Vignaioli in Fortezza

The craft wine festival of Abruzzo

Vignaioli in Fortezza is an independent festival dedicated to craft wines, held in the historic center of Civitella del Tronto, a village in the Monti della Laga mountains in the province of Teramo, officially recognized as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy. The event traditionally takes place in mid-May, with the magnificent Bourbon Fortress providing a stunning backdrop for days of tasting along the town's streets and squares.

Organization and Philosophy

The event was launched in 2024 by the ForTerra social promotion association, conceived by Mauro Cicioni, with producer selection curated by Walter Bonifazi. The festival is supported by the Municipality of Civitella del Tronto and the GAL Gran Sasso Laga. At its heart is a clear vision of wine: spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, organic and biodynamic farming, non-interventionist viticulture, the recovery of abandoned vineyards, and aging in natural materials such as steel, ceramic, amphora, and concrete.

Producers and Tastings

Each edition brings together over fifty winemakers from all over Italy and various European countries—including France, Germany, and Portugal—for a total of more than two hundred labels. With a single entry ticket, the public can:

• enjoy unlimited tastings of wines from all participating wineries;
• engage directly with producers to discover their stories and territories;
• purchase their favorite bottles directly from the winemakers;
• receive a souvenir wine glass featuring the event logo.

Beyond Wine

Alongside the tasting stands, the program offers literary presentations, talks, and seminars related to the world of wine and the local area, background live music, and high-quality street food provided by chefs and restaurants from Abruzzo and the Marche region. During the event, visitors also have access to the fortress museum complex, making the visit a cultural experience as well as an enogastronomic one.

An Event for Inland Abruzzo

In just a few editions, Vignaioli in Fortezza has become a reference point for natural wine enthusiasts in Central Italy, successfully promoting a village in inland Abruzzo and telling the story of the Abruzzo region's rural and artisanal culture, one glass at a time.