Ferragosto (notice the double “r”) is an Italian holiday celebrated on August 15th each year. It’s one of the biggest summer holidays in Italy and has both ancient Roman and Catholic roots. My husband and I attended a celebration of Ferragosto with an Italian Wine Dinner with Grafted Wine Co and Vom Fass St. Louis. The event was based on Italian Foods and a wine pairing of an Italian wine. But first, here is a little bit of background on Ferragosto!
Origins
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The name comes from the Latin phrase “Feriae Augusti” (Festival of Augustus), established by Emperor Augustus in 18 BCE to celebrate the end of the agricultural harvest and give workers a well-deserved rest.
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Over time, it merged with the Catholic feast of the Assumption of Mary, also observed on August 15th.
How It’s Celebrated
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Nationwide Holiday: Almost everything shuts down—shops, offices, and factories—because Italians head to the coast, mountains, or countryside.
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Travel & Vacations: Many Italians take their summer holiday in mid-August, often stretching Ferragosto into a week or more.
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Festivities: Cities and towns host parades, music, fireworks, and communal meals.
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Food: Traditional Ferragosto meals vary by region, but often include picnic foods, grilled meats, pasta dishes, and lots of seasonal produce.
Fun Fact
Ferragosto is a big deal—so much so that if you visit Italy in mid-August, you’ll notice cities feel quiet and empty because locals are all on vacation!
First Course:
Duo of Crostini-The first crostini is toasted Italian bread spread with ricotta cheese, lemon zest, and capers, and a delicious olive oil that is also used on the second crostini: a toasted Italian bread with chopped tomato, mozzarella cheese, and basil.
This dish was paired with Fabrizio Vella Bianco. This is a lovely white wine that was light and refreshing. It complemented the lemon zest beautifully. The scent of green apple and honeydew melon would make for a delightful wine with fish or summer sipping.
Second Course
Orange and Fennel Salad: This was delicious! The orange segments added sweetness to this salad that was made with red onion, fennel, mint, bib lettuce and Calamanzi vinegar and Sweet Orange olive oil. So fresh and summery.
The wine that was paired was Molino Carricante (an organic Orange wine) and added a funky earthiness to the dish. Not my favorite wine, but it did compliment the salad very well.
Third Course
Sardinian Pasta: handmade pasta with a sauce that melted my heart. Sausage, red pepper flakes, tomato, fennel, parsley, and rich, rich tomatoes made this the outstanding dish of the night for me. I tried to show some self-control and eat just a portion of it, but wow, that was nearly impossible. Husband Bob to the rescue!
Vino Renosu Rosso is a ruby red organic wine. The Italians call it their "everyday red," meaning it would be a wine that would be opened for friends and family who came to visit. This bold red has cherry, coffee, and rosemary on the nose with flavors of herbs and spices. It is a full-bodied wine in the mouth. This is a highly versatile wine that can be served with just about anything, including some strong fish.
Fourth Course
This dish was featured as a favorite of one of the Vom Fass owners. Pugliese Pork Bombette is a rolled pork loin filled with porchetta, cheese, garlic, and spinach. I tasted some fennel seed as well. Those roasted potatoes were simple, but delicious.
The wine paired with this dish was Jorche Primitivo Di Manduira. Old vine grapes, iron-rich soil and lots of hard work created this wine that had a nose of spices, including pepper and maybe some orange and licorice. The flavors on the tongue were cherry and dark berries. The finish was a charred oak, that lastest through the final swallow. Big, rich and red.
Fifth Course
The final course was an Orange Olive Oil Cake. So moist and delicious. The Vom Fass orange olive oil was used to make this cake. So very good!
We were served Virtus Segesta Amaro as our aperitif. It is a delicious blood orange essence that pairs well with the cake. My husband says he prefers Amaro in a cocktail!
This was a crazy good event, and at $50 was a steal. We highly recommend the Vom Fass events (we have been to several now), and if you are in the St. Louis area and choose to attend, let us know! Let's meet you there!
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