Festa dell'Uva di Bondeno di Gonzaga

A grape harvest festival in the heart of the Bassa mantovana

The Festa dell'Uva (Grape Harvest Festival) is the quintessential autumn event in the hamlet of Bondeno di Gonzaga, in the municipality of Gonzaga, province of Mantua. Established in the early eighties, the festival celebrates the grape harvest season with a programme that blends gastronomy, music, and popular traditions of the Po Valley. It takes place at the evocative Corte Matilde, a rural courtyard that provides a natural backdrop for the event.

Sügol, the undisputed star

The signature dish of the festival is Sügol, a traditional dessert made from cooked grape must and flour, recognised as a De.Co. (Denominazione Comunale d'Origine - Municipal Designation of Origin) of Gonzaga. It is the specialty that best tells the story of the bond between Bondeno and its land, attracting curious visitors and food lovers every year. Alongside Sügol, you'll find gnocco fritto, perfect with cured meats and cheeses, and all the typical Mantuan cuisine served at the food stalls in the courtyard.

Two weekends of taste, music, and fun

The festival spans two weekends straddling September and October. The restaurants and food stalls open every evening, while the nights are livened up by live bands playing liscio and dance music, with a nod to the melodies of the seventies and eighties. There are also activities for children, such as the traditional grape stomping for kids, carousels, games, and themed exhibitions, including displays of stationary engines and rural life.

A tradition that unites the village

Behind the Festa dell'Uva is the voluntary work of the Bunden in Piasa association, which has kept this event alive for decades, making it a meeting point for the entire community of Bondeno and visitors from the province of Mantua. It's one of those village festivals where conviviality, good food, and a sense of belonging to the territory remain at the heart of everything.