Novello e Castagne

An autumn festival in the village of wine

When the first mists rise from the Calore valley and the vineyards turn deep red, Torrecuso opens its historic center for Novello e Castagne, a festival celebrating the two icons of the Sannio autumn. Usually held in mid-November over three days, the event transforms the town's squares—specifically Piazza Antonio Mellusi and Piazza Caracciolo—into a continuous trail of food stalls, tasting booths, and live music stages.

The event is organized by the Torrecuso Youth Forum with the patronage of the Municipality of Torrecuso, in the Province of Benevento, Campania. It is a grassroots festival built on the volunteer work of local youth: a detail that shines through in the atmosphere, which feels much more like a community celebration than an event manufactured for mass tourism.

New wine and chestnuts: the stars of the show

The new wine (vino novello) is the freshly bottled vintage: young, fragrant, and easy-drinking. In Torrecuso, it comes straight from local cellars, located in one of the most prestigious areas for Aglianico del Taburno DOCG and Falanghina del Sannio. Chestnuts, roasted on braziers along the streets, are the other main attraction, paired with traditional Sannio peasant dishes served at the stalls.

• Tastings of new wine and local Taburno wines
• Roasted chestnuts and autumn chestnut-based desserts
• Traditional Sannio dishes and local products
• Collective tasting booths across the two main squares

Open wineries and a historic center to discover

One of the best reasons to visit Torrecuso during the festival is the open wineries: on Saturday, several local wine producers welcome visitors for guided tours and tastings. The program also includes guided tours of the historic center, often by reservation, winding through noble palaces, narrow alleys, and scenic viewpoints overlooking the Taburno massif.

Music, DJ sets, and village atmosphere

As evening falls, the vibe shifts: the stage hosts live concerts—featuring local bands and tribute acts—followed by DJ sets that keep the square buzzing until late at night. This is the part of the festival that draws the youth of the Sannio region and explains why Novello e Castagne, despite remaining a local village festival, has become a well-known event throughout the province.

Activities for families, trekking, and sports

The program goes beyond just eating and drinking. Recent editions have featured creative workshops for children, urban trekking between the village and the vineyards (the so-called 'path of panoramas and wineries'), a Vespa club gathering with an aperitivo, recreational tournaments in the square, and public discussions organized by the Youth Forum on topics like youth participation and sustainable development.

Torrecuso, the Taburno, and the Sannio

Torrecuso has just over three thousand inhabitants and is located about ten kilometers from Benevento, on the slopes of the Taburno-Camposauro. It is one of the historic hubs of Campanian viticulture: its hills produce Aglianico, Falanghina, Coda di Volpe, and Greco, and the town also hosts a historic summer wine festival in August. Novello e Castagne is its autumn counterpart, more intimate and closely tied to the rhythm of the agricultural seasons.

The 2026 edition

At the moment, the dates for the 2026 edition have not been announced. As this is an autumn event, the calendar is usually published just a few weeks before the festival by the Torrecuso Youth Forum and the Municipality's channels. This page will be updated as soon as the official program is available.