The Trout and Verdicchio
The taste contest celebrating Sefro's trout and Verdicchio wine in the green heart of the Marche region
About The Trout and Verdicchio
A taste contest in the green heart of the Marche
The Trout and Verdicchio is the gastronomic contest that, edition after edition, reignites the trout season in Sefro. It's not just a cooking competition; it's a project to enhance the Marche region's food and wine heritage, focusing on a key local product and pairing it with one of the region's most beloved white wines. The initiative is promoted as part of the activities of Tipicità and GALPA Marche, with the support of the European FEAMPA program for the sustainable development of aquaculture and water-related supply chains.
Sefro, the village of trout
We are in Sefro, a municipality in the Province of Macerata, in the Marche region. It's a small mountain village situated in the valley carved by the Scarsito stream, a tributary of the Potenza river, and surrounded by the Apennines. Here, trout farming and fishing are deeply rooted in the history and daily life: in Sefro, trout has always been the queen of the cold waters, so much so that the town dedicates its historic Trout Festival (Sagra della Trota) to it every August 15th, a true local institution. The "The Trout and Verdicchio" contest was created precisely to tell this identity through culinary creativity.
How the contest works
The competition is open to everyone: professional chefs, weekend enthusiasts, culinary students, food lovers, serial experimenters, and tradition keepers. All you need is a recipe and an original idea that highlights trout and Verdicchio. The entries are published and put to a public online vote; the most voted participants advance to the final stage.
The grand finale in July
The most anticipated moment is the live finale in July, when the three most voted contestants compete in the kitchens of the Food Lab of Gastronomic Sciences at the University of Camerino (UNICAM). The event, hosted by Erika Mariniello, takes the audience on a dynamic journey through storytelling, technique, and tasting. A qualified jury evaluates the dishes based on three criteria: culinary technique, originality of the proposal, and ability to tell the story of the territory through the dish.
A prize celebrating the territory
The prize for the winner is special: a weekend for two in the green heart of the Marche, featuring food and wine experiences, nature, and wellness. An award that is also an invitation to discover the villages, flavors, and landscapes of this corner of the Apennines firsthand.
The Trout and Verdicchio — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the contest was presented at the 34th Tipicità Festival in Fermo, officially kicking off the new trout season in Sefro. Registrations, open to professional chefs, enthusiasts, students, and food lovers, are made via an online form. The competing recipes are submitted to a public online vote; the three most voted dishes advance to the live finale.
The grand finale is scheduled for July 2026 at the Food Lab of Gastronomic Sciences at the University of Camerino (UNICAM), hosted by Erika Mariniello. A qualified jury evaluates culinary technique, originality, and the ability to tell the story of the territory. The prize is a weekend for two in the green heart of the Marche. The initiative is supported by GALPA Marche as part of the FEAMPA program.
The exact date of the July finale and the complete jury composition had not yet been published at the time of writing this description: the detailed program will be communicated by the organizers in the weeks preceding the event.
Programme The Trout and Verdicchio 2026
The detailed schedule for the finale (exact July date, times, jury members, and finalists) has not yet been published. Known structure for the 2026 edition:
- March 2026 — Launch of the contest at the 34th Tipicità Festival in Fermo and opening of online registrations.
- Spring 2026 — Publication of competing recipes and public online voting.
- July 2026 — Grand live finale at the Food Lab of Gastronomic Sciences at the University of Camerino: the three most voted finalists compete before a qualified jury, hosted by Erika Mariniello with storytelling, technique, and tasting.
The complete program will be announced by the organizers (Tipicità / GALPA Marche) before the finale.
Highlights The Trout and Verdicchio 2026
- Live finale at the UNICAM Food Lab in Camerino hosted by Erika Mariniello
- Competition among the three most voted online dishes featuring trout and Verdicchio
- Qualified jury evaluating technique, originality, and storytelling of the territory
- Prize: a weekend for two in the green heart of the Marche
Prices The Trout and Verdicchio 2026
Practical information — The Trout and Verdicchio
Location
The contest is based in Sefro (MC), in the heart of the Marche Apennines. The live finale takes place at the Food Lab of Gastronomic Sciences at the University of Camerino (UNICAM).
How to participate
Register via the dedicated online form. For information: email [email protected] or call +39 0737 685623.
Getting there
Sefro and Camerino can be reached by car via the SS77 of the Val di Chienti and the internal roads of the Province of Macerata. The most convenient train station is Camerino-Castelraimondo, on the Civitanova Marche-Albacina line.
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Where does it take place — The Trout and Verdicchio
Sefro / Food Lab di Scienze Gastronomiche UNICAM (Camerino)