14° feast of chestnuts (Marrone) DOP and 45° Chestnut Festival 2017

San Zeno di Montagna dedicated all October the chestnut: 21-22-28-29 October and 01-04-05 November. The chestnuts from San Zeno DOP grows on the slopes of Monte Baldo. The trees must be planted at the correct distance and are cut in a certain way to get the brand of “chestnuts from San Zeno with protected origin”, also the use of synthetic products and fertilizers is prohibited in order to maintain the natural production. For the farmers in this region the growing and harvesting of chestnuts was the main source of income for a long time. The first time the chestnut was mentioned in the Middle Ages, the chestnut festival in San Zeno di Montagna, since the 20s of the last century. The chestnuts are eaten boiled, roasted or used as an ingredient in savory desserts. In the area of San Zeno di Montagna they were for centuries one of the most important food, they made chestnut flour bread, pasta and polenta. The latest product of this long tradition is Castanea, a beer with a strong flavor, amber colour and made with the chestnuts DOP. This beer is a seasonal product and is sold only in shops or establishments which are connected to the consortium. From October 12th to November 12th you can taste a complete menù with chestnut from Monte Baldo, Monte Veronese cheese DOP and DOP Marroni, accompanied by Bardolino wine. As part of the event “San Zeno Castagne, Bardolino and Monte Veronese” 5 restaurants in San Zeno offer different tasty menù ‘s.