Polpenazze Wine Fair Gains Popularity with 37 Wineries and Events
These days, many residents of Polpenazze are busy preparing for the most important event of the year, when the Valtenese village steps out of its quiet routine to take center stage in provincial and regional headlines. We are naturally referring to the Wine Fair: the fifty-first edition is scheduled from Friday, May 26 to Monday, May 29 in the town’s historic center.
As always, it will be four days of exhibitions, tastings, folkloric and street events, for a festival whose success has steadily grown in recent years: not only in terms of the number of participating wineries (this year there will be 37, five more than in the 1999 edition), but also in public appreciation.
Attendance and issues of the previous edition
Last year, on Saturday evening—the most critical night for the Fair—Polpenazze was overwhelmed by thousands of people who disrupted traffic on the roads and filled streets and squares of the small town beyond capacity. Memorable were the queues of parked cars stretching up to the Crociale di Manerba, and some still remember the moments of tension, fortunately resolved without incident, that arose between the crowds gathering in the square.
This year, the organizers seem intent on taking precautions: on Saturday the 27th, the traditional folk dance will not take place, and there is an intention to request increased police presence during the evening.
“We canceled the folk dance only on Saturday because, frankly, we don’t need to attract more people that night”—explains Giuseppe Turrina, former mayor of the town and current president of the Fair Committee.
– Last year, we experienced some problems, that’s true, but only caused by a few unruly individuals who risked spoiling the celebration for over 10,000 attendees.
Event and character of the fair
Aside from public order issues, the Fair is traditionally also the venue for the second Gardesan wine competition of the year, organized by Ente Vini Bresciani and Consorzio del Garda Classico: after the contest for Moniga’s Chiaretti wines, at Polpenazze they will evaluate the best whites, reds, and Superior Garda Classico Doc reds, while as always, the best Groppelli of the year will be chosen at the Puegnago Fair in September.
Among the festivals of Valtenesi, Polpenazze’s is undoubtedly the one that has best preserved its original popular and rural character, remaining closely tied to its roots, which date back immediately after World War II.
The local producers continue to participate en masse, as demonstrated by the record level reached this edition. Among the exhibitors present at the Fair this year, there will also be a welcome new addition: the “Cedrinca”, which recently moved its operations to Polpenazze, will take part with its own stand where all its traditional products can be found.