Sala Baganza – Malvasia Festival

Thirty years of the Malvasia Festival. And an award for the next thirty. A double course: to guard the identity of Malvasia di Candia Aromatica and to open it to generational change.

On Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17, 2026, the 30th Malvasia Festival will be held at Rocca Sanvitale di Sala Baganza (PR). Alongside the historic Cosèta d ‘ Or and Perlén’na d’Or, the Cosèta Malvagiovani award debuts, dedicated to young producers, restaurateurs and food and wine professionals. A dual course: to preserve the identity of Malvasia di Candia Aromatica and to open it up to generational change.

For 30 years, the Malvasia Festival has been the best showcase for the aromas and flavors of the Parma Valleys. The 30th edition, scheduled to take place in Sala Baganza on Saturday , May 16 and Sunday, May 17, 2026 in the shadow of Rocca Sanvitale, brings Malvasia di Candia Aromatica – a white grape variety from the Parma hills – back to the center in a weekend of tastings, flavors and fun promoted by the Municipality of Sala Baganza and the Pro Loco with the collaboration of the Consorzio Vini Colli di Parma.

La Cosèta Malvagiovani Award

Thirty years the Festival lives on as a stage, not a finish line: the 2026 edition confirms this with the debut of a new award, the Cosèta Malvagiovani, designed precisely to give space to the new generation of producers, restaurateurs and food and wine professionals.

La Cosèta Malvagiovani was born from the collaboration between the Municipality of Sala Baganza, the Pro Loco, the Colli di Parma Wine Consortium and Fipe Parma (Federazione Imprese Ristorazione Intrattenimento Turismo). It tells a precise choice: the next 30 years of Malvasia is being built now, giving space to those who are entering the vineyard, the cellar and the hall.

“Thirty years ago we began to give voice to a wine that was the heritage of the producers and deserved to become the heritage of the territory. Today that voice is clear. Cosèta Malvagiovani serves to make sure that it remains clear even in another thirty years, told by those who will come after us,” says Aldo Stucchi, president of the Pro Loco of Sala Baganza.

The historical awards: Cosèta d’Or and Perlén’na d’Or

The Festival’s historic award, the Cosèta d’Or, a prize for the best dry sparkling Malvasia in the area, remains up for grabs: the last edition was won for the third year in a row by theCerdelli winery, a sign of consolidating quality. Alongside, the Perlén’na d’Or is confirmed, dedicated to the best interpretation of sparkling Malvasia: introduced in 2025 and won by theLamoretti company, it intercepts a growing trend in aperitifs and at the table.

“In 30 years, the Festival has united a community around Rocca Sanvitale and the food and wine identity of Sala Baganza. It is a heritage of relationships, work and hospitality that today speaks to a national audience and brings value to the territory well beyond the two days of the event. Our commitment as a municipality is to make it grow further,” added Aldo Spina, Mayor of Sala Baganza.

Malvasia di Candia Aromatica in brief

A white grape vine of probable Greek origin-the name recalls Candia, an ancient Venetian toponym for the island of Crete-Malvasia di Candia Aromatica is now grown mainly in the hills of Parma and Piacenza, with presences in Oltrepò Pavese, the Scandiano and Canossa hills. It is distinguished from other Malvasias by an unmistakable aromatic profile: citrus, white flowers (acacia, freesia, lavender), yellow-fleshed fruit and a characteristic nutmeg note.

On the Colli di Parma it is the flagship grape of the DOC of the same name, recognized since 1938: in the Malvasia type it accounts for at least 85 percent of the blend. It is vinified in dry, semi-dry and sweet, still, sparkling and spumante versions-a versatility that has made it the territory’s identifying white, from aperitif to table. Historically it is also documented in the cellars of Maria Luigia of Austria, duchess of Parma.

The program

During the two days, local wineries will be present to present their labels, with interpreters from the Parma Valleys and other territories of Malvasia di Candia Aromatica. An opportunity to read the varietal through different signatures and styles.

Saturday, May 16

• Opening the Festival at 10:30 a.m. is the inaugural conference, dedicated this year to the future of the grape variety.
• At 3:45 pm, masterclass by AIS Emilia sommeliers, organized by Strada del Prosciutto e dei Vini dei Colli di Parma.
• From the afternoon, MalvaAperitivi on “thirds” promoted by the Pro Loco.
• At 5:30 p.m. , “Malvasia of Italy,” tasting narrated by Matteo Pessina.
• At 8 p.m., the Farnese garden lights up for Magnarocca, a traditional Parma dinner with wines from the Parma Hills.

Sunday, May 17

• From 8:30 a.m., the walk to discover the Baganza stream, organized by GES, starts from the Farnese Garden.
• At the same time, the national golf competition “Malvasia Festival Prize XXX Cosèta d’Or” will be held at Golf del Ducato.
• At 10:00 a.m., the juries for the Cosèta d’Or and Perlén’na awards take office.
• From 11 a.m., visitors will be able to step into the judges’ shoes and taste the Malvasia wines competing for the traditional popular prize, the Cosèta di Legno.
• The day continues with MalvaAperitifs on the “thirds”
• The day closes at 6:30 p.m. with the awards ceremony for the best Malvasia.

Useful Information

Access to the festival is free. Some events are by reservation: you can participate in the Magnarocca by emailing prolocosala@yahoo.it or contacting 0521-331342/3 directly; the cost is €35 for adults and €20 for children up to 14 years old. Achildren’s play area and adisplay of engines and gardening equipment are active for both days. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Rocca Sanvitale in Sala Baganza and the Wine Museum can be visited free of charge.

The Malvasia Festival is promoted and organized by the Municipality of Sala Baganza, the Pro Loco and the Parma Hills Wines Consortium, in collaboration with the Salesi Volunteer Associations, the “F. Maestri” of Sala Baganza, the Strada del Prosciutto e dei Vini dei Colli di Parma, AIS Parma-Emilia, Destinazione Turistica Emilia, Parchi del Ducato, GAL del Ducato, Parma Quality Restaurants, FIPE Ascom, the Musei del Cibo, the Consorzio del Parmigiano Reggiano, the Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma, and the Consorzio della Coppa di Parma e del Salame di Felino.

The initiative enjoys the patronage of the Province of Parma, Unione Pedemontana Parmense, City of Parma, Chamber of Commerce and UNPLI.