- 1966 Frascati becomes a DOC
- 2008 Cesanese del Piglio DOCG
- 3 Lazio DOCG wines
- 70%+ Of Lazio’s wine is white
- ~20 km Rome to the Frascati hills
Why a Six-Wine Class Is the Fastest Way to Learn Italian Wine in Rome
The tasting we recommend for range — and where to go instead for Lazio, the northern icons or sweet wines.
The best Italian wines to try in Rome are the ones you will struggle to find at home, so start with Lazio before the famous northern names: Frascati, the white from the hills south-east of the city, and Cesanese, the region’s native red. Then taste the classics side by side. The easiest way to do both is a guided class, because a Roman wine list spans twenty regions and the labels give little away. Our pick is VinoRoma in Prati, near the Vatican, where a sommelier pours six wines from small producers all over Italy and hands you a map of the regions and grape varieties to keep. It beats the Lazio-only tastings for breadth and the cellar flights for teaching: you leave able to say what you like. For Barolo, Brunello and Amarone in one sitting, the Deluxe flight in the Trastevere cellar is the better fit. And if you only want a glass of Frascati, order one in a wine bar and skip the booking.
Highlights
- Six wines in different styles, chosen from small, often family-run producers around Italy
- A map of Italian regions and grape varieties to take home
- A sommelier who teaches you to describe what you like and do not like in a wine
- A private tasting room at Gabrini restaurant in Prati, near the Vatican
- Two hours, no more than six guests
What's Included
- Tasting of 6 wines
- Artisanal taralli crackers
- Water
- Map of Italian regions and grape varieties
- Didactic information from the sommelier
Check Availability & Prices
Pick a date to see start times. Instant confirmation, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
The VinoRoma Class, Step by Step: 6 Wines, 1 Map, 6 Guests at Most
From the door of Gabrini restaurant in Prati to the sixth glass — how a guided tour of Italian wine fits into one room near the Vatican.
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Walk into Gabrini restaurant in Prati
The class takes place in a private tasting room at Gabrini restaurant in Prati, the district beside the Vatican. Go inside and the guide greets you at the door. It fits neatly after a morning at the Vatican Museums or before dinner in the same neighbourhood.
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Get your map of Italy’s regions and grapes
Each guest receives a map of Italian regions and grape varieties. The listing describes the session as a journey across all 20 of Italy’s regions; the map is what lets you place each glass, and it is worth keeping for ordering later in the trip.
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Taste six wines in six styles
The sommelier pours six wines in different styles from small, often family-run producers, described on the listing as low-intervention. The exact labels change, so you will not know in advance which regions appear; that is the point of a survey rather than a themed flight.
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Learn to say what you like
Between glasses the sommelier works on vocabulary: picking out aromas and flavours, describing what you like and dislike, what to look for when buying a bottle and how to match wine with a meal. One reviewer said they left with far more knowledge than they arrived with.
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Finish with taralli, then dinner
Taralli crackers and water are the only food, so this is a tasting, not a meal. After about two hours you are back in Prati at dinner time, ready to read a wine list — and, if you want Lazio wines next, our wine and cheese tastings pour them in the Testaccio caves.
Italian Wines in Rome’s Tasting Rooms
Barolo, Brunello and Amarone in Trastevere, Lazio bottles in Testaccio, white wine in Prati and sweet wines near the Vatican. Scroll or drag to browse.
Italian Wines to Try in Rome: Frascati, Cesanese, the Northern Icons and Something Sweet
Lazio’s white and red, Piedmont, Tuscany and the Veneto, and dessert wines — what each is and where to taste it.
Frascati, the wine of the Roman hills
Frascati became a DOC in 1966, among Italy’s first classified wines, and is made from at least 70% Malvasia Bianca di Candia and Malvasia del Lazio. Frascati Superiore (dry) and Cannellino di Frascati (sweet) have been DOCGs since 2011. Ask for it at a Lazio-focused tasting.
Cesanese, the native red
Cesanese is Lazio’s main native red grape, and Cesanese del Piglio became the region’s first DOCG in 2008, with at least 90% Cesanese. With over 70% of Lazio’s output white, the red is the harder one to find — reviewers of the Testaccio cave tasting list a red among its four Lazio wines.
Barolo, Brunello, Amarone
Barolo is Nebbiolo from Piedmont, Brunello di Montalcino is Sangiovese from Tuscany, and Amarone is made in the Veneto from dried grapes. All three are on the Deluxe flight in the Fabullus cellar in Trastevere, and Barolo is the named wine on Cooking Italy’s dinner walk near the Vatican.
Prosecco first, Vin Santo last
Prosecco, made from Glera in the Veneto and Friuli, opens many Roman tastings, from the Fabullus cellar to the Devour aperitivo walk. For dessert, Maison Arlù near the Vatican pours Passito, Moscato d’Asti and Vin Santo with a tiramisu class — a new listing, still without reviews.
Italian Wines in Rome Tastings Compared: What Is Poured, From Where, How Long and Price
Prati, Trastevere, Testaccio and the streets near the Vatican — whether each tasting focuses on Lazio, ranges across Italy or names its icons.
| Tasting | Format | Wines poured | Where the wines are from | Length | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Italian wine tasting VinoRoma, Prati |
Sommelier class, max 6 | 6 wines in different styles | All over Italy, small producers | 2 h | $89 |
| Guided wine tasting, 3–6 wines Cantina Fabullus, Trastevere |
Seated cellar tasting | Up to 6 incl. prosecco | Italy; Deluxe adds Barolo, Brunello, Amarone | 30–60 min | $42 |
| Underground cave wine tasting Taste’Accio, Testaccio |
Seated cave tasting, max 10 | 4: sparkling, white, rosé, red (per reviewers) | Lazio | 1 h | $60 |
| Lazio wine tasting with street food La Vineria di Trapizzino, Trastevere |
Seated, with sommelier | 4 wines | Lazio | 1.5 h | $44 |
| Food tasting with wine pairing Cantina Fabullus, Trastevere |
Seated cellar tasting | Prosecco + 2–4 wines | Italy, sommelier’s selection | ~75 min | $65 |
| Gourmet food tour with dinner & Barolo Cooking Italy, near the Vatican |
Food walk with wine | Barolo; unlimited wine offered | Piedmont’s Barolo named | 3.5–4 h | $61 |
| Tiramisu and sweet wine tasting Maison Arlù, near the Vatican |
Tiramisu class | 3 sweet: Passito, Moscato d’Asti, Vin Santo | Italian dessert wines | 2 h | $99 |
Short version: VinoRoma for the widest survey of Italy; the Fabullus Deluxe flight for Barolo, Brunello and Amarone; the Testaccio cave or Trapizzino for Lazio; Maison Arlù for sweet wines. Most listings do not name their labels, so the wines change. Prices are the per-person “from” figures GetYourGuide showed on 15 October 2026 and change with the option and date; the Fabullus Deluxe flight costs more than its from-price.
What Guests Say About Learning Italian Wine in Rome
The VinoRoma class has 16 reviews, one of them in English, so we add three verbatim reviews from other Rome tastings that talk about the wines themselves.
“We had an amazing tasting with Frank- his knowledge and passion for wine were far beyond average and we really left the class with so much more knowledge! The wine was superb and really delicious so cannot recommend this experience enough”Katie · Germany · October 2025
“Great tour, local sourced wines and cheeses from Lazio were delicious and the history of the venue was fascinating to learn. Grazie Antonio!”Declan · Australia · December 2025 · on the Testaccio cave tasting
“This was a lovely experience. Nestled in a quiet part of Rome, away from the hustle and bustle, this Speakeasy was filled with mystery and atmosphere; beautiful art and cosy corners. The host was so attentive and knowledgable about the wine, she made us feel very welcome and taught us the history of the areas and grapes in Italy. The accompanying food was delicious and led us to try different Italian cheeses and meats to complement the wines. Overall a fantastic and intimate experience, amazing value for money and a memory we will treasure!”Lucy · United Kingdom · October 2025 · on the Monti speakeasy tasting
“Such cute atmosphere and the wine cellar . We loved our guide who presented the wines, very friendly and fun , explaining and making us participate by guessing the flavours. We felt very welcomed and wine itself was delicious!”Keita · Latvia · May 2026 · on the Fabullus guided wine tasting
Reviews are quoted verbatim from GetYourGuide. The VinoRoma rating reflects 16 verified reviews as of October 2026. We earn a commission if you book through the links on this page, which does not change your price.
Other Rome Tastings by Wine: Northern Icons, Lazio, Barolo with Dinner, or Sweet Wines
Three seated tastings and one food walk that pours wine — pick by the wine you want to try rather than the price.
Seated cellar tasting · Trastevere
Barolo, Brunello and Amarone in a Roman cistern
A guided tasting at Cantina Fabullus, the cellar built from a 1st-century AD Roman cistern: choose the Premium or Deluxe option and taste up to six wines including prosecco, with bread and taralli. The Deluxe option includes icons such as Barolo, Brunello and Amarone. Over-16s only.
Choose this if you want the famous northern reds in one sitting, and an hour is enough.
★ 4.6 · 34 reviews · From $42 · Tour in the City - Travel Agency Rome Check dates & prices
Seated tasting · Trastevere
Four Lazio wines with a sommelier, plus supplì
At La Vineria di Trapizzino on Piazza Trilussa, which the listing describes as Rome’s only wine bar devoted to Lazio wine: a sommelier pours four Lazio wines, with a trapizzino and a supplì of your choice. Ninety minutes; only two reviews so far.
Choose this if you want to taste the wines of the region around Rome with someone who specialises in them.
★ 5.0 · 2 reviews · From $44 · Trapizzino Check dates & prices
Food walk with wine · near the Vatican
Barolo with dinner on a gourmet food walk
Cooking Italy’s food tour from Via Cipro, near the Vatican, names Barolo in its title and offers unlimited wine with 20 food tastings and dinner: 30-year balsamic, truffles, cheeses, pizza, pasta and gelato. A food tour that includes wine, not a tasting.
Choose this if you want to drink Barolo with a full meal rather than study it.
★ 4.9 · 2,700+ reviews · From $61 · Cooking Italy Check dates & prices
Tiramisu class with sweet wines · near the Vatican
Passito, Moscato d’Asti and Vin Santo with tiramisu
A two-hour tiramisu class at Maison Arlù on Vicolo del Farinone, near the Vatican, while a sommelier pours three sweet Italian wines: Passito, Moscato d’Asti and Vin Santo. New to GetYourGuide, with no reviews yet, so you would be among the first.
Choose this if you have a sweet tooth and want dessert wines, which few Rome tastings pour.
New listing, no reviews yet · From $99 · ELISA’S TOUR Check dates & pricesKnow Before You Go: Lazio Wines, the Northern Classics, and Which Rome Tasting Pours Each
Frascati, Malvasia Puntinata and Cesanese first, then Barolo, Brunello, Amarone, prosecco and sweet wines — mapped to tastings checked 15 October 2026.
Frascati and Malvasia Puntinata: Lazio’s whites
Over 70% of Lazio’s wine is white, and Frascati, from the Castelli Romani hills about 20 km south-east of the centre, is the one to know. It gained DOC status in 1966 and is made from at least 70% Malvasia Bianca di Candia and Malvasia del Lazio, also called Malvasia Puntinata after its speckled berries. Frascati Superiore is the dry DOCG and Cannellino di Frascati the sweet one, both since 2011. The Lazio-focused tastings — the Testaccio cave tasting and the four-wine Lazio tasting at La Vineria di Trapizzino — are the places to try regional whites, though neither listing names its labels, so ask for a Frascati. The cave tastings are compared on our underground tastings page, and Lazio cheeses with Lazio wine on the wine and cheese page.
Cesanese: the Lazio red
Cesanese is Lazio’s main native red grape, and Cesanese del Piglio was the region’s first DOCG, in 2008, with at least 90% Cesanese. Reviewers of the Testaccio cave tasting list a red among its four Lazio wines; whether it is Cesanese on the day is not stated, so ask. In Trastevere, our Trastevere wine tasting guide covers the wine bars and the Lazio tasting on Piazza Trilussa.
Barolo, Brunello, Amarone and Chianti
The northern names are easier to find in Rome than the local ones. Barolo is Nebbiolo from Piedmont; Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti are Sangiovese from Tuscany; Amarone comes from the Veneto, made from dried grapes. The guided tasting at Cantina Fabullus includes Barolo, Brunello and Amarone on its Deluxe option, and Cooking Italy’s gourmet food tour with dinner and Barolo names Barolo. The operator photos for Cooking Italy’s fine wine tasting show a bottle of Barolo on the table, but that listing does not promise one. None of the listings we compared names Chianti. First time comparing wines like these? Our Rome wine tasting for beginners guide explains how a tasting works and how to taste.
Prosecco and spritz: where most evenings start
Prosecco is made from the Glera grape in the Veneto and Friuli, and it opens many Roman tastings: every option at Cantina Fabullus, the four-wine wine and dine near the Pantheon, and Devour’s Trastevere walk, which adds a spritz and three regional wines. If you want the aperitivo version, our evening wine tours page covers the walks that start with a glass.
Sweet wines: Passito, Moscato d’Asti and Vin Santo
Of the tastings we compared, only one is built around dessert wines: the tiramisu class with three sweet wines at Maison Arlù, Vicolo del Farinone 21 near the Vatican, where a sommelier pours Passito (“sweet and enveloping”, in the listing’s words), Moscato d’Asti (“aromatic and sparkling”) and Vin Santo (“intense and velvety”). It is new, with no reviews yet. Cannellino di Frascati, the sweet Lazio DOCG, is the local alternative to ask for in a wine bar.
Ordering on your own
A wine bar is the cheapest way to follow up: Enoteca Ferrara in Trastevere pours glasses for roughly €5–12, and Roscioli, on Via dei Giubbonari near Campo de’ Fiori, is worth booking ahead. Ask for a Frascati Superiore and a Cesanese side by side. Our price guide compares that with a booked tasting, and the best wine tastings in Rome ranks the tastings themselves.
Want to see the vines? Every tasting here happens inside Rome. Frascati and the Castelli Romani are about 20 km south-east of the centre; a vineyard visit there is a separate half-day outing, not something to fit into an evening.
The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel a short walk from Prati, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, an evening in Trastevere, or a half-day wine trip to Frascati in the Castelli Romani — four things that pair well with an Italian wine tasting in Rome.
Best Italian Wines to Try in Rome: Frequently Asked Questions
Rome’s own wine, Cesanese, sweet or dry Frascati, the northern icons, Lazio without leaving the city, and sweet wines.
What wine is Rome famous for?
Frascati. Rome sits in Lazio, which makes mostly white wine — over 70% of its production — and Frascati, from the hills about 20 km south-east of the centre, is the region’s best-known white. It became a DOC in 1966, among Italy’s first classified wines, and is made mainly from Malvasia grapes.
What is Cesanese?
Cesanese is Lazio’s main native red grape. Its best-known wine, Cesanese del Piglio, became the region’s first DOCG in 2008 and must be at least 90% Cesanese. Because most Lazio wine is white, it is less common on Roman lists; ask for it by name at a Lazio-focused tasting or wine bar.
Is Frascati sweet or dry?
Both exist. Frascati Superiore is the dry style; Cannellino di Frascati is the sweet version. Frascati Superiore and Cannellino di Frascati both became DOCGs in 2011, making them two of Lazio’s three DOCGs alongside Cesanese del Piglio.
Which Rome wine tasting pours Barolo, Brunello or Amarone?
The Deluxe option of the guided tasting at Cantina Fabullus in Trastevere includes icons such as Barolo, Brunello and Amarone, poured in a 1st-century Roman cistern. Cooking Italy’s gourmet food tour near the Vatican names Barolo in its title, served alongside dinner. Other tastings choose their wines on the day, so check the listing or ask.
Can I taste Lazio wines in Rome without going to Frascati?
Yes. The Testaccio cave tasting pours four Lazio wines — reviewers list sparkling, white, rosé and red — and La Vineria di Trapizzino on Piazza Trilussa runs a four-wine Lazio tasting with a sommelier. Frascati itself is about 20 km south-east of the centre; visiting vineyards there is a separate half-day outing.
What is Malvasia Puntinata?
Malvasia Puntinata is another name for Malvasia del Lazio, one of the main grapes in Frascati alongside Malvasia Bianca di Candia. “Puntinata” means speckled, after the small dots on its berries. Frascati must be made from at least 70% of these Malvasia grapes.
Which tasting is best for learning about wines from all over Italy?
The VinoRoma class in Prati: a sommelier pours six different styles from small producers across Italy over two hours, with a map of Italian regions and grape varieties to take away, for no more than six guests. It teaches you how to describe what you like, which helps when you order alone later.
Where can I try Italian sweet wines in Rome?
Maison Arlù, near the Vatican, pairs a tiramisu class with three sweet wines poured by a sommelier: Passito, Moscato d’Asti and Vin Santo. It is a new listing with no reviews yet. Elsewhere, sweet wines turn up mainly as a digestif, such as the one included with the wine and dine near the Pantheon.
More Guides to Wine in Rome
Longer answers to the questions this page could only summarise.
- Rome wine tasting toursCellars, sommeliers and wine with Roman food, compared.
- Best wine tastings in RomeSeven experiences worth booking, ranked, with what each pours and serves.
- Trastevere wine tastingCellars, wine bars and food walks in Rome’s most popular wine neighbourhood.
- Underground wine tastingsA Roman cistern, the caves under Monte Testaccio and a candlelit tufa cellar compared.
- Wine and cheese tastingsPecorino, buffalo mozzarella and cave-aged cheeses with the wines that suit them.
- Private wine tastingsWhat a private tasting costs, and when a small group is the better buy.
- Evening food and wine toursNight walks through Trastevere and the Jewish Quarter that replace dinner.
- Rome wine tasting pricesBudget, mid-range and premium tastings, and what a wine bar costs instead.
- Wine tasting for beginnersWhat happens, how to taste, and which format suits a first-timer.
- Wine tasting in winterWarm cellars and candlelit caves for November to February.