Music, Wine, and the Warmth of August

Summer in Piemonte feels like a painting come to life. The hills roll away in soft, green waves, their slopes quilted with vineyards that glisten in the late-summer sun. In August, the grapes are plump and luminous, blushing deeper by the day as they drink in the warmth. The air is heavy with the scent of wild herbs and ripening fruit, while the sky, a boundless blue, stretches endlessly above. Each village seems to hum with anticipation – for August is the season of festa, when every village piazza becomes a stage for joy.

Mid-month, Italy reaches the high point of its summer rhythm: Ferragosto. Born from the ancient Roman “Feriae Augusti” and now woven into the nation’s soul, it’s more than a holiday – it’s a collective pause. Families escape to the coast or mountains, tables are laid for lingering lunches, and life shifts into a slower, sweeter gear. Streets grow still, but beaches and hill towns overflow with laughter, music, and the shared pleasure of simply being together.

In Rocchetta Palafea our own recent festa showed that spirit was in full bloom. The medieval tower cast its long evening shadow over the street below, where rows of tables stretched beneath strings of glowing lights. Platters of handmade tajarin, grilled meats, and other local dishes were served to the masses in a steady, tempting stream, each dish paired with a generous pour of local wines - Barbera or Nizza. Live bands struck up at each end of the street around our ancient medieval castle grounds as the sun melted into the horizon, and soon the night was alive with music, clinking glasses, and voices rising in song.

Children darted between tables, couples danced to Gypsy King covers at one end and Italian rock music at the other, and strangers became friends over a shared bottle. It was a night that belonged to everyone – a perfect August evening, where the warmth of the people matched the glow of the summer air.