Wine tasting in Bologna: 3 regional wines with local food

The Sommelier Game teaches you what you actually taste in the wine.

A 45-minute wine tasting in Bologna where you taste three regional wines—Pignoletto Fermo, Sangiovese in Purezza, and Sangiovese Appassimento—paired with local artisanal foods including mortadella, aged Parmigiano Reggiano, and balsamic vinegar. A sommelier guides you through an interactive digital game that connects what you taste to what you're learning, making the tasting both educational and hands-on rather than a passive sit-down.

The Experience

You arrive at Bottega Botlé in the heart of Bologna with a free afternoon and no wine knowledge to speak of. The sommelier walks you through three glasses—a crisp white, a bold red, and a richer red made from partially dried grapes—each one different enough that you can taste the difference without guessing. The Sommelier Game runs on a tablet in front of you, asking what you notice: the acidity, the body, the finish. You answer, the game responds, and suddenly the words a sommelier uses start to mean something because you're tasting them as you go.

The wines arrive with a spread of local specialties that matter: Mortadella Bologna with its smooth texture, aged Parmigiano Reggiano (24 months), regional cheeses with truffles and spices, Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, and monocultivar olive oils—Coratina, Peranzana, Ogliarola—each one distinct enough to notice. These aren't afterthoughts; they're chosen to show you how food and wine actually work together, and the sommelier explains why each pairing lands the way it does.

The whole thing takes 45 minutes, which means you're not locked into a long afternoon. You walk out with an exclusive Bottega Botlé fridge magnet and the muscle memory of what you tasted, which is more useful than a list of wine names you'll forget by next week. The sommelier speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, or Italian depending on who shows up, and the space is wheelchair accessible.

What’s included

• Three regional wines—Pignoletto Fermo, Sangiovese in Purezza, and Sangiovese Appassimento.
• Mortadella Bologna, aged Parmigiano Reggiano (24 months), regional cheeses, Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, and monocultivar olive oils.
• the Sommelier Game on a digital tablet with sommelier guidance.
• an exclusive Bottega Botlé fridge magnet.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Bottega botlé

Is this one for you?Book this if you have 45 minutes free in Bologna and want to actually understand what you're tasting instead of just nodding along—the digital game and the sommelier's guidance turn the tasting into something you can follow and remember, not a performance you sit through.

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Top questions

What are the three wines I'll taste at Bottega Botlé?

You taste Pignoletto Fermo, a crisp still white wine; Sangiovese in Purezza, made entirely from Sangiovese grapes; and Sangiovese Appassimento, produced from partially dried grapes for a richer, more intense style. Each glass is served at a size that lets you actually taste the differences between them.

How does the Sommelier Game work during the tasting?

The Sommelier Game runs on a digital tablet and asks you what you notice in each wine—acidity, body, finish, flavor notes—as you taste. Your answers guide the experience, and the game teaches you the language sommeliers use by connecting it directly to what's in your glass.

What local foods come with the wine tasting?

The tasting includes Mortadella Bologna, aged Parmigiano Reggiano (24 months), regional cheeses with truffles and spices, Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, monocultivar extra virgin olive oils, and other artisanal products like honey and fruit jams. Each one is chosen to pair with the wines and show how food and wine work together.

How long does the whole experience take?

The tasting lasts 45 minutes, so it fits into a free afternoon without eating up your whole day. You taste the wines, play the game, eat the food, and leave with time to explore the rest of Bologna.

What language does the sommelier speak?

The sommelier guides the tasting in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or Italian depending on the group. You can book the language that works for you.

Is this tasting accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes. All areas and surfaces at Bottega Botlé are wheelchair accessible, and the experience is designed so you can participate fully from arrival to the last sip.