Vino Cotto, Chestnut and Autumn Flavors Festival

A festival in the heart of the Abruzzo autumn

The Vino Cotto, Chestnut and Autumn Flavors Festival is the most iconic event in Roccamontepiano, a small mountain town in the province of Chieti, Abruzzo. Every year, at the beginning of November, the Terranova district transforms into a gourmet village where the scent of grape must simmering in copper cauldrons mingles with the aroma of roasted chestnuts and wood-burning ovens.

Vino cotto, the local signature product

The absolute star of the festival is vino cotto, obtained through the slow and patient reduction of grape must in large copper boilers—a practice documented in Roccamontepiano since the early 19th century with roots deep in rural culture. Recognized as a Traditional Agri-food Product by the Ministry of Agriculture, Roccamontepiano's vino cotto became a Slow Food Presidium in 2025: a milestone that the twenty-fifth edition of the festival celebrated with a dedicated roundtable and the historic Association of Vino Cotto Producers of Abruzzo, which was founded right here in the village.

Taste, tradition, and entertainment

Under a large marquee that protects against the elements, food stalls serve traditional Abruzzo autumn cuisine: anellini pasta with seasonal flavors, gnocchi with wild boar ragù, and pork shanks or ribs glazed in vino cotto, alongside artisanal desserts, wood-fired pizzas, and roasted chestnuts. Many recipes are enhanced by the vino cotto itself, a versatile ingredient used in both savory dishes and desserts.

The program balances gastronomy with folk culture: live demonstrations of grape harvesting, pressing, and must boiling, a market fair featuring local products, literary meetings and book presentations, as well as evenings of live music, folk bands, and accordions that keep the district lively until late at night.

A village to discover

The festival is also a perfect opportunity to visit Roccamontepiano and its surroundings: the vino cotto cellars and the Museum of Rural Life open their doors to visitors, offering a glimpse into the rural history that has preserved this tradition for centuries. Nestled in the Majella landscape, the event attracts thousands of people from across the region every year, confirming its status as one of the most beloved autumn food and wine events in the Municipality of Roccamontepiano and all of Abruzzo.