Montecorice diWine Jazz Festival

When jazz meets Cilento wine

The Montecorice diWine Jazz Festival is an annual event held in mid-August that brings world-class improvised music to the historic center of Montecorice, a small town in the province of Salerno, Campania, nestled among the hills that slope down toward the Cilento coast. The concept behind the project is simple yet compelling: to create a dialogue between two languages that thrive on nuance—jazz and wine—within a single, immersive experience. Hence the wordplay in the name, diWine, blending the Italian "divino" (divine) with the English "wine".

Piazzetta San Biagio, a natural stage

The heart of the festival is Piazzetta San Biagio, located in the ancient core of the town. It is an intimate space, surrounded by stone houses and narrow alleys, which fills to capacity during the festival nights. The intimate acoustics and the proximity between musicians and the audience recreate a club-like atmosphere, but under the summer sky of Cilento. There are no massive structures or imposing stages—the square itself, with its authentic village charm, serves as the backdrop.

A nationally acclaimed program

Despite the small size of the municipality, the artistic direction has built a high-quality lineup over the years, alternating between local Campania groups, stars of the Italian jazz scene, and foreign guests. Trumpeters, saxophonists, singers, and organ trios among the most appreciated on the national scene have graced the stage in Montecorice, often performing projects created specifically for the festival. Each evening features two consecutive concerts, offering the audience two distinct atmospheres: a first set that is more melodic and Mediterranean, and a second set that delves into classic jazz or experimental sounds.

Wine as a co-star

Alongside the concerts, the oenological component is far from a mere side note. Tastings are curated by the A.I.S. (Italian Sommelier Association), specifically the Cilento and Vallo di Diano delegation, which guides the public in discovering local labels: Aglianico, Fiano, Piedirosso, and coastal white wines produced by Cilento wineries, many of which are located just a few kilometers from the square. In the 2025 edition, ten wineries participated, including producers from Montecorice and neighboring towns. The sommeliers propose pairings designed in parallel with the musical program, following the festival's guiding principle: the harmony between music and wine.

• Where: Piazzetta San Biagio, historic center of Montecorice (SA)
• When: Two evenings in mid-August, late-night concerts
• Organizer: Municipality of Montecorice with AIS Campania, supported by the Campania Region
• Format: Four concerts, guided tastings, traditionally free admission

Eleven editions and a distinct identity

Born in the mid-2010s, the festival reached its eleventh edition in 2025, establishing itself as one of the most recognizable cultural and food-and-wine events of the Cilento summer. Its growth has been gradual and organic: no chasing massive crowds, but rather a fidelity to the original format—a small square, quality music, and local wine—which has become its greatest strength. The audience consists largely of residents and vacationers, but the festival now attracts enthusiasts who travel along the coast specifically for these two nights.

Montecorice, the Cilento surrounding the festival

Those arriving for the concerts will find a region that deserves more than just one evening. Montecorice stretches between the sea and the hills, with the coastal hamlets of Agnone Cilento and Case del Conte, uncrowded beaches, and olive groves that almost touch the water. We are within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, a short distance from Acciaroli, Castellabate, and the archaeological sites of Velia and Paestum. The local cuisine—extra virgin olive oil, anchovies, white figs, handmade pasta—is that of the Mediterranean diet, which found its definition in these very lands. In this sense, the diWine Jazz Festival is not an isolated event, but the way the town showcases its identity during the summer.