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Wineries Near Rome, Italy To See: Tenuta di Pietra Porzia

ByBeppe Castro

Touring wineries near Rome, Italy is a great way to spend an afternoon in the Frascati region and Tenuta di Pietra Porzia is a perfect vineyard to start.

wineries near rome italy - Summer Grapes

Summer Grapes

Are There Wineries Near Rome, Italy?

Luckily for me, there are quite a few vineyards near Rome. Until recently, I had a Centro Storico view of Rome, traveling mostly around the historical center. I’ve been venturing beyond the GRA (Grande Raccordo Anulare), which is the highway that circles Rome. Once you go beyond the GRA, the landscape changes to include farms, vineyards and other beauties of Rome that aren’t usually considered.

What Are The Best Wineries Near Rome, Italy?

The wines of Lazio are influenced by the volcanic soil, and the result is a selection of delicious white wines from areas like the well-known Frascati. The Roman red wines are not as high profile, but they are growing in popularity. Some of the more popular are those made from Sangiovese, Cesanese, Montepulciano, Merlot and Syrah. All in all, there are more than 200 grape varieties in the area.

Does Rome Have Good Wine?

The wines of the regions around Rome (Lazio) are not as well known as their neighbors to the north (Tuscany), but there are some hidden gems that pair amazingly well with the food of the region. The Frascati wines are among my favorites and taking a tour of the vineyards around Rome is a great way to spend a day outside of the centro storico.

Where Are The Best Wineries In Italy?

I have come to learn that there are amazing wines all over Italy, and the Lazio region is no exception. Many people in the US are familiar with the wines of Tuscany, and there are quite a few amazing vineyards in Tuscany, but a fantastic option when you are visiting Rome is the wine selection from other regions in Italy, like Lazio. In my opinion, Tuscan wines have benefited from unusually strong coordination of promotion and marketing internationally leading to popularity around the world. They are, however, also delicious.

wineries near rome italy - The Cantina

Visiting The Cantina

A Favorite Of The Wineries Near Rome, Italy Is Tenuta di Pietra Porzia

One of my favorite realizations about Rome is how much I enjoy Lazio wines. Because of this, I am making it a point to travel around to vineyards near Rome and this weekend was my chance to visit Tenuta di Pietra Porzia, which is a Frascati vineyard near the Castelli Romani area.

In addition to the vineyard, there is a 19th century guest house with 12 rooms. Each with a private bathroom. There is a swimming pool, a garden and a restaurant open to the public. 

This beautiful vineyard offers a selection of wines, both red and white, and extra virgin olive oil, which is common among the Rome vineyards. The setting is beautiful, even during the blazing summer, and you can easily forget that you are only an hour from the Colosseum.

wineries near rome italy - Dog Days

I know The Feeling

The Wines Of The Rome Vineyard Tenuta di Pietra Porzia

The Tenuta di Pietra Porzia vineyard offers red, white and spumante wines that I bought and that I am excited to try. 

Their White Label wines include: 

  • Frascati DOC – This is a refreshingly dry white wine that offers a fruity bouquet.
  • Castelli Romani Rosso DOC – This is a red wine that has a fruity perfume and soft taste.
  • Cannellino di Frascati DOCG – A traditional pairing is with pecorino romano cheese with a scent that recalls ancient vines and a subtle honeyed note.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil – This is a light oil, with an intense taste, rich in fruity aromas and polyphenols which guarantee its preservation over time.

Their Gold Label wines include:

  • Frascati Superiore DOCG – This is considered their Super-Frascati, which I would guess is how it gets a DOCG rating. 
  • Lecino Roma DOC – This is a special red that comes from the ancient Lecinaro grape.
  • Rosso IGT Lazio – Intense and fruity typical of Cabernet Sauvignon, enhanced by the important body of Montepulciano and the softness of Merlot.
  • Spumante Brut – The Charmat method is used to produce this spumante that offers an aroma of intense fruity notes with hints of yeast.

Does This Vineyard Near Rome Have Vino Sfuso?

I have written about Italian house wine, known as vino sfuso, previously and it is something I enjoy greatly. As recently as yesterday, we had a vino della casa at our local favorite restaurant and it was a delicious, refreshing and inexpensive addition to our meal. Vino Sfuso in Italy has had a bad reputation, but from as far back as I can remember it has been a favorite of mine and many artisan producers today produce excellent vini sfusi. Simple and tasty but above all light and suitable for daily consumption. “Wine is not a drink, it is a liquid food.” is how the head of the National Food Safety Committee of the Ministry of Health expressed the food value of wine.

wineries near rome italy - Beautiful Countryside

Beautiful Countryside

The Tenuta di Pietra Porzia vineyard does offer vino sfuso, which was a pleasant surprise for me. You can bring your own 5L container, or buy one from them, and enjoy their delicious reds and whites inexpensively, but deliciously. Anecdotally, I can confirm that this is a pretty popular option with what I expect are people that live locally because while I was there there was a steady stream of people walking out with their 5L containers.

How To Reach The Tenuta di Pietra Porzia Wine Cellar

Like many vineyards in this region, the easiest way to reach this vineyard is to drive and that is what I did this time. I rented a Car Share in Rome and drove out to the Frascati region. The vineyard is about 18 km from Rome and having a car will make it that much easier to carry all these exciting bottles of wine back with you. The address is: Via di Pietra Porzia, 60 in Frascati.

Learn More About The Drinking Culture In Italy

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