On May 30th and 31st wine producers across Italy will be opening their doors to the public in the annual ?Cantine Aperte? festival that spans the nation far and wide. Traditionally hosted on the last weekend of the month of May, this famous Italian rite of Spring festival involves close to a thousand wine producers across the country that open their doors over the two-day period to wine lovers in Italy and abroad.

The weekend event has become loved across the country as it paves the way for wine tasting, organized tours, sommelier explanations, vineyard visits and much more. If you are in Italy on holiday, have booked a for a vacation, or are enjoying your own Italian home this time of year, a visit to the wine producers over the two-day period is a must. The weather this time of year is sunny and the Cantine Vinicole are renowned for their hospitality. Very often, they lay out the full food and musical bands treatment to discerning visitors.

In the area around where the Terre D'Irsina sustainable tourism project is located, the following can be visited:

Azienda Agricola Taverna, Contrada Taverna, 15 - 75020 , Nova Siri, Matera.

Telephone: 0835.877083.

Azienda Agricola Biologica Pisani, Contrada San Lorenzo - 85059 Viggiano, Potenza.

Telephone: 0975 352603.

Azienda Agricola Bisceglia Srl, C.da Finocchiaro, 85024 Lavello Potenza,

Telephone: 0972 88409 0972 85376.

Cantina di Venosa, Via Appia, Localita? Vignali - 85029 Venosa, Potenza.

Telephone: 0972 36702 0972 35891.

Cantine del Notaio, Via Roma, 159 - 85028 Rionero in Vulture, Potenza.

Telephone: 0972 723689 0972 725435.

Colli Cerentino Srl, Via Matteotti, 10 - 85028 Rionero in Vulture, Potenza.

Telephone: 0972 237587 or 329 3256624.

Regio Cantina Srl, Contrada Piano Regio - 85029 Venosa, Potenza.

Telephone: 0824 381000 or 3346966263.

Terra degli Svevi, Localita? Pian di Camera - 85029 Venosa, Potenza.

Telephone: 0972 31263 0972 35253.

Terra dei Re, Via Monticchio Km 2.700 - 85028 Rionero in Vulture, Potenza. Telephone: 0972 725116 or 0972 725116.

Casa Maschito, Via Nitti - 85020 Maschito, Potenza. Telephone: 097233101 or 0972 33077.

In the Borghi Nascosti location, the following wine producers have been noted over the years for their hospitality and generosity to visitors in the annual ?open doors? festival.

Azienda Vitivinicola S. Lorenzo, Contrada da Plavignano, 2 - 64035 CASTILENTI (Teramo) Telephone: 0861 999325. Contact: Gianluca Galasso

Azienda Agricola Villa Medoro, Contrada da Medoro, 1 - 64032 ATRI (Teramo) Telephone: 085 8708142 Contact: Federica Morricone

Tenuta Cerulli Spinozzi S.S. 150 Km 17,6 - 64020 CANZANO (Teramo) Telephone: 0861 57193 info@cerullispinozzi.it Contact: Enrico Cerulli Irelli e Paolo Faccin

Azienda Agricola Faraone, SS 80 road towards Teramo, 290 - 64020 GIULIANOVA (Teramo) Telephone: 085 8071804 Contact: Giovanni Faraone

Azienda Vitivinicola Lepore, s.n.c. Contrada da Civita, 29 - 64010 COLONNELLA (Teramo) Telephone: 0861 70860 Contact: Michaela Lichte

Azienda Vitiv, Corrado De Angelis Corvi, Contrada da Pignotto - 64010 CONTROGUERRA (Teramo) Telephone: 0861 89475. Contact: Corrado De Angelis Corvi

Aziends Agricola Emidio Pepe Via Chiesi, 10 - 64010 TORANO NUOVO (Teramo) Telephone: 0861 856493 Contact: Daniela Pepe

A few suggestions by way of preparation:

Contact the wine producer in question by email to get an idea of what events they have planned so as to pick the best time to visit over the course of the weekend;

Have an understanding driver participate in your group, so as to ensure that everyone else can drink without having to worry about driving afterwards. Alternatively, book a nearby hotel and make a weekend out of it? some wine producers even have their own lodging provisions available to visitors.

Coincide the trip out with a viewing trip is you are considering . If this is what drew you to Italy in the first place, why waste a trip out?

Don't forget to dedicate some attention to the local produce and local chesses and cured hams that will accompany the wine tastings. These are often regional specialities that cannot be found even in other areas of Italy.

Spend the start of the day wandering down the sun-drenched vineyards with a wine expert at hand to explain the process from start to finish to you. The wine sipping later becomes all the more satisfying if you know all the theory.

The ?Open Cantine? event is part of a wide-reaching trend that sees the increase in wine tourism. The popularity of local wine production has led to a large demand for in these areas. There are many foreign and Italians second-home seekers looking for real estate in wine-producing locations. These areas offer the immediate availability of all the pleasures wine producing lands can offer ? without the responsibility of owning your own vineyard. Consider this carefully when you are making your visit.

A great resource is the website which encompasses all those that participate in the event and has am excellent English and German language section of the website. It also provides information on accommodation, things to see and do in the areas, and restaurants.