Degusta in Jazz (Summer Session)

Jazz and Vernaccia beneath the towers of San Gimignano

Degusta in Jazz is a festival that blends world-class jazz with the region's finest food and wine, set in the evocative medieval village of San Gimignano, in the province of Siena, in the heart of Tuscany. The event takes place in two sessions throughout the year: a winter edition in early January and a summer edition in August, which transforms the town's squares and historic venues into listening spaces where concerts harmonize with glasses of Vernaccia di San Gimignano, the first Italian white wine to achieve DOC status, now proudly holding the DOCG designation.

The August summer session

The summer session is the most anticipated part of the festival, featured in the "Accade d'Estate" (Happening in Summer) program of the Municipality of San Gimignano. The core events take place in August, with concerts distributed between the Sala della Cancelleria, on Via San Matteo, and the Rocca di Montestaffoli, the scenic fortified park that overlooks the village and hosts the festival's grand finale. The format combines live music, meet-and-greets, masterclasses for young musicians, and tastings of typical Val d'Elsa products.

Artistic direction and identity

The festival is curated by double bassist Ferruccio Spinetti, whose artistic direction ensures a high-quality program that showcases both major names in Italian and international jazz and emerging talents from conservatories and academies. The event is promoted by the San Gimignano Hotel Association in partnership with the Degusta in Jazz Eventi Association, in collaboration with the Vernaccia di San Gimignano Consortium and local restaurateurs.

Music and tastings

The common thread of the event is the pairing of jazz and tasting. During the concerts, visitors can savor Vernaccia di San Gimignano and traditional Tuscan dishes offered by participating restaurants, in a journey that fuses culture, listening, and taste. Over the years, the summer session has brought national and international jazz stars to San Gimignano, alongside original projects, premieres, and workshops open to younger audiences.

San Gimignano, the festival's backdrop

Listening to jazz at sunset from the Rocca di Montestaffoli, with the silhouette of the medieval towers in the background, is an experience that makes Degusta in Jazz much more than a simple music festival. San Gimignano, in the Tuscany Region, is one of Italy's most visited villages and a declared UNESCO World Heritage site: the festival's summer session highlights its charm by combining the quality of the musical offerings with the region's culinary identity.

• Where: Rocca di Montestaffoli and Sala della Cancelleria (Via San Matteo), San Gimignano
• When: Summer session in August (Winter session in January)
• Artistic Direction: Ferruccio Spinetti
• Pairing: Tastings of Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG