Where  the charm of the sea meets a passion wine: Castro Wine Fest

Castro Wine Fest has reached its fifth edition, proving itself a major promotional event in event in Salento’s food & wine calendar.

Location in the upper area of Castro, a village suspended in time, immersed in stone, overlooking the blue sea which has no rivals in Puglia for charm and glamour.

When evening falls and the small streets of the village light up and the magic of wine begins, with a number of stalls and staff that welcome guests with a selection of wine to stimulate the senses. People, lots of people who tasting wine, exchanging tips and suggesting some of the area’s finest local wines. Spoilt for choice:

Endless high quality local labels reflecting the typicity and terroir, each with an individual expression of character and vision.

The event. What do you see?

Salento’s enological excellence presented on  a 600 metere route of tasting  stands.

Enology combined art with culture takes visitors on a tasting route around the village: the belvedere of Piazza Perotti, the courts of the Aragonese Castle of Castro and its terraces overlooking the sea and then Piazza Vittoria, the former Cathedral, the Vescovado, the area of the Archaeological Park and the ruins of the Temple of Minerva.

Thirty stands with guided tastings highly offered by local qualified Sommeliers  from  AIS Lecce ( The Association of Italian Sommeliers) who will provide all the background insider information and about each label,  giving visitors the opportunity to better appreciate the characteristics of each wine.

This year the event is enriched with “theme restaurants”, in partnership with Marevivo, Le Stanzie, L’Aragosta, Da Amedeo, Lamanna’s, New Contadina, Calo & Monte, Il Vincotto by Antonio Venneri, Masseria Pallanzano.

Five music stages, and other side events include , local bakeries and agri-food companies, an artisanal pastry stall hosted by Arome de Cacao, Giovanni Venneri, Le Dolci Fantasie. There’ll even be a  gluten-free zone, offering raw seafood  delicacies and wine tasting. 

What’s new at the  fifth edition of the Castro Wine Fest?

The huge success of the event comes as a result of the energy and passion invested by its organizers who reflect and improve the event year by year.

This year, for the first time, there’ll be  live cooking demos from three great local chefs.

A cooking demonstration on the evening of 29 June, offers creative dining combined with some top winest. An area in Piazza Vittoria, will be dedicated to 3 Chefs Alessandra Civilla from the Alex restaurant in Lecce, Cosimo Russo from the Dunes of Porto Cesareo and Alfredo De Luca from the Origano restaurant in Minervino di Lecce, who will be cooking up a storm of gourmet dishes which will be paired with some of the best wines recommended  by AIS Sommeliers.

This event within the event enables  participants to experience the taste of exactly what can happen when culinary excellence is paired perfectly with top wines.

In this exclusive space you can taste Great Primitivo of Manduria Vintage 60 years by San Marzano, or another great Primitivo

IGP Salento, Boemondo, by Duca Carlo Guarini, the intriguing Negroamaro, Cento su Cento, by Castel di Salve, and the highly  successful Amativo, by  Cantele. Wines, an undisputed expression Salentino terroir .

In addition to celebrating cuisine and wine, Castro wine Fest will be hosting some well known Italian food and wine experts:

Giorgio Locatelli, owner of the Locatelli Inn in London, the highest star rated Italian chef abroad and new MasterChef Italia Sandro Sangiorgi, journalist, writer, food and wine expert and  editor of the magazine Porthos;

Francesco Saverio Russo, considered one of the top twenty wine influencers in the world, editor of the blog www.wineblogroll.it

The list goes on: other participants, include the internationally renowned artist Arianna Greco, wine painter; the Cantina Social team, the multi-platform information channel on wine, out of the lines and very “social”; Enzo Scivetti world expert and ambassador of  Toscano cigar.

Exhibitors

2018 edition participating Wineries include:

Apollonio, Candido, Castello Monaci, Duca Carlo Guarini, Cantele, Taurino, Feudi di Guagnano, Bonsegna, Marulli, Paolo Leo, Conti Zecca, San Donaci, Cantine San Marzano, Vecchia Torre, Schola sarmenti, Tormaresca, Vinicola Palamà, Castel di Salve, Vigne di Sammarco, Cantina Petrelli, Cantina De Falco, Mocavero, Cupertinum cantina sociale, L’Astore Masseria, Menhir, Cantina Santi Dimitri, Unione Agricola Melissano, Azienda agricola Romano Greco, Torre Ospina, Azienda Pignatelli, Vestita Cosimo.

Book  online

Book your ticket online
To partecipate at the Top Wine Experience it is necessary to book and buy here the special ticket in advance until 28.6.2018, while you will always find here with a special discount the ticket for the Classic Route.

To participate at the Top Wine Experience it is necessary to book and buy advance here before 28.6.2018.  Discounted ‘Standard’ tickets are available here with a special discount the ticket for the Classic Route.

Booking in advance will mean you can jump the queue and save money.

Save the date of  Castro Wine Fest 2018:

29/30 giugno – 1 luglio 2018. Event start at 19:30.

For more info visit the website  www.castrowinefest.it, or the Facebook page or write by mail to castrowinefest@gmail.com.

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