Time for new wine, time to choose where to taste it

The feast of San Martino is approaching, when traditionally new wine is tasted with chestnuts and many municipalities continue the traditions by organizing festivals and events.

Among the most interesting proposals is that of Strangolagalli in the heart of Ciociaria with its 'Le Cantine del Borgo' festival on 4th and 5th November where the ancient village opens its cellars and stands to let people taste the food and wine culture of the area.

The origin of the particular name of Strangolagalli is uncertain, and as children it was always mentioned as a place where strange things happened. Some trace the name to legendary killings and the municipal coat of arms depicts a rooster and a fox facing each other about to fight.

What is certain is that for centuries it was a border town between the papacy and the Bourbon kingdom with the presence of many brigands such as the famous 'Priest', who was feared by all and considered a scourge by the papal administration.

For those unfamiliar with this corner of land, I recommend enjoying it at sunset when the play of light and shadow reveals the thousand hills that follow each other along the horizon. If you didn't know you were in the heart of Ciociaria, you could imagine finding yourself in one of the backgrounds of Leonardo da Vinci's paintings. You absolutely must organize a weekend in the heart of Ciociaria and visit it together with Veroli and Monte San Giovanni Campano.

And what better occasion than the weekend that Strangolagalli organized to discover the typical products of the area? Two days of tastings accompanied by popular music, those rhythms that can't be resisted and that make everyone move to the dance. But if you really manage to be indifferent to popular music, you can admire the street artists who surprise with their skills.

The village is full of activity and 35 different stations (cantine) have been created, some managed by associations but others by farms, professionals and restaurateurs. Each of them offers a specialty (often described in Ciociaro dialect) and the entire list of dishes can be found at the bottom of the article or on the website/app lecantinedelborgo.it where a map of the historic center of Strangolagalli is also available.

You will recognize the cellars and stations from the signs created by the schools because every citizen of Strangolagalli contributes to the success of this event.

A true farmer's festival before the long winter begins and beautiful outdoor events cannot be held.

Good fun!

Cantina 1 - 'S'nnamb'l' with sagne with beans (or asparagus - chickpeas and bacon), roasted pork shank

Cantina 2 - Dolci Creazioni with assorted pastries, coffee

Cantina 3 - La Castagnaccia with chestnuts

Cantina 4 - I du' P'rchitt' with platter with porchetta, cured meats, cheeses, homemade bread

Cantina 5 - Da Nicolina e Daiano with spiral potatoes and potato chips, fried potatoes

Cantina 6 - La R'messa with cuzzutiello made with meatballs with meat sauce or mushrooms, pork rinds and beans/sausages with beans

Cantina 7 - C'ulem' prua' with hanged caciocavallo cheese

Cantina 8 - Agl' cucuzzar with pumpkin gnocchi with speck and walnuts

Cantina 9 - L' sciorn' with simple Christmas pizzelle, with raisins and cod

Cantina 10 - Ess' Chiss' with polenta with sausage sauce and ribs, focaccia with cold cuts and vegetables

Cantina 11 - Te'... Azz'ppat' i buat' with mulled wine and wine donuts

Cantina 12 - Gl’ uerr’ ‘nguastit’ with turmeric Scialatielli with white wild boar ragout and truffle

Cantina 13 - Il bosco magico with sweet and smoked caciocavallo pouring on hot bread

Cantina 14 - I buongustai with husbandzzi with cream, donuts, cheese and egg balls, coffee

Cantina 15 - Pro loco Strangolagalli with tripe in sauce, coratella

Cantina 16 - Chiss' Rion with wild boar pappardelle

Cantina 17 - Gl' uagliun' with Nutella crepes, coffee

Cantina 18 - Gl' magnun' with gnocchi with mussels, bacon and cherry tomatoes, gnocchi alla norcina

Cantina 19 - Mimi' Cocò i Carm'nucc' with a trio of grilled polenta (garlic, oil and chilli pepper – broccoli – mushrooms) Grilled mortadella with side dish

Cantina 20 - Cibo di strada with sheep in sauce

Cantina 21 - Da Fabrizio with sandwiches with sausage, frankfurters, hamburgers, raw ham

Cantina 22 - Peppino e Rosetta with simple and stuffed fried pizzas, panzerotti

Cantina 23 - Gl' Zapp' with sheep stew

Cantina 24 - Azienda agricola AgriTwins with grilled lamb, bruschetta poker, m’nestra c’ l’ pan’ sott’

Cantina 25 – Gionzies with tortiglioni with truffled carbonara, bruschettone with grilled bacon and broccoli

Cantina 26 - Le bontà siciliane with arancini, Sicilian cannoli, bread and panelle, coffee

Cantina 27 - Da Zio Rocco with fried cod

Cantina 28 - Azienda agricola Le Ginestre with buffalo kebab, buffalo kebabs, buffalo stew

Cantina 29 - La fraschetta del pirata with scampi cream dumplings, couscous with fish and vegetables, sangria

Cantina 30 - Dolci e dolcezze with wood-fired desserts, coffee, prosecco

Cantina 31 - La Radicula with mixed grilled grill: ribs, capocollo steak, sausage and bacon

Cantina 32 - Pizza da Damiano with wood-fired pizza and calzones, supplì, french fries

Cantina 33 - #ApeKorina with PanCiccia (buffalo provola and sausage sandwich), home-produced cheeses

Cantina 34 - Piubbuono Gluten free bakery with fried stuffed calzones, fried pizza, pizza gnocchi with Nutella

Cantina 35 - Le delizie del mare with calamari and prawn and sandwich with grilled

Octopus

The event is organized by the "Le Cantine del Borgo" association and takes place on Saturday evening and all day on Sunday in the heart of the historic center of Strangolagalli. For further information on the menu and the map of the cellars you can go to the website lecantinedelborgo.it .