Rutigliano Table Grape Festival

The table grape festival in the heart of Puglia

The Rutigliano Table Grape Festival is one of the most enduring and beloved popular events in Puglia. Established in the 1960s in the town of Rutigliano, in the province of Bari, the festival celebrates the product that made this area famous: table grapes, grown under the characteristic vine trellises of the Rutigliano countryside since the 1930s. Every autumn, the historic center comes alive with colors, scents, and flavors to pay homage to an agricultural excellence that serves as both an economic engine and a symbol of the community's identity.

A tradition spanning over sixty years

Reaching its sixty-first edition in 2025, the Grape Festival has deep roots in the farming culture of the territory south of Bari, where table grape cultivation has been the primary agricultural activity for generations. The event is organized by the Rutigliano Grape Festival Civic Committee in collaboration with the Municipality, under the patronage of the Puglia Region and the Metropolitan City of Bari. Over the decades, the festival has grown into a regional highlight, successfully combining the promotion of agricultural produce with a rich program of cultural and entertainment events.

The Giant Cluster Competition

The heart and soul of the festival is the historic Giant Cluster Competition, which awards the heaviest bunches grown by local farms. The competition is divided by variety—from Red Globe to Uva Italia, from white seedless grapes to colored ones—and each year, awards are also given for presentation, packaging, and product quality. The competing clusters reach record weights exceeding five kilograms, a concrete testament to the expertise of Rutigliano's viticulturists.

A program of taste, culture, and entertainment

During the two-day festival, the historic center fills with exhibitions, workshops, markets, show-cooking sessions, and gourmet tours dedicated to grapes and local specialties. Highlights include Grape Tasting in historic town residences like Palazzo Settanni, street food stands, the grape fair, and street performers. The evenings are dedicated to major free concerts on Via Dante: over the years, the festival has hosted well-known names in Italian music, attracting a large and diverse audience.

Why visit

The Rutigliano Table Grape Festival is the perfect opportunity to discover a Puglian village rich in history and tradition, savor table grapes in their place of origin, and experience the authentic atmosphere of a town festival that brings generations together. A free, open-air event suitable for families and food and wine enthusiasts alike, it captures the agricultural and convivial soul of Puglia.