The heart of the Valtellina Wine Trail has been inaugurated. On Friday, with an invite-only opening evening, the doors were opened to the big marquee structure that covers Garibaldi Square in Sondrio. Until 8 November, it will be the hub of events for the Rigamonti Valtellina Wine Trail: a meeting point ready to welcome athletes, families and local residents, with a packed programme of events.

Officials, sponsors and representatives from the organising team took part in the evening, coming together to celebrate the launch of the city’s initiatives. To accompany the opening, there was an aperitif-dinner curated by APF Valtellina together with the hotel schools from Cilento and Sicily. A collaboration that will continue on Sunday 1 November with the Mountain Food Experience, when the evening’s guests will add the gastronomic offerings of the Valtellina mountain refuges.

The marquee opens to the public on Saturday 31 October: at 5pm, a walk through the streets of Sondrio, with the big Wine Trail banner being raised symbolically at the top of the Ligari tower, where it will remain until Sunday 8.

At 7pm there will be pizzoccheri, organised by the Accademia del Pizzocchero di Teglio, and from 10pm the Hallowine Party with the show “Voglio Tornare negli Anni 90”. Over the weekend, the Wine Trail will also intersect with Vie del Gusto in Sondrio and Eroico Rosso in Tirano.

On Sunday 1 November, there’s space for the new Sondrio Wine Tower Run at the Ligariana Tower, the Mountain Food Experience from 12 noon, and workshops for children in the afternoon. On Monday 2, it’s time for Valtellina Wine Taste, a dinner dedicated to the territory’s best produce; then there will be the Wine Workshops, the opening of the Expo Village from Thursday 5, and on Friday 6 the event “Longevità e sport” and the presentation of the athletes.

The most eagerly anticipated moment will come on Saturday 7 November with the three races of 42, 21 and 13 km, with the runners finishing in Sondrio. On Sunday 8, the grand finale will be dedicated to the younger ones and families, with Mini Valtellina Wine Trail, Family Wine Trail, and the last events in the square.

The full programme is available on www.valtellinawinetrail.com/programma.