomping Palio

The heart of the Grape Festival is the grand parade of allegorical floats, built throughout the year by the town's districts with creativity, humor, and a good dose of local pride. On Sunday afternoon, the floats parade through the historic center to Piazza Cavour, where a jury awards prizes to the most successful creations. Another unmissable event is the Grape Stomping Palio, a re-enactment of the ancient tradition of stomping grapes barefoot in vats, a competition that pits the districts against each other amidst laughter and enthusiasm.

Stalls, Verdicchio, and folklore

Throughout the festival, the village is filled with characteristic food stalls, where you can taste dishes from Marche cuisine, naturally accompanied by local Verdicchio. There are also performances by folk groups, traditional songs, musical bands, and district shows, which liven up alleys and squares in an atmosphere of authentic celebration.

Major evening concerts

In recent years, the Grape Festival has combined tradition with a rich program of evening concerts in the square, attracting a large audience from all over the Marche region. The event, organized by the Fondazione Sagra dell'Uva Cupramontana, thus manages to unite history, tradition, and entertainment, confirming itself as one of the most important autumn events in the Marche territory.