L’November 11, when the vineyards are stripped and the air smells of must, Italy celebrates one of the
oldest and most beloved anniversaries: the Feast of San Martino, a symbol of gratitude, sharing and
rebirth. It once marked the end of the agricultural year: farmers paid their rents, renewed their
contracts and tasted the first new wine. Today it remains a community rite, a bridge between the sacred and
profane, where food, wine and peasant memory merge into one large table.
The origins – the saint of the cloak and new wine
Saint Martin of Tours, a Roman soldier who converted to Christianity, is remembered for his gesture of charity
with which he cut his own cloak in two to offer it to a poor, cold man. Legend has it that,
soon after, the sky brightened and a sudden heat returned: thus was born the ’“Summer of St. Martin”.
In the peasant world, the date of ’November 11th marked the beginning of the new agricultural cycle and,
above all, the opening of the barrels of new wine. For centuries, in the Italian countryside it has been said: “In San
Martin every must becomes wine”.
Regional Traditions – Italy of Flavors and Fires
In each region, the festival takes on unique nuances:
Veneto – In the villages of Treviso and Padua, children parade with sweets and lanterns in
horse shape, in honor of the saint, while in the taverns you toast with vin novo and enjoy the
“San Martino pancakes”.
Emilia-Romagna – In rural towns, fires are lit in the fields and sturdy dishes are served:
tagliatelle with ragù, roasted chestnuts and must donuts. In Rimini and Santarcangelo the
famous San Martino Fair, with over 200 stalls and tastings of local wines and DOP products.
Tuscany – The hills of Scandicci and Montalcino celebrate the day with wine tastings
new, new oil and bruschetta. Visits to the oil mills and peasant lunches based on soups are organised,
chestnuts and sweets with holy wine.
Umbria – In Narni and Bevagna the festival is intertwined with the Festa del Vino Novello, between open cellars,
folk music and torches illuminating medieval alleys.
Campania and Puglia – Here we celebrate the “Verzura di San Martino”: in the farmhouses we taste wine
new accompanied by taralli, cured meats and local cheeses, in a convivial climate that recalls the
ancient harvests.
Sicily – In Palermo, the traditional San Martino biscuit is prepared, crumbly and scented with anise,
often immersed in Muscat wine. In Caltanissetta and Messina, the festival becomes a day of
bread, sweets and sweet wine.
Unmissable events in Italy (2025)
San Martino Fair – Santarcangelo di Romagna (8–11 November 2025): one of the oldest
of Italy, with shows, tastings and the famous “Palio della Piada”.
Novello Wine Festival – Narni (15–17 November 2025): open wineries and food stands between
folk music and peasant dishes.
San Martino in Cantina – Tuscany and Umbria: open weekend among vineyards and olive presses, with
pairings between new wine, extra virgin oil and local specialities.
San Martino Fair – Venice and Burano: children bring lanterns and sweets, while in taverns
toast to “vin de San Martin”.
Today, the Feast of San Martino represents a pillar of Italian experiential tourism.
Events dedicated to new wine, new oil and peasant traditions have become
a network of micro-events that moves thousands of visitors each year, with a constant growth of the
rural and wine tourism. According to data from ENIT (National Tourism Agency), the holidays
linked to typical products, they generate an average related income of more than 3 billion euros per year, with peaks
seasonal in autumn, and favor the tourist stay in the inland areas. From the point of view
food and wine, San Martino is a “return to its origins”: the celebration of agricultural identity
Italian, of slowness, of the earth and of time.
For those looking for authentic experiences, the party is an invitation to slow down, to listen to the noise of the wine
fermenting and sharing a glass under the warmth of November.