Open Cellars returns to San Martino, eleven days to experience autumn in the vineyard and drink mindfully.

MTV Cellars invites wine tourists to drink responsibly and offers visitors a mini wine quiz to celebrate Wine in Moderation Day.

It's the time of year when the vines turn red and the cellars come alive again: this is the backdrop for Cantine Aperte a San Martino 2025 , an event celebrating the pleasure of informed, authentic, and engaging tastings during the wine festival of the latest harvest. From November 1st to 11th, the producers of the Movimento Turismo del Vino will open their doors to experience autumn together and discover all the stories linked to San Martino's Day, one of the most beloved holidays in the rural calendar that celebrates the arrival of the new wine.

This spirit of conviviality and love for the land is renewed every year thanks to the producers of the Movement and the numerous organised activities, suitable for all enthusiasts, from beginners to families and anyone who wishes to learn about the territories, traditions and people who make each wine unique.

Stroll among the rows to discover the most fascinating views of each region, colored by the autumn foliage, verticals of new and old vintages. For the little ones, there will be creative workshops related to leaf and chestnut gathering.

Then, dinners with the winemaker in front of the fireplace and wine tastings paired with traditional local delicacies: in Veneto, tradition calls for the delicious "zaeti," golden biscuits with raisins, and the Venetian dessert "Cavallo di San Martino," a shaped and decorated shortcrust pastry. In Emilia-Romagna, they prepare "la pagnotta di San Martino," a peasant cake with sultanas and nutmeg, while in Romagna, the "biscotto di San Martino" is a must, crumbly and fragrant thanks to the anise seeds, perfect for dipping in new wine.

In Tuscany, we find the "schiacciata di San Martino," a sweet focaccia, and the "Sanmartini," small dry biscuits flavored with sweet wine or anise. From the Marche region, we find the "lonzino di fico," a salami-shaped dessert made with dried figs, almonds, cocoa, sapa (a kind of grape must), and mistrà (a kind of grape must). In Umbria, we find the "Pan Caciato di San Martino," with raisins, walnuts, and pecorino cheese. Abruzzo celebrates the saint with various focaccias: the "pizza coi quattrini," so called because of the small coin hidden inside as a symbol of good luck; the "pizza di San Martino," sweet and flavored with aniseed; and the "pizza scima," rustic and unsalted. In Lazio, tradition calls for the "pizza rietina," a focaccia enriched with must and dried fruit, while in Campania, the "pizza di San Martino" is transformed into a hearty potato pie. Moving down to Calabria, we find "San Martine": shortbread biscuits filled with dried figs, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, and cooked wine. In Sicily, the star is the "biscotto di San Martino," rustic and flavored with fennel seeds or anise. In Sardinia, "papassinos," sweets made with grape must, almonds, walnuts, and raisins. But hot chestnuts still dominate the table, and there's no shortage of typical local cheeses and cured meats.

"Cantine Aperte a San Martino is much more than a wine event ," emphasizes Violante Gardini Cinelli Colombini, President of MTV. " It's an invitation to slow down and experience the exciting autumn atmosphere with a shared and mindful toast. It's no coincidence that this year, too, our event is linked to Wine Moderation Day on November 8th. In our cellars, wine becomes a language of discovery and unity that should be experienced with balance and participation. Promoting this approach means remembering that every wine is a concentration of culture, landscape, and emotion, so that we can fully appreciate it."

Embracing the message of promoting moderate drinking, the Movement once again emphasizes the pleasure of responsible tasting, promoting tasting as a gesture of balance and respect not only for oneself and others, but also for wine and its producers. Wine tourists visiting the MTV cellars during Cantine Aperte a San Martino will also be offered a mini-quiz created with Wine in Moderation . It's a way to test their knowledge of the rules of good drinking and perhaps learn something new.

Follow the wineries' programs on www.movimentoturismovino.it

Abruzzo: Eight Abruzzo wineries will welcome wine tourists to their vineyards and cellars, celebrating responsible drinking and rural culture. Guided tastings, creative workshops, moments of conviviality around the fireplace, and meetings with producers to hear all the stories behind the latest harvest are included.

Friuli Venezia Giulia: 38 wineries ready to celebrate San Martino together, with tastings paired with traditional Friulian products, visits to centuries-old parks, tastings of old and new vintages, chestnut picking, lunches and dinners with the winemaker, tours of the barrel cellar, and many other events in the vineyards and cellars to fully experience the autumn atmosphere.

Piedmont: Mazzetti D'Altavilla awaits you for all eleven days, including wine and spirits tastings, guided tours of the cellar, the barrel room, and nearby attractions. Then, continue with pairing sessions featuring Piedmontese specialties and specially designed menus.

Tuscany: Camigliano, Villa Le Prata, and Fattoria La Maliosa will lead you on a discovery of autumn flavors and the wines of the latest harvest. Vertical tastings of great vintages, chocolate pairings, blind tastings led by the producer, and dinners featuring traditional products, including local extra virgin olive oil, homemade jams, and local cheeses, all enjoyed by the warmth of the fireplace. Some wineries also offer overnight stays and a fresh, wholesome breakfast.

Veneto: Four wineries in the region will open their doors to enthusiasts to share this fascinating moment of the winemaking season. The program includes nature walks, chestnut picking, guided tastings paired with local products and local extra virgin olive oils, and lunches and dinners with the winemaker to celebrate the new wine and the end of the harvest. Some wineries will also offer special creations and gifts, perfect as gift ideas for Christmas.