Have you ever dreamt of pressing grapes with your bare feet? Have you ever done it before and would love to do it again? If so, there’s a town in Tuscany that understands exactly where you’re coming from – they know how ‘oh so good’ it feels to squash grapes under ones feet; and to prove it, every year they hold a grape-pressing competition!
The town in question is Poggibonsi and the grape-pressing competition/festival is known as Pigio. Every October, usually in the 2nd week, the men, women and children from all parts of the town gather to compete in this light-hearted but messy celebration of the traditional art of winemaking (as well as celebration of the grape harvest). The women gather up their skirts to their knees, the men roll up their trousers and get stuck in, jumping into huge vats and crushing the grapes under their feet.
The Pigio festival takes place in the Square over 2 days (over a weekend), between the seven districts of the town (namely Borgaccio, Centro, Cimamori, Falco, Girata de’ Preti, Orti and Romituzzo). Competition is healthy, held in the true spirit of community, camaraderie and entertainment.
Just before the competition kicks off though, it’s opened with a performance by each district in which stories are told about how local vintages used to be made in the olden days.
The district that wins is the one that produces the most amount of must from the grapes; and for their efforts, they are awarded with a demijohn which is usually decorated by one of the local artists.
Another successful and utterly enjoyable Pigio celebration comes to pass and happy grape-soiled feet go home….until next year when the fun lifts up to a crescendo again and stays up there all weekend.
Maybe next year, amongst the sea of smiles and hitched-up skirts and rolled-up trousers….you’ll be there.
(img by: Mulsanne)
I cycled through here on the way to Rome, so I saw the grapes growing. Too early for the festival though - it looks like lots of fun.
You did? Wow!
How was Rome, by the way?