Cantine Aperte in the Colli Euganei: How to Visit the Open Cellars
Once a year, Italian wineries do something very generous: they leave the gate open and invite strangers in. Even better, they pour wine, offer a tour and sometimes throw in a pizza.
It’s called Cantine Aperte, or “open cellars”, and Cantine Aperte in the Colli Euganei, the volcanic hills south of Padova, happens every spring. So here’s how it works, what it cost in 2026, and how to plan a day without needing a nap in a vineyard.
Quick Facts
- What: Cantine Aperte, a wine event organised by the Movimento Turismo del Vino, held in wineries across Italy
- When: the last weekend of May. In 2026 it was Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May
- Next edition: not confirmed yet, but it should fall around 29 and 30 May 2027
- Cost: €15 at several Colli Euganei wineries in 2026, usually including a glass and four tastings
- Booking: not needed at some wineries and mandatory at others
What Is Cantine Aperte?
Cantine Aperte is a weekend when member wineries open their doors to the public for tastings, cellar tours and, often, food and music. The Movimento Turismo del Vino has organised it since 1993, so it takes place all over Italy.
It used to be free, walk-in access. However, according to a guide from Enouting, many wineries now ask for a ticket or a booking because of the crowds, especially the best-known ones. The guide’s advice is that smaller estates are often the most rewarding, since you get more time with the people pouring.
Think of it as a wine festival where the venue is the winery itself. That’s the charm, but it’s also the catch, because everyone else had the same idea. Arrive early, and take your time.
When Is Cantine Aperte in the Colli Euganei?
The event falls on the last weekend of May. In 2026, for example, the Veneto programme listed most Colli Euganei events on Sunday 31 May, with a few extras on Saturday 30 May.
The 2027 calendar isn’t published yet. By tradition the event takes place on the last weekend of May, which would be 29 and 30 May 2027. That’s my own reading of the pattern, not an announcement, so check the Movimento Turismo del Vino calendar in spring.
What the Colli Euganei Offered in 2026
The Veneto programme listed four wineries in the Colli Euganei: Ca’ Lustra Zanovello in Faedo di Cinto Euganeo, Il Pianzio in Galzignano Terme, Monte Fasolo “Le Volpi” in Cinto Euganeo and Quota 101 in Torreglia. Each had a different style of day, from walk-in tastings to guided tastings and a vineyard trek.
Other wineries may have taken part too, so check the full programme each year. Here, I’ve kept to the four listed in the Veneto programme I could open.
Ca’ Lustra Zanovello
The easy one: show up, get a glass, wander.
Ca’ Lustra was founded in 1977 and works 24 hectares, producing about 100,000 bottles a year, according to Gambero Rosso. Its range runs from Cabernet and Merlot to a white blend, and it even makes a Fior d’Arancio passito.
In 2026 it opened its doors on Sunday 31 May from 11:00 to 19:00, at Via San Pietro 50. Entry was €15 and included a pouch, a glass and four wine coupons, with extra coupons at €3 for one or €10 for four. No booking was needed.
According to the winery, guided cellar visits ran all day, and a vineyard walk was available on request. Every hour, it also opened a different older vintage that’s no longer on sale. Food was sold separately, including pizza in pala, and the event went ahead even if it rained.
If you were buying, there was a shop discount too: 10% off six bottles or more on the day. So that’s a good moment to put my guide to buying wine directly from Italian wineries to work.
Il Pianzio
The one for people who want a whole day out.
Il Pianzio is a family-run winery in Galzignano Terme, now in its fourth generation of winemaking, according to a booking listing. It grows Moscato Giallo for Fior d’Arancio, Glera for Serprino and Cabernet Sauvignon on volcanic and calcareous soils, and it also makes extra virgin olive oil. Tours are in Italian and English, while the terrace looks over the hills.
In 2026 it had the busiest programme of the four. On Saturday 30 May there was a guided tasting at €25 per person at 11:00, 14:00 and 16:30, and booking was required.
On Sunday, the tasting counter ran from 12:00 to 21:00 at €10 per person, with a glass and a pouch included, and booking recommended. Besides that, there was a trek at 10:30 for €10 (€5 for minors), which required booking and had a minimum of 15 people. Free cellar visits ran at 14:00 and 17:00. A picnic in the vineyard was allowed too, but you had to bring your own blanket, because outside products weren’t allowed.
Monte Fasolo “Le Volpi”
The big estate, and the one for a sit-down tasting.
Monte Fasolo “Le Volpi” is two estates in one. Le Volpi was restored by the Rossi Luciani family in 2010, and Monte Fasolo was taken over about seven years later. Together they have 95 hectares of vineyards, so a WineTourism listing calls it the largest private winery in the Colli Euganei. It makes red, white, rosé, sparkling and sweet wines, is converting its vineyards to organic farming, and has a project to revive Carmenère. Tours and tastings are offered in Italian and English.
In 2026 it ran guided tastings on Sunday at 11:00, 15:00 and 18:30, but booking was mandatory. The Via delle Uve option cost €20, and the Via dei Sapori option cost €30 and included a cured-meat platter. The outdoor area was free for an aperitivo from 12:00 to 20:30, with booking recommended.
Quota 101
The walk-in with the modern cellar.
Quota 101 is in Torreglia, at the foot of the Euganean Hills, and its name is the site’s height above sea level in metres. The Gardina family owns it, and Roberto Gardina runs it with his daughters Silvia and Roberta. It has had organic certification since 2018, and because of its sustainable design, its new timber cellar, built between 2019 and 2022, earned the CasaClima Wine sustainability certification. It makes about 60,000 bottles a year, according to the project report.
In 2026 it was open on Sunday from 11:00 to 19:00 for €15, including a glass, a bag and four tastings. Guided cellar visits ran at 12:00, 15:00 and 17:00 without booking, and a local food truck was on site. The cellar also opened on Saturday from 9:00 to 17:00.
If you’re curious about its wines, I wrote about the area’s star grape in my Fior d’Arancio DOCG guide.
Three Ways to Spend the Day
Because each winery offers something different, you can pick a mood and build the day around it. These are based on the 2026 programme, so check the 2027 timetable before you copy them.
- The relaxed day: Ca’ Lustra. Pay the €15, take your glass, join a cellar tour, and eat pizza in the sun. No booking, no stress
- The active day: Il Pianzio. Start with the 10:30 trek, then taste at the counter, and finish with a picnic in the vineyard with your own blanket
- The serious tasting day: Monte Fasolo. Book the Via dei Sapori at €30 for the cured-meat platter, then stay for the outdoor aperitivo
I haven’t tried any of them, so this is my pick on paper: Il Pianzio for the biggest programme. If you go, tell me whether I guessed right.
What Does It Cost?
Here’s a quick comparison of the 2026 prices listed above:
| Option | Price (2026) | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| Ca’ Lustra entry with 4 tastings | €15 | Not needed |
| Quota 101 entry with 4 tastings | €15 | Not needed |
| Il Pianzio Sunday tasting counter | €10 | Recommended |
| Il Pianzio guided tasting (Saturday) | €25 | Required |
| Monte Fasolo guided tasting | €20 or €30 | Mandatory |
| Il Pianzio trek | €10 (€5 minors) | Required |
Prices change every year, so treat these as a guide to what to expect, not a promise for 2027.
How to Plan Your Day
Cantine Aperte can feel like a festival, which is fun until you try to do too much. Instead, follow these tips from the Enouting guide, plus a little common sense:
- Pick two or three wineries, not five. The crowds and the tastings add up
- Eat before you start, and bring water
- Book ahead where it’s mandatory, such as Monte Fasolo and Il Pianzio’s Saturday tasting
- Plan transport in advance. Italy’s drink-driving limit is 0.5 g/l, so arrange a driver, a taxi or a designated driver
- Check each winery’s social channels in the weeks before, because plans change every year
- Bring a bag if you plan to buy, because some wineries offer a discount on the day (Ca’ Lustra gave 10% off six bottles or more in 2026)
Cantine Aperte or a Normal Visit?
Both have a place. Cantine Aperte is cheaper, livelier and good for comparing several wineries in one day. On the other hand, a booked visit, usually €20 to €50 according to the Enouting guide, gives you fewer wines, more time and often a chance to talk to the producer.
If you’d like the quieter route, I’ve also listed five Colli Euganei wineries you can visit any time of year. And for the bigger picture, start with my Colli Euganei wine guide.
Other Cantine Aperte Editions
May isn’t the only date, though. According to Enouting, the Movimento Turismo del Vino runs other editions:
- Cantine Aperte in Vendemmia: 24 August to 25 October 2026. Each winery sets its own dates, and booking is required
- Cantine Aperte a San Martino: 1 to 15 November 2026, built around 11 November, with new wine and autumn flavours. It’s quieter than the May event
- Cantine Aperte a Natale: a December edition
I haven’t checked which Colli Euganei wineries join these editions, so ask the winery directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Cantine Aperte in the Colli Euganei? On the last weekend of May. In 2026 it was 30 and 31 May, and the 2027 date should be around 29 and 30 May, though it’s not confirmed yet.
How much does it cost? In 2026, entry at several wineries was €15, including a glass and four tastings. Guided tastings and treks cost €10 to €30, depending on the winery.
Do I need to book? Sometimes. Ca’ Lustra and Quota 101 didn’t require booking in 2026, but Monte Fasolo did, and so did Il Pianzio’s Saturday tasting.
Who organises Cantine Aperte? The Movimento Turismo del Vino, which has run it since 1993.
Can I visit more than one winery in a day? Yes, but two or three is plenty, because each winery has its own ticket and the tastings add up.
Is Cantine Aperte good for beginners? Yes, because it’s relaxed and often has food. Still, keep it to a few wineries, and avoid driving afterwards.
Is there anything to do besides tasting? Yes. In 2026 the Colli Euganei programme included cellar tours, vineyard walks, a trek, picnics and food trucks.
One Last Thing
I love that a wine event can be a picnic, a hike and a tasting in one. Cantine Aperte turns a winery visit from a quiet appointment into a weekend outing, and the hills should be lovely in late spring.
So plan it, book the tastings that need it, and let someone else drive. Have you been to Cantine Aperte before? Tell me which winery you’d go to first.
— Kelly 🍷
#CantineAperte #ColliEuganei #ItalianWine #WineTravel
Continue Reading
- Colli Euganei Wine: A Guide to the Hills Near Padova
- Colli Euganei Wineries You Can Visit
- How to Buy Wine Directly From Italian Wineries
- Fior d’Arancio DOCG
Sources
- Movimento Turismo del Vino: Cantine Aperte 2026, Veneto programme
- Ca’ Lustra: Cantine Aperte nei Colli Euganei 2026
- Enouting: Cantine Aperte 2026/2027, dates and guide
- Gambero Rosso: Ca’ Lustra Zanovello
- En Primeur Club: Il Pianzio
- WineTourism: The legacy of Le Volpi and Monte Fasolo
- Bottle of Italy: Le Volpi & Monte Fasolo
- Infobuild Energia: Quota 101, CasaClima Wine certified winery
Information checked in October 2026 from the 2026 edition. Prices, dates and rules change every year, so confirm with each winery before you go.
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