The "Tartufo & Birra" (Truffle & Beer) Market Fair has the honor and responsibility of kicking off the season dedicated to the precious Tuber Magnatum Pico, acting as a major tourism highlight for the entire Marche region. It is a key event for all those eager to discover the world of "Alogastronomy" (the art of pairing beer with fine food).
A signature feature that has gained widespread renown over time is the opening of the "osterie" (traditional taverns) throughout the historic center.
During the weekend, small rooms in old dwellings are brought back to life, transforming into charming pop-up restaurants serving excellent local cuisine, all centered around truffles and beer. The entire experience is seasoned with vibrant musical groups performing in the streets and squares of the historic center.
The climatic and environmental characteristics make the Apecchio area particularly suited to the production of truffles of all types, in every season. Here, you can harvest and enjoy truffles throughout the year in their four seasonal varieties: White Truffle (from the last Sunday of September to December 31st), Black Winter Truffle (from December 1st to March 15th), Whitish Truffle (from January 15th to April 30th), and the Black Summer Truffle (from June 1st to December 31st).
To celebrate this excellence, the Truffle Market Fair has been organized for several decades, held on the first weekend of October. The historic center hosts stands featuring fresh truffles, craft breweries, and regional specialties. It is a three-day event where Apecchio comes alive with colors, flavors, and plenty of music, featuring guests from the worlds of entertainment and sports.
The charming and meticulously curated osterie of the medieval village await to offer you unforgettable emotions. Apecchio is also home to a wide variety of mushrooms, including the prized Prugnolo, also known as the Spignolo.
Those who visit Apecchio to savor the sweetness and flavor of truffles paired with excellent local beer are fortunate to be surrounded by a stunning setting: the Apennine landscape, framed by Mount Nerone, Mount Catria, and Mount Petrano.
For over ten years, Apecchio has been home to two major beer production facilities: the Amarcord and Tenute Collesi breweries. Here, pure water flows directly from Mount Nerone, and the climate is ideal for producing high-quality barley. This has fueled the success of these two high-level craft breweries, which expertly combine these elements to create a true excellence.
It is for this reason that Apecchio holds the title of the first Italian “City of Beer.” Apecchio is recognized as the “Capital of Alogastronomy,” a magical place where the pairing of beer and truffles can be enjoyed all year round.
It is a privileged meeting point for the international promotion of this culinary pairing. The original concept of “Alogastronomy” was born here—a neologism coined to define the virtuous connections between craft beer, quality products, and the local territory.
Apecchio is also the headquarters of the National Association of “Cities of Beer” (Associazione Nazionale Città della Birra), which now brings together 21 Italian municipalities.
This national award is presented annually to recognize professionals in the sector who have actively contributed to the world of craft beer and to the development of the territory.
The award is named in honor of Franco Re, rector of the Beer University of Azzate (Varese), who passed away in 2012. A specialized journalist and writer with deep expertise in brewing, his works—clear and accessible, yet always rooted in great scientific rigor—played a pivotal role in spreading beer culture throughout Italy.
The Municipality of Apecchio had established close ties with Franco Re and had several projects in the pipeline that, unfortunately, could not be completed during his lifetime. The award carries his name with the full consent of his family. Each piece is crafted by local artists using materials sourced from the region.
For the 2025 edition, the award was designed by local artist Samuele Renghi and crafted by Fabio Londei.
Over the years, the award has been presented to:
Year 2012
Maurizio Maestrelli
AIS Sommelier, contributor to DeVinis, and beer expert
Year 2013
Gian Luca Ranno
CEO and Co-founder of Gnammo, the first all-Italian platform dedicated to social eating
Year 2014
Fabrizio Summonte
Journalist for TG5 and TGCom24
Year 2015
TG Itinerante – Maurizio Blasi
Editor-in-chief of Tg3 Marche
Year 2016
Maria Letizia Gardoni
National President of Coldiretti Young Entrepreneurs
Year 2017
Chef Roberto Dormicchi
CEO and Founder of the cooking blog Trigliadibosco and ambassador for our territory
Chef Luca Facchini
Team manager of the Marche Chefs Team and Director of the Accademia di Tipicità
Year 2018
Angelo Serri
Founder and President of Tipicità
Year 2019
Giulia Brandi
Finalist of Masterchef 2018
Elisa Prioli
Food Immersion
Year 2020 and 2021
The award was not presented due to COVID
Year 2022
Nicola Calathopoulos
Deputy Director of NewsMediaset
Year 2023
Birrificio Amarcord and Birrificio Collesi
Year 2024
La Galvanina S.p.A.
Year 2025
Istituto Celli – Michelini Tocci
Piobbico Hotel and Catering School Section