Morbegno in Cantina: wine, flavors, and history in the heart of Valtellina
by Oriana Davini
Last modified: 01/09/2026
For three weekends a year, the ancient cellars of Morbegno, normally closed to the public, open their doors once again. This is the moment when the historic center of this Valtellina town transforms into a journey through tastings, historic buildings, and hidden courtyards, offering a different way to discover one of Lombardy's most fascinating wine regions.
The 2026 edition of Morbegno in Cantina is scheduled for September 25th to 27th, October 2nd to 4th, and October 9th to 11th, with some new features that enrich an event that has now become a fixture of the Valtellina autumn.
Among historic cellars and normally closed buildings
Morbegno in Cantina doesn't take place in a single exhibition space. The town itself becomes the heart of the event: tastings lead visitors along a route through ancient cellars, courtyards, palaces, and cloisters in the historic center, many of which are closed to visitors during the rest of the year.
Among the event's iconic locations is Palazzo Malacrida, one of Morbegno's most iconic historic buildings, where tours intertwine with tastings. Another key stop is the Cloister of Sant'Antonio, home to Voci di Vigna, a space dedicated to small-scale producers in Valtellina. Here, you can taste various labels and meet directly with those who cultivate the vineyards and produce the wine.
The tasting itineraries
Wine remains the star of the event, of course, but the idea isn't to simply wander from one tasting stand to another. The various tasting itineraries have been designed to guide visitors through the many facets of Valtellina winemaking: from fine reds like Valtellina Superiore DOCG and Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG to more contemporary interpretations, such as sparkling wines made from local grapes, all the way to organic wines and the production of small winemakers.
Those who want to learn more can stop by Voci di Vigna, the space located in the Cloister of Sant'Antonio where producers share firsthand their work and the characteristics of the wines available for tasting. It's an opportunity to get to know a region where each vineyard is the result of a delicate balance between mountains, climate, and human labor.
The heroic viticulture of Valtellina
One of the aspects that makes this event unique is the context in which the wine is produced. Valtellina is one of the Italian regions recognized for its heroic viticulture, practiced on steep terraces supported by kilometers of dry stone walls, where much of the work is still done manually.
The protagonist is Nebbiolo, locally called Chiavennasca, from which some of the valley's most representative denominations are born, such as Valtellina Superiore DOCG and Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG.
Participating in Morbegno in Cantina means tasting a variety of wines, understanding how the landscape, climate, and human labor have contributed to building a unique winemaking identity.
If you enjoy slow tourism, discover the Valtellina Wine and Flavors Route.