Roccazzo Grape Festival

The grape harvest festival in the Iblei Mountains

The Roccazzo Grape Festival is one of the most cherished food and wine events in the Iblei region. It takes place in Roccazzo, a rural hamlet in the municipality of Chiaramonte Gulfi, in the province of Ragusa, perched at an altitude of 272 meters among the vineyards and countryside of the Iblei Mountains. Every year in September, the village celebrates the end of the harvest by turning its produce market into a vibrant "harvest citadel," the beating heart of two days filled with festivities, authentic flavors, and rural traditions.

Italia grapes and the flavors of the must

The undisputed star of the festival is table grapes, particularly the prized Italia variety grown in the surrounding countryside. Along the stalls, you can buy freshly picked bunches and savor specialties made from grape must: the famous cuddureddi (must-based cookies), mostarda, and mustata, which is prepared on-site in large cauldrons where thousands of liters of must are boiled every year. There is also no shortage of fritters, sausage sandwiches, and other typical products from the Iblei mountains.

Shows, music, and awards

Alongside the culinary offerings, the Grape Festival provides a rich entertainment program: folk shows, live music, and evening concerts that keep the village squares lively until late at night. During the event, the "Custodi della Viticoltura - Saro Lauria" (Guardians of Viticulture) award is presented to those who continue to pass down the art of vine cultivation in the area.

A continuing tradition

Organized with passion by the Roccazzo Youth Association, the festival is a defining event for the entire community, drawing visitors from Ragusa, Vittoria, and the entire southeastern Sicily region. The event is supported by the Municipality of Chiaramonte Gulfi, the Province of Ragusa, and the Regional Department of Agriculture. Visiting it means discovering the authenticity of the Iblei countryside, its scents, and its most genuine flavors, in an atmosphere of popular celebration that unites generations.