Piritaly

An event born among the pastures of Alta Tuscia

Piritaly is the major food and wine event that brings the Tenuta Il Radichino in Ischia di Castro, in the province of Viterbo, to life every May in the heart of the Lazio region's Alta Tuscia. Its origins are as simple as they are authentic: a party among friends to celebrate the sheep shearing. When the Pira family began processing their own flock's milk, the gathering opened up to other local farmers and, in just over a decade, became one of the most anticipated events in Lazio for professionals in the quality food sector.

The Pira family and Tenuta Il Radichino

The story began in the 1950s, when Carmelo and Giuliana Pira left Sardinia, bringing the island's pastoral cheesemaking traditions to the Tuscia region. Today, the estate raises over 1,500 sheep and 80 goats in a semi-wild state, alongside red-breed cattle, and processes raw milk in their on-site dairy. This has led to the creation of cheeses recognized far beyond regional borders:

• Blu Dolce, an elegant and pungent blue cheese
• Radichino al pepe rosa, spicy and generous
• Ricotta Granduchessa, creamy and clean on the palate

The farm is considered a model of sustainable supply chains and good agricultural practices, featuring a farm-to-table restaurant that welcomes visitors year-round.

What to expect at Piritaly

The event follows the format of an exclusive tasting fair: approximately 90 agri-food and wine producers from all over Italy set up their stalls to meet over a thousand professionals—buyers, chefs, restaurateurs, journalists, and industry experts. The 2025 edition featured over one hundred types of cheese and more than fifty artisanal cured meats, alongside specialties from every region: Emilian smoked salmon, Sienese panforte, Sardinian seadas, gourmet pizzas, and grilled lamb.

Showcooking, tastings, and the cheese auction

The day is punctuated by showcooking sessions led by renowned chefs, guided tastings at two dedicated stations—the Tavolo Rotondo (Round Table) and Tavolo Quadrato (Square Table)—where wines are paired with cured meats, cheeses, and seafood, and a signature moment of the event: the rare cheese auction, conducted by the Pira brothers before the public. There is also a nature walk in the nearby Selva del Lamone Regional Nature Reserve, one of the wildest areas of Tuscia, and the presence of sculptures by artist Akelo scattered throughout the estate.

An educational experience

Piritaly has a clear educational mission: every year, a group of students from the I.I.S. "A. Farnese" hospitality institute works alongside the producers and kitchen brigades, gaining hands-on experience. The initiative is supported by the Municipalities of Ischia di Castro and Farnese and the AIC (Italian Farmers Association).

Why it's worth the trip

Visitors to Piritaly won't find a typical village fair, but a professional gathering with a rustic soul: you eat and drink exceptionally well, meet producers one-on-one, and walk through the pastures and volcanic woods of Alta Tuscia. It is the best way to understand how a border territory between Lazio, Tuscany, and Umbria has quietly built one of the most interesting cheesemaking supply chains in central Italy.