GREY SUMMER FRIENDS 2026

The fourth edition of the event organized by the

From Love Casentino. Food, music, and entertainment to showcase the Casentino Grigio.

From August 28th to 30th, in Piazza Garibaldi in Soci (AR), Grigio Summer Friends returns, an event now in its fourth edition and dedicated to the promotion of the Grigio del Casentino®️ pig , niche products from the area and from Italy .

Three days of food, music, and entertainment, with a significant charitable purpose: a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the family-friendly community "La Casa di Emma" (L'Albero e la Rua social cooperative), which supports children, young people, and families in difficult situations.

The star of the event will be the Grigio del Casentino®, a cross between the Large White and Cinta Senese breeds. The pigs are raised, slaughtered, and processed entirely in Casentino, and their connection to the region is particularly strong.

Grigio Summer Friends will also be an opportunity to meet niche producers from Casentino and other areas of Italy, present in Soci with some of their products.

Among these is Cantina Ornina , a young winery in Casentino founded in 2008 by Marco, who inherited the family vineyards planted in 1973. Cultivation follows organic and biodynamic principles, and the work in the cellar is aimed at preserving the characteristics of the grapes and each vintage. The winery produces eight labels: Mahsarà, Vallechiusa Bianco, Orblanc, Ornina, Vallechiusa Rosso, Ornoir, Trigono, and Orgris.

Also in Casentino, the Lo.Ri farm combines traditional winemaking with the production of organic wines. The vineyards, nestled among woods and valleys, are cultivated with respect for the environment and nature, without the use of pesticides or chemicals. Among the wines produced are Rubesto, a Tuscan red; Podere Pereto, a Pinot Noir aged for at least 10-12 months in the bottle; and Montebello, a still, dry Sauvignon Blanc.

Radical Brewery, on the other hand, was born from the project of three young people from Lucca who transformed a shared passion into a farm brewery rooted in the local area. Production is based on a controlled agricultural supply chain and carefully selected raw materials: malted barley grown in the fields, hops, controlled groundwater, and yeast.

From Piedmont comes Caseificio Tosi , a family-run business located between Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta that has been producing cheeses, particularly Gorgonzola DOP, for over sixty years. All stages of the production cycle are still carried out by hand, from cheesemaking to salting to aging on wooden boards.

Salumificio Palmieri is also present with its Mortadella Favola Gran Riserva. The Palmieri family has always strived for uniqueness in its products, and in 1997 they patented Mortadella Favola, the first mortadella stuffed and cooked in its natural rind, which allows the mixture to breathe during cooking, lending it softness and delicacy. Completing the savory offerings is Gabrini, a company that pursues a blend of tradition and modernity through artisanal Italian and international products, from pecorino cheeses to ethically farmed cured meats to fresh gourmet offerings.

Among the sweet offerings will be Torta Pistocchi , the fruit of the work of siblings Claudio and Claudia, who for thirty years have been handcrafting their cakes without flour, butter, eggs, or adding sugar, blending up to thirty different types of fine dark chocolate.

The Associazione Produttori Val Teggina Km0 will have its own stand at the event. The association was formed by a group of friends and producers from the Teggina Valley, united by a passion for their work and a love for the region. The association aims to preserve the teachings of those who came before them and to leave future generations an increasingly rich and authentic region, promoting the valley's typical agricultural and artisanal products and creating a network of collaboration among local producers.

At the festival, you can also taste Tortello alla lastra di Corezzo, a typical gastronomic specialty from the mountains between Romagna and Tuscany and a Slow Food Presidium.

Naturally, Grigio del Casentino will also be the focus of the three evenings' culinary offerings. You can enjoy it pure with a tasting of the leg, or with Grigio del Casentino cured meats. The menu also features lasagna and pappardelle with Grigio del Casentino white ragù, porchetta, grilled meats, and Grigio del Casentino hot dogs.

These dishes will be accompanied by the guests' products, including tastings of Tosi Gorgonzola, Favola Mortadella, Favoloso cooked ham, various tortelli, and Torta Pistocchi desserts. All accompanied by beers and wines from the participating companies.

Plan

Food stands open from 6:30 PM Friday to Sunday. DJ music until late on Friday and Saturday, and live music on Sunday.

For the complete program, please refer to the official website www.grigiosummerfriends.it

Three days, therefore, in which food and entertainment become tools to promote the Grigio del Casentino, local products, and some small Italian artisan businesses, while also supporting a charitable cause.

Love Casentino, a non-profit social promotion association registered with RUNTS, is organizing Grigio Summer Friends, which will be held from August 28th to 30th in Piazza Garibaldi in Soci.

Casentino Grey cattle are raised extensively, and the animals roam freely in the woods. Their meat is characterized by an excellent balance of nutrients and the presence of "good" fats. It is primarily their outdoor life that determines its quality: the animals' freedom and connection with nature are reflected in the authentic flavors of the meat and in the firm, flavorful fat, well-proportioned to the lean meat.