Walnut and Asprinio Wine Festival

The Walnut and Asprinio Wine Festival in San Marcellino

The Walnut and Asprinio Wine Festival is the most iconic event in the town of San Marcellino, located in the heart of the Campania region near Caserta. Organized by the Pro Loco San Marcellino APS with the support of the local administration, the festival is typically held on the first weekend of September. In 2025, it reached its twenty-first edition, marking two decades of tradition. The event takes place in the Villetta Spierto area, just off Via Capua, which transforms into a lively open-air social space for two evenings.

The Walnut: Queen of the Table

The absolute star is the San Marcellino walnut, a fruit historically tied to the agricultural economy of the Agro Aversano. At the festival stands, you can find it in all its forms: toasted or caramelized, inside traditional desserts, in artisanal liqueurs, and in a variety of savory dishes that blend rustic recipes with creative experimentation. It is a culinary journey that shows how a single local product can define an entire town's cuisine.

Asprinio and the 'Alberata Aversana'

Accompanying the walnuts is Asprinio, a fresh, dry, and slightly sparkling white wine that symbolizes the viticulture of the Agro Aversano. Its uniqueness lies in the cultivation method known as alberata aversana: the vines climb up poplar trees to heights of up to fifteen meters, creating a unique agricultural landscape that still requires the harvest to be performed using tall ladders. At the festival, Asprinio is not just a side note, but the key to understanding the oenological identity of this corner of the Terra di Lavoro.

The UNPLI 'Quality Festival' Mark

On March 16, 2026, at the Italian Senate, the Walnut and Asprinio Wine Festival received the 'Quality Festival' national mark, awarded by the UNPLI (National Union of Pro Loco of Italy) following a positive evaluation by inspectors. This recognition rewards events that excel in authenticity, the promotion of food and cultural heritage, sustainability, and quality of tourist hospitality. The certification is valid from the 2026 edition, placing San Marcellino within an exclusive national network of certified festivals.

A Festival Built by Volunteers

Behind the event lies the work of a deeply rooted local association: the Pro Loco San Marcellino APS, founded in January 1987, which carries out a year-round program of conferences, exhibitions, shows, and events for younger generations. The festival is the moment when this commitment becomes visible to all, with the stated goal of rediscovering rustic cuisine and local flavors. The presidency is currently held by lawyer Giovanna Vesta, while honorary president Antonio De Santis is recognized as the guarantor of the event's continuity.

Why Attend

• Taste the local walnut in toasted or caramelized versions, as well as in desserts, liqueurs, and savory dishes.
• Discover Asprinio and the centuries-old technique of the 'alberata aversana'.
• Experience a festival awarded the national 'Quality Festival' mark by UNPLI.
• Spend two evenings outdoors in the Villetta Spierto area, enjoying the stands, social atmosphere, and popular traditions.
• Explore a town in the Agro Aversano far from the most beaten tourist paths of Campania.