Valpolicella Classic and Recioto Wines Festival
Ten days of Amarone, Recioto, and the great wines of Valpolicella Classica
About Classic Wines Festival
The winemaking heart of Valpolicella Classica
The Valpolicella Classic and Recioto Wines Festival is a historic event that has celebrated the great wines of this territory for over sixty years. Its venue is Pedemonte, a hamlet of San Pietro in Cariano in the province of Verona, in the heart of Valpolicella Classica, the most prized production area for Amarone and Recioto. Organized by the Association of Classic Valpolicella Wines, the festival is simultaneously a wine showcase, a cultural exhibition, and a grand popular celebration.
Ten days of glasses, sports, and tradition
The program unfolds over about ten days, blending diverse moments: from tastings of Amarone, Recioto, Valpolicella Classico, Superiore, and Ripasso to the prestigious Recioto Classico Competition, and the sporting events that have made the festival famous. Among these are the Bike Race Valpolicella, the Magnalonga — the food and wine walk through vineyards and wineries — and the Amarathon, a half-marathon with 7, 14, and 21 km routes through the hills.
An event that tells the story of the territory
The festival is the best way to discover Valpolicella during the most evocative period of the year, between late April and early May, when the vineyards awaken. The traditional opening in Verona, in the setting of the Loggia di Fra' Giocondo, underscores the link between the Scaliger city and its wine territory. The event thus combines the great tradition of Veronese wine with the discovery of the villages, gastronomy, and landscapes of Valpolicella.
Classic Wines Festival — edition 2026
The 65th edition of the Valpolicella Classic and Recioto Wines Festival runs from April 23 to May 2, 2026, with its base in Pedemonte di San Pietro in Cariano. The program alternates tastings, sporting events, and cultural moments, from the evening opening in Verona dedicated to Recioto to the thank-you dinner for volunteers on May 2nd.
Programme Classic Wines Festival 2026
Thursday, April 23 - Verona, Loggia di Fra' Giocondo
- Evening dedicated to Recioto with dialect poetry, music, and artistic projections (booking required)
Saturday, April 25 - Pedemonte
- 2:00 PM — 4th Bike Race Valpolicella
- 5:00 PM — Official opening with food and wine stands and musical entertainment
Sunday, April 26
- 27th Magnalonga of Valpolicella — food and wine walk through vineyards and wineries
Tuesday, April 28 - Cantina Nicolis
- Tasting of the competing Reciotos
Thursday, April 30
- Amarathon preview with food and wine stands
Friday, May 1st
- 9th Amarathon — half-marathon with 7K, 14K, and 21K routes
- Award ceremony for the 65th Recioto Classico Competition (2025 harvest)
Saturday, May 2nd
- Thank-you dinner for volunteers
Wines featured: Amarone, Recioto, Valpolicella Classico, Superiore, and Ripasso. Official website.
Highlights Classic Wines Festival 2026
Prices Classic Wines Festival 2026
Practical information — Classic Wines Festival
How to get there
Pedemonte di San Pietro in Cariano is located about 15 km from Verona, reachable by car from the Verona Nord exit of the A4 motorway or from the A22 Brenner (Verona Nord exit). Verona Porta Nuova station is well connected to the area.
Admission and tastings
Access to the stands is free; tastings and events (Magnalonga, Amarathon, Bike Race, Recioto evenings) require a fee or booking. Consult the official website for details.
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Where does it take place — Classic Wines Festival
Pedemonte