From 27 to 29 September, the Castello Volante in Corigliano d’Otranto will host the third edition of Spiritosa, Italy’s first festival entirely dedicated to drinking well and responsibly. Over 100 guests, including speakers, bartenders and chefs; more than 300 labels from around the world available for tasting; a packed programme of masterclasses, talks, guided tastings, culinary offerings, a cocktail competition, the final of the Master Coffee Grinder Championship, vintage markets, DJ sets, live music and a large exhibition area spread over three levels inspired by the Divine Comedy. Three days of ‘recreational business’ conceived by Sartoria degli Spiriti, in collaboration with numerous national and international organisations.
An ancient fortress in the heart of Salento, three days of events, over 100 speakers, bartenders and chefs, a sensory journey through Hell, Purgatory and Paradise, with a touch of irony and over 300 spirits from around the world available for tasting. From Saturday 27th to Monday 29th September, the Castello Volante in Corigliano d’Otranto will host the third edition of Spiritosa, Italy’s first festival entirely dedicated to drinking well and responsibly: a unique and innovative format that combines the promotion of the local area, food and wine culture and slow tourism.
THE PROGRAMME
Three action-packed days of ‘spirits experiences’ to discover the sector’s finest offerings first-hand through meetings with experts, producers, brand ambassadors, importers and distributors. A programme of masterclasses and talks from the Spiritosa Academy, guided tastings, culinary offerings, a cocktail competition, the business room, Italy’s first bar-themed vintage market, DJ sets and live music, all taking you on a journey inspired by Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. The exhibition spaces (Saturday 27th from 4.00 pm to midnight, Sunday 28th from 4.00 pm to midnight, Monday 29th from 10.00 am to 8.00 pm – admission €10, including five tastings) will be set up across the three levels, making the most of the evocative atmosphere of the Castello Volante. The tour will begin in ‘Hell’ in the cellars of the Sala Cavallerizza and the Sala Medievale, with an area dedicated to spirits, sodas, natural drinks and coffee; Purgatory in the Fossato will host the beers, whilst in Paradise, amongst the frescoes of the Noble Halls on the first floor, visitors will find wines and sparkling wines.
GUESTS
Among those who have already confirmed their attendance are: Patrick Pistolesi (owner of Drink Kong in Rome, which has won international awards as Italy’s best cocktail bar and is recognised as one of the world’s leading examples of bartending), Antonio Parlapiano (bartender and advanced training tutor, one of the founding partners of The Jerry Thomas Project Rome, Italy’s first secret bar and a six-time entrant in the World’s 50 Best Bars), Francesco Spenuso (European advocacy manager at Jack Daniel’s), Rossella De Stefano (journalist and editor-in-chief of Mixer Planet), Daniele Gentili (bartender and marketing specialist at Red Bull Italia), Gaetano Massimo Macrì and Giampiero Francesca (co-founders of the Blue Blazer guide), Francesco Spenuso (Advocacy Manager for the Brown Forman Group), Oscar Quagliarini (bartender and co-founder of Gocce di Senigallia), Mario Farulla (professional mixologist), Marco Fabbiano (bartender and founder of Laurus in Lecce), Nino Rossi (Michelin-starred chef, owner of Qafiz and Aspro Cocktail Bar), Sandro Camilli (national president of AIS), Michele Antonio Fino (lecturer at the University of Pollenzo and author of *Non me la bevo*, Mondadori), Marzia Varvaglione (president of the Committee of European Wine Entrepreneurs, president of the youth wing of the Italian Wine Union, and member of the UIV board), Luca Cesari (food and wine journalist and writer), Giovanni Puglisi (fermenter of ideas, wines and kombucha), Nicola Biasi (agronomist and oenologist, Italy’s leading expert on Piwi wines), Angelo Zarra (founder and president of the Paestum Wine Fest), Eugenio Signoroni (food and wine journalist and writer), Fabio Verona (senior trainer and creator of the Master Coffee Grinder Championship), Eleonora Pirovano (president of the International Women’s Coffee Alliance), Simone Previati (Italian coffee grinding champion), Andrea Antonelli (Academy & Specialty Coffee).
COMPETITIONS AND CHAMPIONSHIPS
Bartenders from all over Italy will compete in the final of the Spiritosa cocktail competition: organised by Francesco Spenuso and Massimo Macrì, this competition is open to professionals in the mixed drinks sector. For the first time in Puglia, there will also be a round of the Master Coffee Grinder Championship, the most important national coffee-grinding competition, conceived and led by Fabio Verona.
STREET FOOD, MARKET AND MUSIC
One area will be dedicated to street food, featuring a selection of specialities from Apulian culinary culture. Spiritosa will also host Italy’s first vintage market entirely dedicated to the world of bars, featuring enamelled signs, professional equipment spanning the decades, tables and chairs from bars of yesteryear, signage, calendars, furniture and fridges. Scattered throughout every corner of the Castle, there will be numerous bar stands where visitors can savour the Festival’s finest drinks, as well as a Secret Bar – a pop-up featuring six leading Italian cocktail bars – which will surprise and delight those who manage to obtain the access code and password. Not to mention the music, with DJ sets and live performances by national and international artists such as Pantu, Sorge, Dubin, Tropicalia, Ennio Ciotta, About Ape, Max Nocco, Niuri te sule and the Spiritosa Street Band’s performances spanning gypsy, klezmer, Yiddish, waltzes, tarantellas, Dixie and funk. On Saturday evening, there’ll be a set by Mexican DJ/producer Vice, alongside a slot for the Mena collective featuring DJ sets by Seme, Naif and Lonoce, and a live act curated by Trevize. Also worth noting is the world premiere of the musical project conceived by Jack Danyel’s Italia, featuring a performance by B(r)and – a group of professional bartenders from some of Italy’s finest cocktail bars – who will perform some of the finest tracks from the international rock repertoire.
THE FESTIVAL
The third edition of Spiritosa – Festival del Bere Bene is organised by Sartoria degli Spiriti in collaboration with the Puglia Regional Government and Puglia Promozione, under the patronage of the Lecce Chamber of Commerce, the Province of Lecce, the Municipality of Corigliano d’Otranto, Confcommercio Lecce and Confindustria Lecce, in partnership with technical partners AIS (Italian Sommelier Association – Lecce), IAFeM (Italian Academy of Higher Education and Marketing) and BECool – Banqueting, Events and Catering.
SARTORIA DEGLI SPIRITI
The project stems from a vision by Michele Manca of Sartoria degli Spiriti, one of Apulia’s leading organisations specialising in training and services within the beverage sector. “Spiritosa is a visionary and ambitious festival that aims to create a large family of industry professionals,” emphasises Manca. “Through an innovative approach and an unconventional format, it seeks to experiment with and consolidate what I call ‘recreational business’. At Spiritosa, in fact, business is conducted differently, prioritising human relationships, mental and physical wellbeing, and conviviality.” Launched in 2023, the Spiritosa Festival is aimed at all enthusiasts and industry professionals, operating on a B2B and B2C basis. “The second edition exceeded all expectations, hosting more than 150 companies, 35 speakers and four chefs, and involving 60 professional bartenders from across Italy in the cocktail competition, with a total attendance of over 7,500 people.”
Castello Volante
, Corigliano d’Otranto | Piazza Castello 1
Admission
: 10 euros, including 5 tasting vouchers
Opening hours:
Saturday 27th from 4.00 pm to 4.00
am; Sunday 28th from 4.00 pm to midnight;
Monday 29th from 10.00 am to 8.00 pm
Website: spiritosa.org
Instagram: spiritosafestival
Facebook: Spiritosa Festival
