In Italy there really is a fountain from which red wine flows instead of water. This is not a legend or a temporary publicity stunt, but a concrete reality that welcomes pilgrims and visitors all year round to Villa Caldari, a hamlet of Ortona in the province of Chieti, Abruzzo.
An idea born on the Camino de Santiago
The initiative came to life in 2016 thanks to Dina Cespa and Luigi Narcisi, founders of the non-profit Association of the Cammino di San Tommeo. During one of their pilgrimages along the famous Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain, the two came across the wine fountain of the Bodegas Irache in Estella, Navarre, which for decades has offered refreshment to pilgrims heading to the monastery of San Giacomo.
Inspired by this tradition, they decide to replicate the experience in Italy, along the Way of St. Thomas which connects Rome to Ortona, where the relics of the apostle Thomas are kept in the Basilica of St. Thomas the Apostle.
The project: a monumental barrel
The project immediately found the support of Nicola D’Auria, owner of the Dora Sarchese winery, a historic winery in the area that produces typical Abruzzo wines. The construction was entrusted to the architect Rocco Valentini, who designed a true monument to the winemaking tradition of the region.
The fountain consists of an authentic wooden barrel with a capacity of 50 hectolitres, which visitors must enter in order to fill their glass. Inside, in addition to the tap that dispenses free Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC, there is an evocative writing: “Drink wine, because you don’t know where you came from: be happy, because you don’t know where you will go”.
The first permanent wine fountain in Italy
The one in Ortona stands out as the first true wine fountain operating all year round in our country. Although there are other historic wine fountains in Italy – such as those of Carosino (Taranto), San Floriano del Collio (Gorizia) and Marino (Rome), also immortalized in famous Roman stornelli – these open the taps only on the occasion of special occasions, patronal feasts or popular festivals.
The Abruzzo fountain, however, is accessible every day to pilgrims on the Camino di San Tommaso and to the numerous tourists who come specifically to visit it.
Where it is located and how to visit it
The fountain is located on the Dora Sarchese winery estate in Villa Caldari, a hamlet of Ortona, not far from the suggestive Costa dei Trabocchi. The strategic position along the Way of St. Thomas makes it an ideal stop for those traveling this spiritual itinerary of approximately 315 kilometres.
Since its inauguration, the fountain has enjoyed extraordinary success, becoming a real tourist attraction. It even has its own page on Tripadvisor, where visitors leave rave reviews, testifying to the unique experience of being able to taste an authentic Montepulciano d’Abruzzo directly from the source for free.
A symbol of hospitality and tradition
More than a simple trough, the wine fountain represents a tribute to the thousand-year-old Abruzzo winemaking tradition and a gesture of welcome towards pilgrims and travellers. The initiative combines religious, food and wine and cultural tourism, enhancing the territory and its excellence.
The Montepulciano d’Abruzzo that flows from the fountain is one of the most representative red wines of the region, characterized by an intense ruby color, fruity aromas and a soft and enveloping taste. Drinking it directly from the barrel, immersed in the atmosphere of the cellar, is an experience that combines tradition and conviviality.
Tips for visiting
Those who wish to visit the wine fountain can do so by going to the Dora Sarchese winery. It is advisable to bring a glass or water bottle with you, although glasses are often provided on site. Naturally, the invitation is to drink in moderation, appreciating wine as part of a cultural experience and not as an alcoholic binge.
The visit can be combined with a tour of the cellar, the discovery of the Costa dei Trabocchi and a stop at the Basilica of San Tommaso in the historic center of Ortona, thus creating a complete itinerary between spirituality, nature and food and wine.
An initiative that demonstrates how Italy still knows how to surprise, keeping ancient traditions alive and creating new ones, always in the name of welcoming and promoting local excellence.
