The course
Please note: the course is held in Italian. Bookings are made on the Italian page of the course.
How is a wine made? What shapes its aromas, its taste and its character? At Riserva della Cascina, a family-run organic winery, you find out where wine takes shape: among the rows of vines, in the cellar and right in the glass.
The course runs over 4 sessions, on four Saturdays in January, and is designed for anyone who wants to get to know wine with no previous knowledge. Each session combines accessible explanations with a guided tasting, accompanied by finger food. The last one takes place in the vineyard and ends with the presentation of the certificate of attendance.
Programme
Saturday 9 January 2027 · 16:00–18:30
1. Discovering wine
How is wine made? We will look at what alcoholic fermentation, yeasts and grape varieties are, and where the main aromas of wine come from.
Saturday 16 January 2027 · 16:00–18:30
2. From the vineyard to the cellar
From work in the vineyard to winemaking choices: the main stages of production, winemaking vessels, the differences between farming practices and the role of sulphites. This session includes a visit to the cellar.
Saturday 23 January 2027 · 16:00–18:30
3. The world of sparkling wine
Charmat method, Classic method and ancestral re-fermentation: we will explore the main techniques for making sparkling wines and see riddling (remuage) in a practical demonstration.
Saturday 30 January 2027 · 10:30–13:00
4. In the vineyard: final tasting and certificate
We will end the course among the vines with a hands-on experience devoted to the vineyard and the winegrower's work. It is followed by a final tasting of two wines, a short test, a closing toast and the presentation of the certificate of attendance.
What's included
- 4 sessions of about 2 hours and 30 minutes
- At least 12 wines tasted
- A tasting guided by a sommelier at every session
- Finger food
- Technical sheets and course materials
- A visit to the cellar and the vineyard
- Certificate of attendance
What to bring: comfortable shoes and something warm for the last session in the vineyard.
Your guides
Ilaria Giardini — Sommelier and wine educator
Sommelier and head of wine tourism at Riserva della Cascina, she guides guests in discovering wine through guided tastings and educational activities. She will help you learn the language of tasting, recognise the aromas, flavours and characteristics of wines and choose with greater awareness.
Silvia Brannetti — The voice of the cellar
Owner of Riserva della Cascina and the third generation of the family, she runs the estate and the winemaking herself. She will share the everyday experience of someone who makes wine, explaining the choices, techniques and work behind every harvest.
Good to know
Price. The €180 fee covers all 4 sessions. Registration closes on 8 January 2027 or when the places are filled.
Group size and minimum number. The course has a maximum of 25 participants and runs with at least 8. If the minimum is not reached, each participant can choose between a full refund of the fee and a credit of equal value towards our wines or other winery experiences.
Withdrawing from the course. You can withdraw from the course up to 20 days before it starts, that is by Sunday 20 December 2026. To do so, write by that date to visite.riservadellacascina@gmail.com: you can then choose between a full refund of the fee and a credit. After 20 December the fee is no longer refundable, except in exceptional cases assessed by us. If you do not withdraw and do not attend, the fee is not refunded. Full conditions are in the terms and conditions.
Missed a session? From the second session onwards, in the 30 minutes before the start, we hold a short review of the previous session: it helps those who were there to consolidate what they learned, and lets anyone who could not attend catch up.
Where. Via Appia Antica 560, 00178 Rome. Parking is inside the estate: to reach us you drive about 150 metres along the Via Appia Antica, and access is permitted for our guests.
A gift for wine lovers. The course can be a special gift. You can buy a gift voucher for any amount: the recipient can use it to sign up for the course by entering the voucher code at checkout.
