Pompeii returns to harvest: the Wine Festival brings Bacchus back to the ancient vineyards of the excavations.

Pompeii celebrates the return of the grape harvest to the heart of the archaeological area. On Thursday, September 16th, with the cutting and harvesting of grapes in the 14 small vineyards nestled among the Park's domus, the Wine Festival kicks off. This event marks the beginning of the first production phase of the winemaking project developed in a public-private partnership with the Tenute Capaldo Group, through the Feudi di San Gregorio and Basilisco wineries.

The initiative aims to reimagine, in a contemporary key, a central moment in Pompeii life: the connection with vines, wine, and Dionysian conviviality. This is a particularly significant theme for the Park, which in 2026 dedicated several activities to the Dionysian dimension of the ancient city, especially in light of the recent discovery of the Hall of the Thiasos in Regio IX, Insula 10.

The program: visits, harvest and toasts among the rows

The day is divided into several sessions, designed to provide a close-up look at the archaeological area's vineyards and the research that goes into tending them.
From 3:00 PM – Vigneto del Foro Boario: visits and educational activities for children and young people, organized by the Pompeii Children's Museum. Workshops are available by reservation at www.pompeiichildrenmuseum.it.

From 4:00 PM – Orto dei Fuggiaschi and Outdoor Triclinium: Guided tours among the vine rows to discover planting techniques and the history of Vesuvian viticulture.

4:30 PM – Casa del Triclinio Open-Air Vineyard (entrance from Piazza Anfiteatro): Highlights include a presentation of the project, the symbolic pruning of the grapes, a toast with Feudi di San Gregorio wines, and a tasting of bread and Pùmpaiia, the Park's PGI olive oil, along with other products from Parvula Domus, the Park's cultural and social farm.

One hectare of vineyards between research, teaching and production

The 2026 harvest will be from 14 small vineyards distributed within the Domus del Parco, covering a total area of ​​just over one hectare. Beyond production, the cultivations are strongly geared toward research and education, restoring an agricultural practice that was part of the daily life of the ancient inhabitants and transforming it into an opportunity for learning and sharing.
The event will be attended, among others, by Pierpaolo Sirch, agronomist at Feudi di San Gregorio, Antonio Capaldo, president of Feudi di San Gregorio, and Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park.

How to participate

The event is part of the regular tour of the Pompeii Archaeological Park; for the main part of the Wine Festival, the meeting point is the open-air Vineyard of the Casa del Triclinium, with recommended access from Piazza Anfiteatro, starting at 4:30 p.m.