An Exhilarating Dive into Riccia’s Grape Festival
If you want to taste excellent native wine while exploring one of the most beautiful villages in Molise, then the Festa dell’Uva , Grape Festival, is undoubtedly a must on your journey.
Every year, on the second Sunday of September, Riccia fills with young people dressed in traditional costumes. The air is rich with the scent of wine and grilled meat.
Awaiting you is also the parade of floats, the most important of which, the Carro dell’Uva (Grape Float), is a true work of art.
The festival takes place alongside the religious celebration dedicated to the Madonna of S.S. Rosario.
Not by chance, the image of the Virgin Mary, by regulation, must be present on every float.
All around, young people in traditional costumes dance and sing, carrying baskets full of grapes and offering wine to passersby.
The festive atmosphere is truly engaging. You immediately feel at home and, in many ways, like a protagonist of the event.
From Tradition to Innovation
The festival dates back to the 1930s, during the Fascist regime. It was during this period that every Italian municipality was required to organize a grape festival. The goal was to celebrate the hard work carried out in the fields.
This tradition was interrupted during World War II but was revived in the post-war period. The main transformations, however, only occurred in the 1960s, thanks to the parish priest Don Ciccio Viccione, who turned a simple celebration into the major event it remains today.
Once, every town in Molise celebrated this occasion. Today, however, Riccia is the only place where this historic festival still takes place.
During the procession, the picturesque streets of the village come alive with folk songs and dances. But above all, through the parade of floats, it allows people to rediscover the rural life of the past. Indeed, scenes of peasant life are represented.
The Grape Float (Carro dell’Uva)
A true work of art, the Grape Float (Carro dell’Uva) remains the heart of the festival.
Crafted with great care and dedication, grape bunches are carefully selected based on their color and size. Then, they are glued together to create the float’s intricate decorations.
This creation symbolizes the hard labor of the harvest while also reflecting the vitality and originality of the present.
Many floats, following flag bearers and majorettes, showcase their artistic displays to the public.
Traditional Dishes
The Carro dell’Uva is also a highlight for another reason—it’s the place you’ll want to reach to taste Riccia’s typical dishes.
These include cavatelli with sausage sauce—prepared strictly according to the traditional recipe-hard wheat pizza, and grilled meat.
And, of course, on the float, you’ll find the festival’s true star: the wine. Thanks to the Festa dell’Uva, you’ll have the chance to taste the native red wine. It is a precious wine since its grape variety, known in dialect as ‘a saibell, has almost disappeared today.
Beyond the events and gastronomic specialties, Riccia is a charming village, well worth exploring.
