Roman Soul, Sacramento Zip Code, Italy Pours
Pocket / Greenhaven · Sacramento · Italian (Roman-inspired, seasonal) · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 22, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Cacio’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Cacio is short enough to read in under two minutes — and that's not a complaint. It reads like someone actually thought about what goes with handmade pasta rather than just ordering from a distributor catalog. Italy leads, California tags along, and the whole thing feels intentional for a 30-50 bottle list.
The list leans hard into central and southern Italian grapes, which is exactly right for a Roman-inspired kitchen. Trebbiano d'Abruzzo and Vermentino handle the white side with food-friendly acidity, while Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Frappato — a lighter, brighter Sicilian red — give you range on the red side without going full Tuscany tourist. California fills in the gaps, presumably for the table that insists on it. What's missing is any real depth by producer or vintage — this is a list that functions, not one that obsesses.
Eight to fourteen pours by the glass is genuinely solid for a neighborhood spot this size. The presence of Frappato and Vermentino on the by-the-glass program suggests someone made intentional choices, not just default Pinot Grigio and Cab. Rotation isn't confirmed, but the range implies at least a few interesting moves.
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo — $12–$15
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is one of Italy's best-kept value secrets — earthy, full, and built for pasta. At neighborhood restaurant by-the-glass prices, this is the move every time.
Frappato
Most tables will reach for something familiar and blow past the Frappato. That's a mistake. This Sicilian red is light-bodied, red-fruited, and refreshing in a way that makes it dangerously easy to drink through a whole bowl of cacio e pepe. It's doing work that Pinot Noir charges twice as much to do.
California red (house pour)
Without a specific producer named, the California red house pour is a placeholder — safe, predictable, and almost certainly the least interesting thing on this list. With Montepulciano and Frappato available, there's no reason to default here.
Trebbiano d'Abruzzo + Cacio e pepe
Cacio e pepe is rich, salty, and coat-the-mouth fatty from the Pecorino. Trebbiano d'Abruzzo cuts straight through it — high acidity, low fuss, no oak getting in the way. This is the textbook reason that regional Italian wines exist.
The Bottom Line
Cacio isn't trying to be a wine destination, but the list punches well above what you'd expect from a quiet neighborhood Italian in South Sacramento. Show up for the pasta, order the Frappato, and stop overthinking it.
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Seasonal Rotation
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One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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