Bollicine Wine Fest

A Roman festival dedicated to bubbles

Bollicine Wine Fest is the event that, every December, brings one of the most focused wine exhibitions in the Lazio region to Rome: a fair built entirely around Italian sparkling wines. Established as the first Roman event exclusively dedicated to sparkling wines, the festival is organized by the Associazione Decanter Wine Academy, a local organization already known for the diVino and VinoXRoma events. In just a few editions, it has established itself as a staple in the wine calendar of the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in Lazio.

Villa Piccolomini, a historic setting

The venue is Villa Piccolomini, located at Via Aurelia Antica 164 in the Aurelio district: a historic residence surrounded by greenery, just a short walk from St. Peter's Basilica, purchased in 1906 by the noble Sienese Piccolomini family. The halls overlooking the garden and the view of the city offer an intimate and elegant setting, quite different from large exhibition halls: here, the relationship between visitor and producer is direct, and in many cases, you will find the winery owner themselves at the tasting table.

What to taste

The heart of the event is the tasting tables, featuring over seventy wineries and a range of styles covering the entire geography of Italian sparkling wine. It is not just about the most famous appellations: alongside Franciacorta, Trentodoc, Oltrepò Pavese, and Prosecco, there is room for niche productions and rediscovered indigenous grape varieties, as well as a selection of foreign labels, particularly from France and Spain.

• Classic Method: bottle refermentation with long aging on the lees;
• Martinotti Method (or Charmat): autoclave refermentation for more immediate and fruity sparkling wines;
• Ancestral Method: so-called bottle-refermented wines, often unfiltered, highly popular with younger audiences;
• Indigenous varieties: sparkling interpretations of lesser-known local grapes, from North to South.

Masterclasses and in-depth sessions

Each edition offers one or more masterclasses with limited seating, requiring mandatory reservation, led by speakers from the Decanter Wine Academy. The themes change from year to year and are designed to offer a precise perspective: past editions have ranged from blind tastings comparing Champagne and Italian classic method wines to regional journeys dedicated to sparkling wines from the North or Sicily. These are highly sought-after sessions that fill up quickly: it is advisable to book via email well in advance.

Food areas

Tasting is never done on an empty stomach. The festival sets up gastronomic areas with a selection of traditional cheeses, cured meats, and fried snacks, designed to pair with the different types of sparkling wine. It is a choice consistent with the spirit of the event: Italian sparkling wines are meant to be enjoyed with food, and pairing them with local products is an integral part of the tasting experience.

A mixed audience: enthusiasts and professionals

Bollicine Wine Fest caters to both curious individuals and professionals. The formula includes differentiated tickets for the general public, members of sommelier associations, and industry professionals, who can register via email. The result is an informal yet knowledgeable atmosphere, where it is common to hear discussions about dosages and time spent on the lees while moving from one table to another.

Why it's worth a visit

In a city that thrives on major events, this exhibition stands out for its human scale and specialization. For those visiting Rome on the first weekend of December, it is also a different way to experience the city: an afternoon at Villa Piccolomini, with the dome of St. Peter's visible from the park, followed by a walk towards the Vatican or Monteverde with the Christmas lights already on. It is an appointment that has carved out a precise space in the cultural and gastronomic landscape of Lazio.