From 24 July to 16 August, Italy’s wine country will once again come alive with one of the nation’s longest-running and most celebrated wine tourism events. Calici di Stelle (“Goblets Under the Stars”), organised by the Movimento Turismo del Vino (Wine Tourism Movement), returns to welcome thousands of wine lovers to wineries, historic villages, castles and town squares, transforming wine into an opportunity to experience the country’s landscapes and traditions in an authentic way.
The 2026 edition stretches from the Dolomites to the coasts of Sicily and Sardinia, bringing together dozens of wine regions and hundreds of producers. This year’s theme, “Cheers to Life!”, encourages visitors to embrace wine as a cultural and social experience, celebrating conviviality while promoting responsible consumption.
Far more than a series of wine tastings, Calici di Stelle offers a rich programme combining wine, landscapes, culture and entertainment. Wineries throughout Italy will open their doors for guided tours, sensory tastings, vineyard walks, sunset picnics, open-air aperitifs, candlelit dinners, vertical tastings and meetings with winemakers. Alongside wine experiences, visitors can enjoy live concerts, theatre performances, live painting sessions, astronomical observations, family activities, extra virgin olive oil and spirits tastings, as well as initiatives dedicated to those who choose to drive, with special attention paid to safe mobility and responsible enjoyment.
The journey towards the festival began on 8 July with “Aspettando Calici di Stelle” (“Waiting for Calici di Stelle”), hosted by Villa Gianna in collaboration with Wine in Moderation and the Domenico Cirillo Foundation. The event brought together young people and families through guided tastings, sensory games and intergenerational activities, alongside initiatives promoting road safety. It reflected the Movimento Turismo del Vino’s commitment to engaging younger generations, presenting wine first and foremost as a cultural heritage to understand before it is consumed.
“The opening event anticipated the values that will accompany the entire summer festival,” says Violante Gardini Cinelli Colombini, President of Movimento Turismo del Vino. “Education on responsible drinking, dialogue between generations, road safety and the promotion of a lifestyle based on respect and moderation are at the heart of this edition. Our producers are ready to offer inclusive experiences where wine becomes an opportunity to connect people, involving the whole family while passing on the knowledge and traditions that make our wine heritage so unique.”
As always, Calici di Stelle extends well beyond winery estates. Many events will take place in some of Italy’s most iconic locations, including the Bastione Fiorito inside Gorizia Castle, the historic centre of Cabras in Sardinia, the panoramic terrace of Doss del Sabion at over 2,000 metres in the Brenta Dolomites, Taurasi Castle in Campania, the Hotel Ancora in Cortina d’Ampezzo, and, for the first time, a guided wine bus tour through Milan’s most famous landmarks accompanied by producers from the Movimento Turismo del Vino.
From seaside piazzas and medieval villages to castles and mountain landscapes, the objective remains unchanged: to tell the story of Italian wine through the places where it is born, creating meaningful encounters between producers, visitors and local communities.
The 2026 edition will involve virtually every Italian wine region, with programmes ranging from vineyard tastings and gastronomic experiences to astronomy evenings, concerts and cultural events, once again demonstrating how wine can become a powerful language connecting tourism, culture and local identity.
For the complete calendar of events and updates on regional programmes, visitors can consult the official website of Movimento Turismo del Vino.
