Passaggi di Vino
This is when Borgo San Giuliano turns into one huge open-air wine bar: colourful houses, the Tiberius Bridge mirrored in the water, lanes full of people and the smell of the sea drifting as far as the winery stands.
An evening to raise a glass and discover the wines of the Rimini hills.
P.assaggi di Vino is a food and wine event celebrating the DOC wines of the Rimini area and the deep bond between the city and its inland hills. It is not simply a tasting: it is a different way of experiencing the quarter, glass round your neck and the curiosity to find out what lies behind each label.
Where It Takes Place
The heart of the event is the area between the Tiberius Bridge and the Piazza sull'Acqua, right at the foot of the quarter. For a few evenings everything changes: the little coloured houses become the backdrop, the lights are reflected in the canal, and the tables and seating areas invite you to stop and talk.
The mood is relaxed but lively. There is music in the background, groups of friends strolling with a glass round their neck, couples pausing to look at the lit-up quarter, curious visitors exchanging a few words with the producers. It is a popular event, but a carefully made one, and it suits people who know their wine as much as those who simply want an evening out of the ordinary.
The Local Wines
P.assaggi di Vino was created with a clear purpose: to put local wines in the spotlight and to tell the story of the Rimini hills through the glass. Wineries from the area gather in the quarter and bring their best labels along for tasting.
What you can taste
- Sangiovese in its various guises: young and fruity, or structured and complex
- Rebola, the native white of Rimini, fresh and savoury
- Trebbiano and Pagadebit, traditional wines given a modern reading
- Sparkling wines, charmat or classic method, often the stars of the aperitivo
- Bordeaux blends and other interpretations that show off the producers' creativity
Every stand is run by the winemakers themselves or by their staff. That makes the experience a very personal one: it is not just a glass of wine, but a conversation with the person who made it. Ask them about the vineyards, the winemaking, the food pairings they suggest, the differences between one vintage and another.
How It Works
The format is simple and designed to let you wander freely between the stands.
The tasting kit
At the entrance you buy a kit that includes an event glass with the printed logo, a handy pouch to hang it round your neck, and a number of tastings included via tokens or coupons. The details can change from one year to the next.
Strolling between the stands
With the glass round your neck you walk between the winery stands. Each one has a small blackboard listing the wines available: read, choose, taste. You can compare different grape varieties, ask for advice, hear the story behind a label. No rush, no queues.
Taking something home
Many producers let you buy bottles on the spot. That is the pleasure of discovering a wine you like: you can buy it there and then, with no need to track it down afterwards.
Food and Street Food
Wine on its own is not enough, and P.assaggi di Vino knows it. The event is built as a complete tasting route.
Alongside the winery stands you will find street food: filled piadine, fried fish, gourmet sandwiches, hot and cold dishes. There are also artisan producers with cheeses, cured meats, preserves, extra virgin olive oil and traditional sweets.
The restaurants and osterias of the quarter often put on special menus or dishes designed to be matched with the wines on offer. Some editions include a proper food area, a square set aside for sitting down and sharing traditional Romagna dishes as if at one large table among friends.
Music and Atmosphere
The event comes with live music, DJ sets and small performances. Bands playing jazz, pop, soul or singer-songwriter material; DJs creating the right soundtrack for the tastings; sometimes art performances or readings connected to the world of wine.
The idea is not to turn the quarter into an open-air nightclub. The music is there to create a pleasant backdrop to the tastings, to make you want to stay and to give the evening a lift. The right volume to chat without shouting.
A Route Through the Borgo
One of the best things about P.assaggi di Vino is the chance to experience the quarter in a way you never usually would. Every stop becomes a small stage set: you walk into a little square where a trio is playing under the stars, pass beneath a mural dedicated to Fellini, reach the water's edge where the lights of the stands are reflected in the basin, cross the Tiberius Bridge with a glass in your hand and the lit-up quarter behind you.
It is a route in stages between glasses and views, perfect for photos, conversation and memories.
Who It Suits
The event is designed for a wide audience, with one thing in common: curiosity.
- Wine lovers who want to discover the wineries and grape varieties of the area
- Couples looking for a romantic evening among lights, glasses and historic bridges
- Groups of friends after a mix of tastings, music and good company
- Visitors who want to experience the Rimini "beyond the beach", in an authentic setting
It is not an event designed specifically for children, although the relaxed atmosphere of the quarter means families can move around without any trouble.
Why people love P.assaggi di Vino
It is an elegant but informal party, where you feel at ease even if you are no expert. A calling card for the area that tells the story of Rimini through wine, food and the beauty of a historic quarter.
A complete sensory experience, made of scents, flavours, lights, music and encounters. The kind of event that, once you have tried it, has you saying: "I am coming back next year".
FAQ: P.assaggi di Vino
The price changes from one edition to the next. You normally buy a tasting kit that includes the printed glass, the glass pouch and a number of tastings. For up-to-date prices, check the website of the Strada dei Vini dei Colli di Rimini.
P.assaggi di Vino is usually held in late spring or early summer, over several consecutive evenings. The exact dates are announced each year by the Strada dei Vini e dei Sapori dei Colli di Rimini.
Not at all. The event is meant both for enthusiasts and for anyone who simply wants a good evening out. The producers are happy to explain everything, from grape varieties to winemaking techniques, in plain and approachable language.
Yes. There is street food, artisan producers of cheese and cured meats, and the restaurants of the quarter often put on special menus. It is not just a tasting: it is a complete route through local flavours.
The nearest car parks are Parcheggio Tiberio (Viale Tiberio), Viale Matteotti and Via Madonna della Scala. There may be restrictions during the event, so it is worth arriving a little early or using public transport.