Mentana Grape Festival

A festival celebrating the harvest of the Roman Sabina

The Mentana Grape Festival is one of the most deeply rooted autumn events in the area northeast of Rome. Located in the town of Mentana, in the province of Rome (Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Lazio), the festival began in the mid-1950s as a rural celebration dedicated to the grape harvest and the hard work of local winemakers, in a territory where viticulture has been a way of life for generations. In 2025, the 68th edition was held: few popular events in Lazio can boast such long-standing continuity.

From a rural fair to a wine festival

For decades, the event was primarily a village fair featuring allegorical floats, built by the various local districts—Mentana, Casali, and Castelchiodato—accompanied by folk parades through the streets. Since 2016, the format has evolved: the festival has been reimagined as a showcase dedicated to wine and agriculture, featuring conferences, guided tastings, readings, and live music, without losing the popular spirit of its origins.

The heart of the festival: the tasting trail

The now-established format features a widespread wine trail throughout the historic center, with tasting stands set up across squares and alleys. Recent editions have showcased approximately 150 labels from about thirty Italian wineries, selected in collaboration with specialized partners such as the Decanter Wine Academy and Enoteca Feronia. Upon entry, visitors receive a wine glass, which serves as their pass throughout the itinerary.

• Tasting stands featuring wineries from Lazio and other Italian regions
• Free masterclasses by reservation, conducted by AIS Colli della Sabina sommeliers
• Monographic deep dives, for example on Bellone, a historic Lazio grape variety, or wines from heroic viticulture
• Food areas with regional specialties

What to eat

Alongside the wine, the food areas offer honest and generous festival cuisine: fried potatoes and pizza, porchetta sandwiches, arrosticini, pasta all'amatriciana, and seafood dishes. The sweet symbol of the event remains the ciambella a cancello, the traditional anise-flavored biscuit from Mentana, which is meant to be broken and dipped in wine, a gesture as ancient as the festival itself.

The locations

The event takes place in the historic center, spanning Piazza Garibaldi, Piazza San Nicola, Palazzo Borghese, and the surrounding streets. During the evenings, the civic museums—the MuCAM (Civic Archaeological Museum of Mentana) and the MuGA (Garibaldino Museum)—remain open, hosting some of the masterclasses and offering a chance to discover the history of the village, linked to the famous 1867 battle between Garibaldi's troops and the Franco-Papal forces.

The atmosphere

The festival comes alive in the evening, when lights illuminate the alleys and live music accompanies the stroll from one stand to another. It is an event strongly supported by residents but increasingly popular with Romans, who can reach this village in just over half an hour by car to enjoy good wine, hearty local food, and the authentic rhythm of the Lazio countryside in autumn.

When it takes place

The Grape Festival is traditionally held on the first weekend of October, spanning two days, with stands opening in the late afternoon and closing late at night. The dates for the new edition are usually announced by the Municipality of Mentana and the official festival page in the weeks leading up to the event.