Gastronomic Events

Lake Garda is a region that offers food and wine events all year round. It has a great variety of quality products, ranging from delicate fish dishes to strong mountain flavours.
Freshwater fish and extra virgin olive oil D.O.P. are the typical products of Lake Garda, but there are also citrus fruits, honey and peaches. Moreover, the region boasts a well-established and internationally recognized production of white, rosè and red wines.
Here you will find the most important events dedicated to the delicacies of Lake Garda that often come with dance evenings, various shows and live music.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY

Winetasting "Anteprima Amarone" - Verona

"Anteprima Verona" is an exclusive preview of the best upcoming Amarone wines offering the opportunity to taste them in advance. Amarone wine is an important ressource of the Valpolicella area: 13 million bottles are produced every year, of which 60% are reserved for export. The event is however more than a tasting as it is also an occasion to discuss themes like production, economic impact, quality and sustainability of Valpolicella.

MARCH

Anteprima del Bardolino e del Chiaretto - Lazise

This winetasting presents more than a hundred wines (Bardolino Chiaretto, Chiaretto Spumante e Rosso Bardolino) from 40 producers. The event provides the opportunity to get to know the wines of the 16 municipalities that make up the DOC Bardolino region which extends over 3,000 hectares of vineyards and produces a total of about 28 million bottles of which 10 million ones are Chiaretto.

APRIL

Vinitaly Wine Fair - Verona Fair

Vinitaly is the most popular international wine fair and the largest wine exhibition in the world. Born in Verona in 1967, today it is an event that has strongly influenced the evolution of the national and international wine system and has helped to make wine one of the most fascinating and dynamic productions of the primary sector. Each Italian region has the opportunity to present its products, promotional activities and initiatives.
At the same time Verona Fiere hosts the Sol & Agrifood dedicated to olive oil.
The event is thought to favour direct contact between exhibitors and clients from all the over word thanks to B2B meetings, workshops and tastings. Last but not least there is the Enolitech exhibiting innovative technology for the wine and oil supply chain that has been an event of international appeal since 1998.

APRIL

Fish & Chef - Lake Garda

"Fish & Chef", six gourmet evenings at the highest level, in collaboration with Michelin Italia and the Jeunes Restaurateurs d'Europe (JRE), the association of the best and youngest European chefs. The event gathers the big chefs of the international cuisine on the lake in order to prepare original dishes made from the region's excellent produce, especially freshwater fish and the fine meat of Garronese Veneta beef.
Fish & Chef provides the opportunity to taste the products of local companies, such as wine but also olive oil, which thanks to the particular microclimate of the lake has an exceptional taste and variety of aroma. At the end of the evenings there will be tastings of Franciacorte grappa and distillates, among which the pomace brandy, which is left in barrique barrels for more than 18 months, is worth mentioning.

MAY / JUNE

Palio del Chiaretto - Bardolino

Every year in June, Bardolino hosts the Chiaretto wine contest, named "Palio del Chiaretto", where the new Bardolino Chiaretto DOC is presented. Chiaretto is a rosé variety of Bardolino wine produced from the same grapes. On the occasion of the event, music and entertainment liven up the centre of Bardolino and accompany lovers and curious people during their tasting.

JULY

Fish festival "Sardellata al Chiar di Luna"

This traditional festival has its origins in the lake’s sardine fishing, which is well documented in the Museo del Lago di Garda (Lake Garda Museum) in Garda. It is a reinterpretation of an old tradition when the caught sardines were cooked and eaten directly on the boats near the sandbank in front of Garda, a tradition that visitors are invited to continue.

AUGUST

Aperitif Under the Stars – Bardolino

The Aperitif Under the Stars, is an event full of music, buskers, Latin dances and delicious drinks and snacks. The evening provides the perfect occasion to try the best local wines and food and offers a varied programme with music, performances, Carribean dance groups, buskers and spectacular fireworks above Lake Garda.
Access only with entrance ticket.

SEPTEMBER

"Sagra dei Osei" Feast of Ornithology - Cisano di Bardolino

The best of the local food and wine tradition, afternoon and evening shows, the best Italian bird-call imitators, a market of hunting articles and finest dance orchestras. All this and more can be found at the popular "Sagra dei Osei".

SEPTEMBER

Tortellini e dintorni - Valeggio sul Mincio

Valeggio boasts a unique landscape at the foot of the moraine hills, between the valley of the Mincio River and the medieval village Borghetto that awaits visitors to show them the best wines and most delicious dishes it has to offer. Two culinary itineraries (red and blue) to choose from, during each participants can taste four tortellini varieties accompanied by a glass of wine and followed by a dessert from the region. There will also be various side events, ranging from live music and a literature section to events dedicated to local produce. On occasion of the event, visitors can take part in free guided tours to discover the backcountry of Lake Garda and enjoy the natural and historical heritage of Valeggio.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER

Grape and Wine Festival - Bardolino

Music, shows, tastings, food and wine stalls will create an unforgettable event with a fully packed calendar and a unique atmosphere in the whole town. The Bardolino wine is symbol of this territory and therefore it is no wonder that it will be the protagonist of the festival presenting itself in all possible varieties: Classico, Superiore and Chiaretto.
The lakefront and the streets of the old town will be enlivened by many events involving tens of thousands of visitors. The traditional barrel of 6 m height and 4 m width in Piazza Catullo will not be missing and serve you with grape juice.

OCTOBER

Honey Days - Lazise

"I giorni del miele" (Engl. honey days) is the largest showcase of Italian honey and an opportunity to get to know the universe that revolves around honey derivatives, equipment, apiculture and specialist literature. An important event also for professionals, institutions, research centres, traders and scientists to have a look at the development and state of the art of Italian and European apiculture. On an area of 2,400 square metres, visitors can find honey, royal jelly, propolis, the latest equipment and techniques used in apiculture and useful for the processing and transformation of beekeeping products. There are also two competitions dedicated to the best national and regional honeys and bee nectars. The best products get quality certificates.

NOVEMBER 

Novello Wine Festival - Bardolino

Tradition, culture, food and wine blend with the colours and flavours of autumn at the Novello wine festival in Bardolino, which wants to promote the young wine in combination with other typical seasonal products like chestnuts. On the lakeshore, a gastronomy and handicraft market will offer real specialities and unique products.

N.B: The mentioned periods may be subject to change.