Monferrato Wine Festival

The most beloved wine festival in Monferrato

For over sixty years, the Monferrato Wine Festival has been the flagship event in the calendar of Casale Monferrato, the lead city of the UNESCO Monferrato territory in the province of Alessandria, Piedmont. Now in its sixty-fifth edition, it is one of the longest-running and most popular food and wine events in the region: every year, it attracts thousands of visitors from all over Piedmont and beyond, drawn by the quality of the wines and the richness of the local Monferrato culinary tradition.

Piazza Castello, the gourmet village

The heart of the festival is Piazza Castello, where the grand Mercato Pavia is set up each year: a covered village with 6,000 seats where 31 local Pro Loco associations gather. Each one brings its own specialties to the table, creating a culinary journey that tells the story of the entire Monferrato identity. Alongside the food area, stalls from 30 wine producers offer the region's great reds and whites for tasting.

The wines and flavors of Monferrato

The absolute stars are the native wines of the UNESCO Monferrato: Barbera, Grignolino, and Ruché lead a selection that showcases one of Italy's most important wine regions. Accompanying them are the great classics of Piedmontese cuisine served by the Pro Loco:

• Agnolotti del plin and with roast sauce
• Panissa, the traditional rice, bean, and pork rind dish from the Vercelli and Monferrato areas
• Bollito misto (mixed boiled meats) with its signature sauces
• Fritto misto alla piemontese
• Bagna cauda, the iconic dip symbolizing Piedmontese conviviality

Music, markets, and shows

The festival is more than just food and wine: throughout the event, the center of Casale comes alive with live music and evening DJ sets, a funfair in Piazza Castello, and various markets scattered through the streets of the center, from Tipico & Shopping to the Regional Piedmontese Market. One of the most anticipated moments is the pyromusical show from the castle ramparts, the true highlight of one of the evenings. A deeply felt tradition is the popular vote, where visitors elect the "Wine of the Festival."

An identity-defining event for Casale

More than just a simple village fair, the Wine Festival is a collective ritual that unites the city and the entire Monferrato territory. For two weekends, the Municipality of Casale Monferrato becomes a showcase for an internationally recognized food and wine culture, balancing quality, tradition, and hospitality in a way that makes it the signature event of the Casale autumn.