Wine, Local Festivals & Big Events: Your Map to Autumn Across Langhe, Monferrato & Turin

Author: Walter Perlo

September around here is never just another month. It's when the vineyards fill with people at work, village squares come alive with flags and historic parades, and Turin lights up its theatres and festivals after the summer lull. Over just a few weeks, the area spanning Langhe, Roero, Monferrato and the Piedmontese capital turns into a non-stop sequence of grape harvests, fairs, food festivals and cultural events — too many for one single weekend, but perfect to plan one after another.

We've put together the most interesting events of the coming weeks, with an interactive map so you can immediately see where everything is and how to fit it all into your itinerary.

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Wine takes centre stage across Langhe and Monferrato

The season opens in the most authentic way possible: with the grape harvest. On September 5-6, Tenuta Fontanafredda in Serralunga d'Alba opens its vineyards for the Festa della Vendemmia, featuring the Villaggio Narrante, live music, street food and sustainability-focused tastings — free entry, but booking is required, so it's worth planning ahead.

That same weekend, on the other side of the territory, Cocco...Wine turns the historic centre of Cocconato d'Asti into an open-air wine street, with tasting stalls from Monferrato wineries and, on September 6, a vintage Centoporte train departing from Turin Porta Nuova for those who'd rather leave the driving to someone else.

Mid-month it's Asti's turn: the Douja d'Or (September 11-20) brings Piedmont's most historic national wine showcase to town, while in the heart of Alba the Festa del Vino (28th edition, Sundays September 20 and 27) lines up the region's most representative labels from Langhe, Roero and Monferrato right in the town's squares.

For a deeper dive into authentic Asti countryside, head to Canelli — a UNESCO World Heritage site for its underground wine cathedrals — for its Festa della Vendemmia (September 19-20), or to Casale Monferrato for the region's biggest Festa del Vino del Monferrato, spread across two weekends (18-20 and 25-27 September) with over 100 labels to taste and a fireworks show on the 19th.

Local festivals, tradition and popular culture

On September 6, Asti comes to a standstill for its defining event: the Palio, a medieval-costume horse race dating back to 1275, with over 1,200 costumed participants filling Piazza Alfieri. A week later, still in Asti, the Festival delle Sagre Astigiane (September 12-13) stages what's often called "the biggest open-air restaurant in Italy," run by the area's local Pro Loco associations.

In Roero, Bra's (September 17-20) celebrates sausage, cheese, bread and rice in partnership with Slow Food, while lovers of mountain flavours can head to Ceva, in the Alta Langa, for the International Mushroom Exhibition (September 19-20) — making its debut this year as an international event.

Turin comes alive

The capital isn't sitting this one out. On September 12, Via Roma celebrates its new pedestrian-only stretch with a city-wide street party, while the MAO museum hosts "Hiroshige – Dreamlike Landscapes," a major exhibition dedicated to the Japanese ukiyo-e master, running until November 29.

From September 18-20, the Paideia Festival "Insieme" brings music and inclusion to venues across the city, with guests including Eugenio Finardi and Arturo Brachetti. And from September 24-27, Turin hosts Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, Slow Food's international gathering — a perfect link between the Langhe's food story and the capital's own, and a great excuse for a weekend split between city and hills.

The countdown has begun: Palio degli Asini and the Truffle Fair

And then there's the event that truly marks the start of autumn in Alba every year: the 96th International White Truffle Fair of Alba, opening on October 9 and welcoming visitors from October 10 through December 6. Kicking things off on Sunday, October 4, is the traditional Palio degli Asini (Donkey Race), preceded by a historic parade with hundreds of costumed participants. Tickets are already on sale at a discounted rate until September 7 — a good reason to start planning your trip now.

Planning your autumn across Langhe, Monferrato and Turin

With a calendar this packed, the easiest approach is having a stable base to travel from day by day, without switching accommodation every weekend. Whether you want to experience the harvest at Fontanafredda, Asti's Palio, or the run-up to the Truffle Fair, discover AlbaTorinoEscapes' stays and book your Boutique House directly, between Turin, Alba and the hills.

Book your experience among vineyards and village festivals with GetYourGuide, or find your stay at our Boutique House.

This article was drafted with the support of artificial intelligence tools, in compliance with the EU Artificial Intelligence Act. Content is reviewed and curated editorially by the AlbaTorinoEscapes team.