May Day weekend: main food and wine festivals to visit

May Day weekend: where to go for food, wine and tradition

The May Day long weekend 2026 features a wide range of food and wine events across Italy. Wineries open to visitors, traditional festivals and themed fairs offer opportunities for tastings, guided visits and outdoor routes that highlight local production and heritage.

• Vigneti Aperti 2026 — Location: throughout Italy. When: 1–3 May. A distributed format combining winery visits, wine trekking and vineyard tastings with a sustainability focus.
• Cocco Wine Stories — Location: Cocconato (AT). When: 1 May. A thematic event focusing on young winemakers, orange wines and experiments with disease-resistant varieties. Ticket: around €15.
• Caccia al Tesoro nelle Langhe — Location: Alba (CN). When: 1 May. A playful, territory-based treasure hunt through villages and cellars; participation fee around €35.
• Il Sabato del Vignaiolo — Location: Verona. When: 2 May. Wine market and masterclasses with independent producers; ticket: around €15.
• Camminata Ecogastronomica — Location: Valle del Lambro, Briosco (MB). When: 2–3 May. A roughly 10 km route ending with a communal lunch; participation fee €12–25.
• Mostra Nazionale dei Vini Passiti e da Meditazione — Location: Volta Mantovana (MN). When: 1–3 May. Exhibition dedicated to sweet and passito wines, with Greece as guest of honor; ticket: around €15.
• Caplèt sotto la torre — Location: Torre San Michele, Cervia (RA). When: 1–3 May. Three days celebrating the Romagna cappelletti with showcooking, pasta schools and live entertainment.
• Ravenna Truck'N Food — Location: Public Gardens, Ravenna. When: 30 April–3 May. Street food festival with food trucks open from 11:00 to midnight.

Practical tips: check organizers' websites for updated schedules and booking requirements, reserve places for masterclasses, and consider sustainable travel options to reach rural locations. The long weekend is a good moment to combine tastings with cultural discovery of local landscapes.