Pianoconte Wine and Bread Festival

The oldest festival in the Aeolian Islands

The Wine and Bread Festival takes place in Pianoconte, a charming hillside village in the municipality of Lipari, in the Aeolian Islands archipelago, within the Metropolitan City of Messina (Sicily). Founded in 1985 by the Terme di San Calogero Cultural, Recreational, and Sports Association, it is recognized as the oldest and longest-running festival in the Aeolian archipelago. Every November, it brings back to the square the flavors, sounds, and customs of the rural civilization that shaped the island's terraced landscape.

New wine, bread, and local produce

The heart of the festival is the grand food and wine tasting event that brings Piazza Santa Croce to life. The undisputed stars are the new wine made from local vineyards, traditional bread, and the specialties that define the event:

• pane caliatu cunzatu salad, a symbolic dish of Aeolian peasant cuisine;
• pennette with sausage, paired with the ever-present local wine;
• grilled sausage and other typical local delicacies.

Each day, the festival attracts hundreds of visitors from other islands in the archipelago and from across Sicily, creating an atmosphere of popular celebration that blends taste and conviviality.

Music, dance, and traditional games

Alongside the tastings, the program features dance evenings with traditional folk music and costumes, folk dances, roving percussionists through the village streets, and live musical entertainment. There is no shortage of traditional games, tournaments, and cultural and anthropological initiatives that highlight the collective memory of the Aeolian community.

Visits to the historic wine press

A highly appreciated highlight is the guided tour of the wine press and mill at the Mandarano farm, where the ancient techniques of winemaking and processing local produce are showcased. It is a unique opportunity to discover the deep bond between Pianoconte, the vine, and the culture of bread.

A continuing tradition

For nearly forty years, the Wine and Bread Festival has preserved and passed down the rural identity of Lipari, involving local schools, associations, and families. More than just a gastronomic feast, it is an autumn ritual that celebrates the land, rural labor, and the sense of community in the Aeolian Islands.