Ventricina & Bollicine — Fresagrandinaria stop

Ventricina & Bollicine in Fresagrandinaria

Ventricina & Bollicine is a traveling food and wine festival that crosses the villages of the Vastese area, in the heart of Abruzzo, to celebrate the flavors and traditions of this part of the Chieti province. The Fresagrandinaria stop takes place in the town center and is one of the most anticipated events of the summer calendar, in a municipality that has long made Ventricina a symbol of its own identity.

Ventricina del Vastese, the absolute star

At the center of the event is the Ventricina del Vastese, one of the most iconic cured meats of inland Abruzzo: a sausage with a characteristic red color, obtained from coarse-ground cuts of pork, seasoned with sweet bell pepper, chili pepper, and fennel seeds. Produced for centuries in the hilly villages between the Trigno river and the Adriatic coast and recognized as a Slow Food Presidium, the Ventricina is offered here for tasting paired with bollicine (sparkling wines), in a combination that showcases the quality of Abruzzo viticulture.

A regional project

The festival is promoted by the Association of Ventricina del Vastese Producers, led by president Stefano Fiore, with the patronage of the Abruzzo Region, and stems from the collaboration between the municipal administrations of the district. The goal is to build a unified promotion of the inland villages, networking territories, flavors, and stories, and ideally connecting the hills to the Costa dei Trabocchi. The Fresagrandinaria stop is part of this shared path, which touches several municipalities in the Vastese area throughout the summer, from Cupello to Scerni, from Torrebruna to Ortona and Pollutri.

An evening of taste, music, and hospitality

The event's format combines tastings of local products, live music, food stalls, and opportunities to discover the village. The streets and squares of the center come alive with producers' and artisans' stalls, offering visitors an authentic experience among the flavors of the Vastese area and the hospitality of the Fresagrandinaria community. In past editions of the village festival, the Ventricina has been served both in simple, direct preparations and in elaborate recipes, accompanied by shows and entertainment.

Fresagrandinaria and the Vastese area

The municipality of Fresagrandinaria, in the province of Chieti, is a small agricultural village in southern Abruzzo overlooking the Trigno valley, known precisely for the production of the Ventricina del Vastese, of which it is one of the capitals. The Ventricina & Bollicine festival adds to the town's summer calendar, helping to enhance the identity of the territory and promote food and wine tourism in the inland areas of Abruzzo.