Wine Festival (formerly Chianti Exhibition)

Tuscany's oldest wine festival

In the heart of the Colli Fiorentini, halfway between Florence and the Val d'Elsa, the town of Montespertoli (Province of Florence, Tuscany) hosts one of Italy's longest-running wine events every spring. Born in 1957 from an idea during the Cattle Fair in Piazza del Popolo and officially launched in 1958 as the First Fine Wine Market Exhibition, the event has spanned nearly seventy years of history under the name Chianti Exhibition. In 2026, for its 68th edition, the event debuts with a new identity and brand: Wine Festival—the same spirit as always, but with a renewed outlook on the future of the region.

The squares and the atmosphere

The village transforms into a grand open-air lounge. Piazza del Popolo hosts the winery stands, while Piazza Machiavelli becomes the realm of the Contrade (districts), featuring traditional games, award ceremonies, and the famous Tournament. The town streets are filled with craft markets, art exhibitions, traditional trades, and thirteen food stands run by local associations, offering gluten-free and lactose-free options.

Wine at the center

22 local wineries are the stars of the event, ranging from the Cantina Sociale Colli Fiorentini to major names like Frescobaldi, Castello Sonnino, and Conte Guicciardini, as well as small family-run estates like Casa di Monte, Tenuta Moriano, and La Gigliola. The gastronomic heart of the event lies in the guided tastings, held every evening with the support of Slow Food, Assoenologi, FISAR, ANAG, and the Viticoltori di Montespertoli, focusing on Montespertoli Chianti, Trebbiano, native grape varieties, grappas, and even champagnes from our twin city, Épernay.

Tradition, community, and solidarity

The Wine Festival is also about collective identity: the Gruppo '900 parade in historical costumes, the Sbandieratori di San Quirico d'Orcia, the inaugural procession accompanied by the Nuova Filarmonica Amedeo Bassi, and the Contrade Tournament (Fornace, Pozzo, Cappella, Mura, Fontanelle) strengthen the bonds among the people of Montespertoli. There is also a charitable dimension, with the Artist Labels auction supporting the Meyer Children's Hospital in Florence.

A wine heritage to discover

More than just a local festival, the Montespertoli Wine Festival is a true celebration of Tuscan wine culture, blending rural tradition, oenological excellence, and conviviality. For those visiting Tuscany in the spring, it is the perfect opportunity to get to know the Chianti of the Colli Fiorentini and the community that has produced it for generations.