Grape Harvest Festival

A rural festival at the foot of the Lattari Mountains

At an altitude of just over 400 meters, Pimonte is one of the most authentic agricultural villages in the Metropolitan City of Naples: a town of fewer than six thousand inhabitants overlooking the Sorrento Peninsula, nestled between the woods of the Lattari Mountains and the terraced fields sloping down toward the valley. Here, every year in early October, the Grape Harvest Festival brings the most ancient local agricultural tradition back to the town center: the harvesting and treading of grapes.

The event takes place on the grounds of the Il Ceppo - Wild farm, on Via Piano, and was born from a desire to introduce residents and visitors to the winemaking heritage of a territory that, despite being only a few kilometers from the sea of Castellammare di Stabia and the coast, retains a deeply rural soul.

From the 2024 debut to the three-day 2025 edition

The first edition was held on Sunday, October 6, 2024, under the patronage of the Campania Region and the Municipality of Pimonte: a unique day built around the "Harvest Experience" and meetings with experts on the history of Lattari Mountain wines.

The success of that first gathering prompted organizers to expand the program: in 2025, the festival became a three-day event, from October 3 to 5, with the inclusion of the Monti Lattari Foundation, an organization that promotes sustainable development and the identity of the area. This rapid growth transformed the initiative of a single farm into a landmark event for the Pimonte autumn season.

Barefoot treading: the heart of the festival

The most anticipated moment remains the barefoot grape treading inside wooden vats: a ritual that the elderly still remember and that is offered here as an experience open to everyone, including children. It is the act that gives meaning to the entire event and explains, better than any lecture, the bond between the community and its land.

• Harvest Experience: rotating shifts to participate in the harvesting and treading
• Workshops for children, with local schools involved in a dedicated day
• Stories and testimonials about the history of viticulture in the Lattari Mountains

Wines and flavors of the Sorrento Peninsula

Alongside the hands-on activities, the festival dedicates ample space to tastings. In 2025, the program hosted a masterclass on the wines of the Sorrento Peninsula DOP Producers Consortium, led by Raffaele La Mura, accompanied by tastings of typical dishes from local peasant cuisine. Lattari Mountain cheeses, garden produce, pasta, and seasonal desserts create a culinary journey that highlights the area's short supply chains.

This is no minor detail: the Sorrento Peninsula is a historic designation in Campania, often overshadowed by the region's more famous names, and events like this serve specifically to restore its visibility.

Trekking and nature on the Lattari Mountain trails

The Grape Harvest Festival is not limited to the vineyards. The program has always included guided hikes along the trails that climb the Lattari Mountains: in 2025, Sunday began at 7:00 AM with a trek, while as early as 2024, the "Wellness Group" accompanied participants along the nature trails surrounding the town. It is a way to connect the harvest to the landscape that makes it possible, amidst chestnut groves, terraces, and panoramic views stretching from the Gulf of Naples to the Gulf of Salerno.

What to expect from the 2026 edition

As of the update of this page, the Municipality of Pimonte and the organizers have not yet released the official dates for the 2026 edition: the event is usually held on the first weekend of October, coinciding with the late hillside harvest. Those wishing to attend can follow the official channels of the Municipality and the Monti Lattari Foundation, where the program is usually published in the preceding weeks.

The festival is also part of a rich autumn calendar: in Pimonte, the October wine season intertwines with that of the Monte Faito chestnut, the star of other food and wine initiatives promoted in the municipal area.