Arnuero Town Hall expands its offering with the 4th Wine Fair, the host of the 1st Wine Congress of Cantabria, and three days of gastro-cultural experiences in Isla Gastronomic.
Arnuero municipality kicks off September with a month steeped in flavour, tradition and culinary innovation. With the characteristic red of the pepper and the gold of local wines as the main stars, the council aims to establish the Isla Vegetable and Pepper Fair as a major driving event for the primary sector, closely linked to tourism and the service sector.
Following the success of previous editions, which managed to bring together thousands of visitors drawn by the authentic pepper from Isla, this year there will be a significant leap in quality. The goal is to turn what was originally a rural celebration into a social, economic and cultural event lasting longer, structured through an ambitious programme of activities.
📅 The weekend of the Fairs: Pepper, Wine and Tradition
The main activity will take place during the second weekend of September, splitting the spotlight between the best products from the land and the local vineyards.
Saturday, 12 September: The Day of the Pepper
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- Market of the Vegetable Garden (10:00 to 20:00 h.): The historic centre will host more than 80 stalls with a wide selection of cheeses, breads, cured meats, dairy products and items with a protected designation of origin or quality brand.
- Culture and Leisure: The day will feature regional dances at 13:00 h., live live displays of log carving, family play areas, and a children’s painting competition.
- People’s Voting: Attendees themselves will decide, by voting, the award for the Best Pepper of the Fair.
Sunday, 13 September: The celebration of Wine
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- Wine Fair (10:00 to 16:00 h.): On Sunday, the IGP Vinos Costa de Cantabria will be promoted: a wine-growing activity that returned with force in the town six years ago.
- Ferroviary Pots: The traditional food contest will be held this time dedicated to local beans (blanca and carico) and pepper.
- Active Tourism: Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the vineyards, vegetable plots and the historic centre, as well as purchase a tasting voucher that includes a glass of wine and a tapa of cheese or beans.
Mobility guaranteed: To help keep the flow of visitors moving, the organisers will provide a free public transport service every 30 minutes connecting the Isla Playa area (Quejo) with the Historic Centre throughout the opening hours of the fairs.
🍷 Innovation and debates at the 1st Wine Congress of Cantabria
The big new feature this year will take place on Thursday, 17 September at the Casa de Mareas de Soano (Ecopark of Trasmiera), where the first edition of the Wine Congress of Cantabria will be inaugurated. This forum, organised in collaboration with the Department for Rural Development, the ODECA and Diario Montañés, will bring together the main representatives from the regional and national wine-growing sector in round-table discussions and specialist talks.
This congress will also serve as a launchpad for “Isla Gastronomic” (from 17 to 19 September), a cycle of micro-events with limited capacity designed to delve into the challenges faced by local producers. The programme will blend kilometre-zero gastronomy with nature through demonstrations by well-known Cantabrian chefs, blind musical tastings, and staged visits to the historic Molino de Santa Olaja.
