E.V.O. oil of Lake Como tasting+ food pairings

Lake Como has plenty of grand villas and boat rides, but this experience takes you into a quieter corner of the region. At Ali di Alice, you learn how to taste extra virgin olive oil in the family olive grove, then sample it with local foods and wine in the garden and rooms of a 17th-century building.

I like the personal scale, with no more than 10 people, and the way Alice explains how to notice an oil’s flavor instead of simply pouring it over bread. I also like the setting: a peaceful farm with herbs, fruit, vegetables, and broad views of the lake.

The main catch is value. At $83.40 per person for about an hour, this is not a full meal, and one visitor found the food portions too small for the price. Book it for the setting and lesson, not as a cheap dinner.

Key points at a glance

• Alice leads a personal tasting: She explains the oil-making process and teaches you how to tune your palate.
• The experience begins in the olive grove: You see the family farm and its other herbs, fruits, and vegetables before tasting.
• Food and wine are part of the lesson: Local products are paired with the extra virgin olive oil and a glass of local wine.
• The setting is unusually special: Tastings take place in the garden and rooms of a historic 17th-century building overlooking Lake Como.
• The group stays small: A maximum of 10 people keeps the format more intimate than a large food tour.
• Portions may feel light: The food is best viewed as a tasting plate, not a substantial meal.

A farm-side introduction to Lake Como olive oil

This is a short food experience with a clear focus: learn to taste extra virgin olive oil properly, then see how it behaves with other foods. That distinction matters. You are not simply handed a bottle and told that it is good. Alice teaches sensory techniques so you can notice the oil’s character on its own.

The activity takes place at Via del Riale, 4/5, in Azzano, on Lake Como. It begins and ends at the same meeting point, so you do not need to manage a second pickup location. The setting combines working farm life with an old home, giving the experience a more personal feel than a standard shop tasting.

The short duration is both a strength and a limitation. One hour fits neatly into a day of sightseeing, especially if you are moving between towns around the lake. At the same time, you should not expect a long farm visit, cooking class, or drawn-out lunch.

Walking through Alice’s olive grove

The first part brings you into the olive grove and around parts of the family farm. The farm also grows herbs, fruits, and vegetables, so the visit is not limited to rows of olive trees. That small detail helps you understand the tasting as part of a working garden rather than a polished retail presentation.

I like this opening because it gives the oil a place and a person. You begin with the source, then move to the glass and food. The process feels more connected than tasting a product with no sense of where it came from.

The setting also gives you a reason to slow down. The garden and lake views are central to the experience, and the historic rooms provide an attractive indoor option. The activity has gone ahead in rainy weather, so poor conditions do not necessarily ruin the visit, though your time in the grove may be less pleasant if the weather turns wet.

You should wear something suitable for a brief outdoor walk and keep the pace relaxed. The supplied details do not promise a long agricultural tour, so think of the grove visit as an introduction before the main tasting.

Learning how to taste extra virgin olive oil

Alice’s most useful role is teacher. She explains her oil-making process and shows you how to assess extra virgin olive oil with your senses. For many people, this will be the most valuable part of the hour.

Oil tasting is easy to rush. You may first notice only bitterness or peppery heat, especially if you are used to mild supermarket oil. A guided tasting helps you pay attention to the oil before other ingredients cover its flavor. That makes the lesson useful beyond Lake Como, since you can apply the same approach when buying or using olive oil later.

The format begins with the oil on its own. After you learn the tasting method, Alice pairs it with different local products. This order is important. You first get a sense of the oil’s own flavor, then see how it changes when drizzled over food.

The experience is also personal in tone. Alice is described as a warm host who explains the farm’s process directly. With a maximum of 10 people, you have a better chance of hearing the explanation clearly and asking a question than you would in a large commercial tasting room.

Pairing the oil with local food and wine

After the oil tasting, you sample it with a selection of local products and a glass of local wine. The food is farm-fresh and local in character, with the olive oil used as the link between the items. This is not a formal multi-course meal. It is a tasting plate designed to show how the oil works with different flavors.

The pairing is where the experience becomes more social and relaxed. You can compare the oil plain with the oil over food, then settle into the garden or rooms to enjoy the combination and the view. For a couple, particularly one marking a special occasion, the calm setting may be more appealing than a crowded restaurant.

Still, keep your expectations in check. One person felt there were too few food samples for the price and suggested that the experience made more sense as part of an evening meal. That is a fair warning. At $83.40 per person, you are paying for the instruction, farm setting, host, wine, and tasting, not for enough food to replace dinner.

If you arrive hungry, plan another meal afterward. The exact food selection is not specified, so you should not book this expecting a particular cheese, cured meat, vegetable, or dessert. The appeal lies in the local products and the way they are paired with the oil.

Lake views and a 17th-century setting

The historic building is more than a backdrop. The tasting takes place in both the garden and rooms of the 17th-century property, with spectacular views over Lake Como. This gives the hour a sense of place that a plain tasting counter cannot provide.

I especially like the mix of old rooms, garden space, and family agriculture. It lets you experience a side of Lake Como that is quieter and less formal than its famous villas. The decor has been described as thoughtful, and the atmosphere as peaceful, so this is a good choice when you want a slower activity between ferry trips, walks, or town visits.

The view also affects how you judge the price. If you want only a practical olive oil lesson, $83.40 may seem steep. If you want a small, scenic food experience in a historic home, the cost becomes easier to understand. You are buying time in a private-feeling location as much as you are buying the food itself.

That said, beautiful surroundings do not change the portion size. The setting is part of the value, but it should not hide the fact that this is a brief tasting.

Why the group size matters

A cap of 10 people is one of the strongest practical features. Small groups suit sensory tastings because you need to listen, smell, taste, and sometimes ask questions. Alice can give the explanation a personal tone instead of addressing a packed room.

The small format may also make the farm feel more peaceful. You are not being moved through a large production facility or crowded shop. The experience is built around the host, the oil, the food, and the surroundings.

There is a tradeoff. A small, specialist experience usually costs more per person than a basic market tasting. At this price, you should value the quiet setting and direct contact with Alice. If your main aim is to eat a large amount of food or sample many oils, this may not be the right choice.

Who will enjoy this experience most

I would recommend this activity to you if you enjoy food with a clear sense of place. It suits couples, honeymooners, and anyone who prefers a quiet garden setting to a busy group tour. The lake views and local wine also make it a pleasant choice for a special afternoon or early evening.

It works well for olive oil beginners. You do not need previous tasting experience, since the point is to learn the basic sensory method. You may also find it worthwhile if you cook often and want a better feel for how oil changes a dish.

The experience is less suitable if you want a full lunch, a long farm tour, or a broad comparison of many different oils. Production is very small, and the family oil is not available to buy afterward. That is important if you hoped to take a bottle home.

The activity is offered in English. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. It is near public transportation, though the information provided does not specify the closest stop or the best route from your particular town around Lake Como.

Price, timing, and the real value

The cost is $83.40 per person, with a duration of about one hour. That puts it in the premium category for a short tasting. The price makes more sense if you care about the historic setting, lake views, small group, local wine, and Alice’s personal instruction.

For a budget-minded visitor, the food quantity is the key concern. One detailed account found the meal too small in relation to the cost. I would treat the plate as a generous snack or tasting rather than dinner, and I would leave room in your schedule and budget for another meal.

The short length can work in your favor. You do not have to give up half a day, and the activity ends where it begins. It can fit before or after another Lake Como plan, although you should allow enough time to reach Azzano without feeling rushed.

Confirmation is provided when you book, and the ticket is mobile, which keeps the arrival process simple. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not refunded.

What to know before you book

A few small facts will help you decide.

First, this is an experience in Azzano, not a general Lake Como tasting that moves between several towns. Check your transport plan before booking, especially if you are staying elsewhere around the lake.

Second, the activity begins and ends at Via del Riale, 4/5. There is no separate drop-off point. That makes the schedule easy to understand, but you are responsible for getting to the meeting point.

Third, do not count on purchasing the same oil afterward. The family’s production is too small to sell, according to the information provided. The lesson and memory may be the only take-home parts, aside from what you learn about tasting.

Finally, weather may affect the outdoor portion. The experience can still be enjoyable in rain because the property includes indoor rooms, but the garden and grove will be less comfortable in poor conditions. If the views are your main reason for booking, choose a day with a reasonable forecast when possible.

Should you book Ali di Alice?

Book this if you want a small, personal food experience with lake views, an old family property, and a real lesson in olive oil tasting. Alice’s hosting, the peaceful setting, and the mix of farm products and local wine give the hour more substance than a quick sample at a shop.

Skip it if you are looking for a full dinner or the best food quantity for your money. At $83.40, the value depends on how much you care about the setting and personal instruction. For an olive oil enthusiast, a couple celebrating something special, or a visitor seeking a quiet break from Lake Como’s busy sights, it can be a lovely choice. For everyone else, make sure you understand that the meal is small and the experience is brief before you commit.

FAQ

Where does the olive oil tasting take place?

The experience takes place at Via del Riale, 4/5, 22010 Azzano CO, Italy, on Lake Como.

How long does the activity last?

The tasting lasts approximately one hour.

What happens during the experience?

You visit the olive grove, learn sensory techniques for tasting extra virgin olive oil, and pair the oil with different local products and a glass of local wine.

Who leads the experience?

Alice, from Ali di Alice, hosts the visit and explains the family’s olive oil-making process.

Is the experience offered in English?

Yes. The activity is offered in English.

How many people can join?

The activity has a maximum of 10 participants.

Does the activity begin and end at the same place?

Yes. It ends back at the meeting point on Via del Riale.

Is the ticket available on a mobile device?

Yes. A mobile ticket is available, and confirmation is received at the time of booking.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes. Service animals are allowed.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.