September in Rome. As the famous grape harvest begins in the Italian vineyards, in the beating heart of the Eternal City, just steps away from the romantic Piazza Barberini and the elegant streets surrounding Villa Borghese, Il Piccolo Mondo revamps its wine list.
A treasure of bubbles: from ancestral to traditional method
The new wine cellar at Il Piccolo Mondo opens with a section of Italian sparkling wines that tells the story of the country’s sparkling wine tradition. Among the rarest treasures, we find the Prosecco Valdobbiadene Marsuret Nature Sui Lieviti Ancestrale, a rare production method that enhances the fascinating natural fermentation, where malolactic fermentation develops in the glass, creating a complex and captivating bouquet.
But it is in the traditional method (metodo classico) section that the cellar reveals all its prestige. Franciacorta represents the best of Italian sparkling wines: from iconic names like Bellavista and Ca’ del Bosco to the refined interpretations of Contadi Castaldi Satèn and Antinori Cuvée Royale Brut, every bottle tells a story of years of aging on the lees and meticulous selection. Trentodoc, with its prestigious labels by Ferrari, completes this symphony of bubbles, representing the excellence of the Italian Alps.
Champagne: French elegance at the Roman table
An homage to the great French Champagnes could not be missing, featuring a collection that ranges from the immortal names of tradition—Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger—to rarities like the Ruinart Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay) and the legendary Dom Pérignon, the absolute symbol of sparkling elegance. For those seeking unique craftsmanship, the Billecart-Salmon Réserve Brut is made with a natural dosage that enhances the purity of the terroir, while the rosés, such as the delicate Laurent-Perrier Rosé and the sophisticated Billecart-Salmon Rosé, represent the magic of controlled maceration.
Italian whites: from Piedmont to the islands, a journey through quality
The section dedicated to white wines at Il Piccolo Mondo is an odyssey through Italy’s best wine-growing regions. From the Piedmontese hills with the noble Gavi from Villa Sparina and La Scolca, we move to the elegant Blangé by Ceretto (Arneis) and the sophisticated wines of South Tyrol, where the Gewürztraminer Sanct Valentin by San Michele Appiano stands as one of the world’s greatest examples of this variety.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia shines with extraordinary labels like the legendary Vintage Tunina by Jermann—a masterpiece obtained from a complex blend of six varieties (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia Istriana, Picolit), where each vintage requires years of aging—and the sophisticated Terre Alte by Livio Felluga, a blend that expresses the utmost territorial purity.
The reds: from Piedmont to the Sicilian coasts
However, it is in the red wine section that the cellar reveals all its solidity and expertise. Here breathe the great Barolos and noble Barbarescos, coming from the best Piedmontese wineries: the Barolo Monfalletto by Cordero di Montezemolo and the Barolo Dagromis by Gaja represent the pinnacle of the Nebbiolo tradition in what is considered the “queen region” of Italian wine. For those who love finesse and elegance, Gaja’s Barbaresco remains an international benchmark.
Moving down toward Veneto, one cannot help but be fascinated by the section dedicated to Amarone della Valpolicella—an extraordinary process where the grape bunches are left to dry before fermentation, masterfully concentrating aromas and tannins. The Amarone by Dal Forno Romano and the Amarone Costasera by Masi represent the peaks of this ancient tradition.
Tuscany offers a complete celebration: from the prestigious Brunello di Montalcino—where the Brunellos by Gaja and Il Marroneto shine for their complexity—to the great wines of Bolgheri, where the legendary Sassicaia and the highly elegant Ornellaia tell the story of how Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon have found a second home in Tuscany.
Recommended pairings: when wine meets cuisine
Here is where the magic truly happens: at Il Piccolo Mondo, every dish by the talented executive chef Fabio Mancuso finds its perfect oenological companion.
Starters
Begin the evening with delicate stuffed zucchini blossoms accompanied by a crisp Pinot Bianco Girlan from South Tyrol or the more sophisticated Prosecco Marsuret Ancestrale: the zucchini blossoms with anchovies and mozzarella will find a perfect briny freshness in the Pinot Bianco, while the bubbles of the Ancestrale will accentuate the delicacy of the fry.
For the Roman-style artichoke with pecorino foam and black truffle—one of the most iconic dishes of Roman cuisine—I suggest the noble Cervaro della Sala by Antinori (Chardonnay and Grechetto): the complexity of the wine will converse beautifully with the umami of the truffle and the creaminess of the pecorino.
For those who choose from the raw seafood bar, the Crémant d’Alsace Lorentz Brut offers that mineral liveliness and briny freshness that perfectly enhances marine flavors without overpowering them.
First courses
When the first courses arrive, Mancuso’s Roman cuisine truly sparkles: for the spaghetti alla carbonara, the ultimate Roman dish, there is nothing better than a Pinot Grigio Fuoripista by Foradori from Trentino or a Greco di Tufo from Campania—dry, mineral whites that balance the richness of the guanciale and the egg. For the spaghettoni allo scoglio, where the seafood enhances the sea breeze, the sophisticated Vintage Tunina by Jermann becomes an almost spiritual experience: the Sauvignon Blanc in the blend will provide salinity, the Chardonnay smoothness, and the Ribolla Gialla crisp acidity.
Second courses
Among the seafood mains, the magnificent bigeye red tuna fillet with sesame deserves a great white: the Ronco delle Mele by Venica & Venica (Friulian Sauvignon Blanc) or the Sanct Valentin Sauvignon by San Michele Appiano will offer that varietal freshness that dialogues magnificently with the sesame oil and the delicacy of the fatty fish.
For the meat mains, this is where the reds assert their dominance: the red wine-braised veal cheek imperiously demands a great Nebbiolo—the Perbacco by Vietti or a Barbaresco—where the soft tannins and the complex body of the wine find an incredibly sophisticated harmony with the dish. For the saltimbocca alla Romana, the Valpolicella Ripasso by Accordini or Tommasi (where partial grape drying imparts greater structure) represents the perfect traditional pairing.
And if you have a soft spot for Amarone, the Roman-style meatballs or the 3-pepper filet mignon will find a companion of incredible elegance in this nectar—where the dried Montepulciano concentrates red fruits and spices.
View the full menu here.
Il Piccolo Mondo: where Rome, gastronomy, and wine dance together
Just a stone’s throw from the historic Piazza Barberini, in the exclusive area near Via Veneto, Il Piccolo Mondo remains what it has always been: a Roman institution where tradition continues to live on through quality cuisine and loving care in the selection of wines.
This revamped cellar answers every taste requirement, whether you are seeking great sparkling elegance, rarities built on wild terroirs, or great classics capable of thrilling generation after generation.
Why choose Il Piccolo Mondo? Because here, every detail—from the choice of sustainable local producers, to the genius of the world-champion chef, to the depth of the cellar—reveals that not everything is accessible to everyone. But when it is, when you walk through those doors in the heart of Rome, you understand why this place has remained an institution for over 70 years.