Teranum – Festival of Red Wines of the Karst

The red that tells the Karst

There is a color that, more than any other, defines the Karst plateau behind Trieste: red. It is the red of the iron-rich earth that covers the limestone rock, and it is the intense, rough red of Terrano, the symbolic wine of this borderland. Teranum – Festival of Red Wines of the Karst was born to give voice to this heritage, bringing together winemakers who have cultivated the steep terraces of the Trieste and Gorizia Karst for generations in a single day.

The event, organized by the Association of Karst Winemakers, revolves around the two most representative native grape varieties: Terrano, with its wild character and vibrant acidity, and Refosco, softer and fruitier. Wines that do not seek to please, but to honestly tell the story of the place they come from.

A day of tasting booths and guided tastings

The historic venue of the event is the DoubleTree by Hilton in Trieste, which for an afternoon transforms into a large, widespread wine shop. Over thirty-five local producers present their labels at the tasting booths, while guided tastings take visitors on an in-depth journey through young vintages and wines aged by time.

Each edition also offers a comparison with other Italian wine territories: special guests have brought the Nebbioli of Valtellina and the Sagrantino of Montefalco to Trieste, in a dialogue that highlights the identity of Karst red wines through contrast.

The flavors of the Karst in the glass and on the plate

Teranum is not just wine. The gastronomic route, created with the network Okusi Krasa – Sapori del Carso, offers typical products from the plateau: Karst prosciutto, mountain cheeses, honey, and wild herbs. It is an invitation to understand how wine, food, and landscape form a single culture, deeply rooted in a bilingual territory where Italian and Slovenian languages coexist.

Promoted locally by the Municipality of Trieste and supported by the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region, Teranum is now a regular event in Trieste's spring calendar, attracting enthusiasts and curious visitors from all over the Northeast and neighboring Slovenia.