Serrapetrona – Open-Air Drying

A Journey Through the Lands of Vernaccia Nera: “Appassimenti Aperti” Returns on Sunday, November 8

In Serrapetrona, in the Macerata hinterland, the 19th edition of the event celebrating the Marche region’s native grape variety is set to begin. The first day’s program includes visits to wineries, tastings, performances, and exhibitions.

There are just a few days left until the 19th edition of “Appassimenti Aperti, ” the event dedicated to Vernaccia Nera that will bring Serrapetrona, in the Marche region, to life on November 8 and 15 . The first event is next Sunday, when the medieval village in the Macerata hinterland will welcome wine enthusiasts and wine tourists for a day of winery tours, tastings, performances, and cultural events.

Discovering the region’s dried grapes and wines

From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., the five featured wineries— Alberto Quacquarini, Podere sul Lago, Serboni, Terre di Serrapetrona, and Verser —will open their drying rooms, where the grapes harvested during the harvest are left to dry, either hanging or arranged in crates. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet the producers and taste Vernaccia di Serrapetrona DOCG—a red sparkling wine produced through three fermentations—and Serrapetrona DOC, in its still version.

To make it easy to reach the wineries, a free shuttle service will run from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., departing from Via Aldo Moro. Tastings will also be available in the town square, which will feature stands selling local specialties and markets.

The event is organizedby the Istituto Marchigiano di Tutela Vini (IMT) in collaboration with the Municipality of Serrapetrona and the Pro Loco.

Vernaccia Nera: A Heritage Worth Celebrating

“Appassimenti Aperti is an important opportunity to highlight Vernaccia Nera, a rare grape variety grown on just 70 hectares, which produces wines with unique characteristics,” emphasizes Alberto Mazzoni, director of the Marche Institute for Wine Protection. “We’re talking about a niche product of excellence, deeply rooted in this region, which represents a distinctive feature of the Marche’s winemaking heritage. It’s also a way to support the work of wineries that, with dedication and passion, help keep a centuries-old tradition alive, raising awareness of it in both domestic and international markets.”

“Every year, this event attracts thousands of people, including visitors from outside the region ,” emphasizes Mayor Silvia Pinzi . For our town, it’s an extraordinary opportunity to promote tourism: those who come to visit the grape-drying sites can also admire our historical and artistic treasures, local specialties, and the beauty of the landscape, made even more evocative at this time of year by the fall colors. We’re ready to welcome anyone who wants to spend a day in Serrapetrona, to immerse themselves in our traditions and experience the hospitality that sets our community apart.”

Vernacciology and Performances: The Program in the Square

Enriching the program for the first Sunday will be “Vernacciology – Shake & Sip, ” a mixology experience that, for the third consecutive year, will feature Riccardo Elefante and Edoardo Cellocco of the Cellocco Elefante Distillery preparing original cocktails made with Vernaccia Nera. The event is part of the Grand Tour delle Marche, the traveling circuit promoted by Tipicità in collaboration with ANCI Marche, which will make a stop in Serrapetrona during the festival.

Among the events in the square, there will also be acrobatics and juggling with the Nani Rossi Show, which will present “Equilibri di coppia,” a show for adults and children, at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Exhibitions, Art, and Cultural Sites

There will be plenty of opportunities to discover the town’s cultural heritage: the works saved from the earthquake in the Church of Santa Maria di Piazza, Lorenzo D’Alessandro’s polyptych in the Church of San Francesco, and the exhibition “Aldilà – Anna Claudi 1976–2026” at Palazzo Claudi. And then there’s the Municipal Art Gallery, the Gaburro Gallery, and the Old Village Mill, home to the Olive Oil Museum and the Historical Archive. Meanwhile, Via Umberto I will host an arts and crafts fair.