Exclusive wine tasting in Brunate

The best part of this experience is the setting: you taste Lombardy wines high above Como, with the lake and city spread below you. The short ride on the Como-Brunate funicular adds a bit of old-fashioned travel before the food and wine begin.

I like the tasting’s clear regional focus, with one sparkling wine, one white, and one red. I also like the local food pairings, including homemade focaccia, cured meats, cheeses, and other traditional bites from a small farm near Como. The one thing to consider is the price, $150.51 per person, which makes this a special-occasion outing rather than a casual drink.

Key points to know before booking

• Seven-minute funicular ride: The experience begins with a quick ascent from Como to Brunate, saving you a steep walk and adding a memorable part of the outing.
• Three Lombardy wines: You taste a sparkling wine, a white, and a red chosen to show the range of the region.
• Food is part of the experience: Focaccia, cured meats, cheeses, and other local specialties make this more substantial than a simple wine flight.
• Private format: Only your group participates, so the pace and conversation can feel more personal.
• Arianna leads the tasting: She explains the wines, local food, grape growing, harvesting, bottling, and the story of Brunate.
• Evening views from Brunate: The 5:00 pm start gives you time to enjoy the town and its broad outlook over Como and the lake.

Why this wine tasting works so well in Brunate

Wine tastings are often held in cellars, restaurants, or formal tasting rooms. This one uses the hill town of Brunate as part of the experience. You do not simply sit down for three pours. You first leave Como by funicular, then reach a town known for its views and the Voltiano Lighthouse.

That change of scene matters. The ride takes only about seven minutes, but it gives the afternoon a clear rhythm: city below, hillside above, wine and food after the ascent. Brunate is also more than a lookout point. Arianna tells you about the town and offers advice for exploring it, which adds a local point of view to the tasting.

The format is private, another major advantage. You share the activity only with your own group, rather than joining a large table where the guide has to keep things moving. That makes it easier to ask about the wines, the food, or places to visit around Como.

At about two hours, the experience is long enough to feel like an event but short enough to fit into a day of sightseeing. The 5:00 pm start works especially well if you want an early evening activity without giving up the entire night.

Meeting Arianna in Como

You meet at Piazza Alcide de Gasperi in Como at 5:00 pm. Arianna helps you get to the funicular and guides you through the start of the journey. That small bit of assistance is useful because it removes the guesswork from finding the right departure point and getting settled before the ride.

The meeting point is in Como, while the tasting takes place in Brunate. The activity ends back at the meeting point, so you should plan on returning to Como after the tasting rather than arranging a separate pickup in Brunate.

The experience is offered in English. Arianna’s role goes beyond pouring wine. She explains how grapes are planted, harvested, and bottled, and connects those details to the land around Lake Como and Lombardy. If you enjoy asking questions, the private format gives you room to do so.

The activity is also near public transportation, and a mobile ticket is accepted. Service animals are allowed, and most people can take part. Alcohol is served only to people aged 18 and over.

The Como-Brunate funicular, seven minutes with a view

The funicular is the first real attraction. In roughly seven minutes, it carries you from Como up to Brunate. You get a quick change in elevation without committing to a long hike, and the ride gives the outing a sense of movement that a restaurant-based tasting would not have.

The journey is short, so do not expect a long scenic railway trip. Its value is in the transition. One moment you are meeting in Como, and soon after you are in a hill town looking back toward the city and lake.

This is also a practical choice for anyone who wants Brunate without spending energy on a steep climb. The information provided does not promise a particular seating position or a specific view during the ride, so think of the funicular mainly as a convenient and memorable link between the two stops.

The return trip is part of the overall plan. Since the activity ends at the Como meeting point, you do not need to work out your own way back down the hill.

Brunate, the tasting table, and the Voltiano Lighthouse

Brunate is the heart of the experience. The town is described as small and characteristic, with the famous Voltiano Lighthouse nearby. The lighthouse is one of the symbols associated with Lake Como, giving the stop a recognizable landmark as well as a fine setting for the tasting.

The views are a major reason to book this activity. From the mountain above Como, you look down toward the city and across the lake. On clear days, the view can extend toward Switzerland, according to the details shared about the experience. Weather matters here, not just for comfort but for the scenery itself.

Arianna shares the story of Brunate and gives suggestions for discovering the town. That makes the stop more useful than a quick photo break. You get some context for the place and ideas for what to notice around you.

The exact tasting location in Brunate is not specified, so you should not book expecting a named restaurant, winery, or particular terrace. The setting is the important promise: local wine, traditional food, and a view from the town above Como.

Three Lombardy wines, from sparkling to red

The tasting includes three wines from Lombardy:

• A sparkling wine
• A white wine
• A red wine

That sequence gives you a simple introduction to the region without making the tasting feel like a technical class. The sparkling wine offers a light opening, the white shifts the style, and the red finishes with a fuller expression of Lombardy’s grapes and growing areas.

Arianna explains the regional and Italian wine traditions behind the bottles. She also covers how grapes are planted, harvested, and bottled. For a newcomer to Italian wine, this kind of explanation can make the tasting easier to follow. For someone who already knows wine, the private setting gives you a chance to ask more specific questions about production and pairing.

The selection is designed to represent the territory, not to give you a broad survey of all Italian wine. You should not expect wines from several different countries or an extensive list of pours. The appeal is local focus and a clear three-wine structure.

The tasting also keeps food at the center. Each wine is paired with something to eat, so you can think about how the flavors work together instead of sipping in isolation.

Focaccia, cured meats, cheeses, and local specialties

The food makes a real difference to the value of the experience. You receive homemade focaccia along with a fine selection of cured meats and cheeses from a small farm not far from Como. Other traditional local foods are also included as surprises.

This is more substantial than a token plate of crackers. The pairings are intended to match the wines, and the food is described as generous and delicious. That matters if you are booking near dinnertime, since the tasting can function as a light meal or a hearty aperitivo, depending on your appetite.

The farm connection also gives the food a local purpose. You are not simply receiving generic snacks beside a wine flight. You are tasting products tied to the area around Como, with Arianna explaining why particular foods work with the wines.

The exact dishes are not fixed in the information available, so you should not book expecting a specific menu. That uncertainty is part of the charm, but it may matter if you have strict dietary needs. No dietary accommodation is stated, so ask before booking if you need substitutions.

The view is part of what you are paying for

At $150.51 per person, this is not a bargain wine tasting. The price makes more sense when you count the whole package: a private guide, the funicular journey, three Lombardy wines, substantial food, local stories, and the setting above Lake Como.

You are paying for an experience rather than just the liquid in the glass. A standard tasting can offer more wines for less money, but it may not include transportation, a personal guide, traditional food, and a hilltop view.

The value will depend on your priorities. If you want to compare a large number of bottles or visit a working winery, this may not be the best use of your budget. If you want a compact, private introduction to Lombardy’s food and wine with one of Como’s classic viewpoints, the price is easier to justify.

The high demand also means advance planning is wise. This experience is booked about 36 days ahead on average. That does not guarantee it will sell out on your dates, but it is a useful signal that you should reserve early, especially for a particular evening.

What the private format changes

Private tours can sometimes feel overpriced when the activity itself is basic. Here, the format supports the way the tasting is led. Arianna can explain the wines at your pace, answer questions, and spend time on the regional details that interest you most.

You also avoid the social uncertainty of a large group. If you are traveling as a couple, family, or small circle of friends, you can talk naturally and enjoy the food without competing with strangers for the guide’s attention.

The private setup is particularly useful for people who are new to wine. You can ask simple questions about the difference between the three styles, food pairing, or how the wines are made without feeling out of place.

There is a tradeoff. A private activity does not automatically mean an elaborate meal or a long visit to multiple sites. The experience remains about one tasting in Brunate, with the funicular and the view adding to it.

Weather, timing, and practical concerns

The experience requires good weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. Since the view is one of the main attractions, this policy is helpful and worth noting when you plan.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the 5:00 pm start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded or accepted. The cut-off uses local time.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The activity is near public transportation. No specific information is provided about wheelchair access, dietary restrictions, or the exact seating arrangement, so contact the operator before booking if any of those details affect your plans.

Because alcohol is served, all participants drinking wine must be at least 18. The activity is offered in English, which makes it a useful choice if you want the guide’s explanations without a language barrier.

Who should book this Brunate experience

I would recommend it most strongly to couples and small groups who want a polished evening with a strong sense of place. It suits you if you care as much about the story behind a wine and the setting around it as you do about the tasting itself.

It is also a good fit for anyone staying in Como who wants to see Brunate without organizing a separate visit. The funicular ride, lighthouse, town story, food, and wine are combined into one simple outing.

You may want to skip it if your main aim is a low-cost drink, a large winery tour, or a broad tasting of Italian regions. It is also less suitable if poor weather would spoil the experience for you and your schedule cannot handle a possible change of date.

The food makes it appealing for an early evening, while the two-hour length keeps it from taking over your day. You can treat it as a special aperitivo with a view rather than a full dinner reservation.

Should you book the wine tasting in Brunate?

Book it if you want three Lombardy wines with local food, a private guide, and one of Lake Como’s finest high viewpoints in a single two-hour outing. Arianna’s personal explanations, the farm-produced cheeses and cured meats, and the seven-minute funicular ride give the experience more character than a standard tasting.

At $150.51 per person, you should see it as a premium small-group experience. The strongest reasons to pay are the private format, the generous pairings, and the Brunate setting. If those matter to you, this is an easy choice. If you only want wine, there are likely cheaper ways to drink it, but they will not give you this combination of food, place, and view.

FAQ

Where does the experience begin?

You meet at Piazza Alcide de Gasperi, 22100 Como, Italy, at 5:00 pm.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately two hours.

How do you reach Brunate?

You travel from Como to Brunate on the Como-Brunate funicular. The ride takes about seven minutes.

What wines are included?

You taste three wines produced in Lombardy: one sparkling wine, one white wine, and one red wine.

What food is served with the wine?

The tasting includes homemade focaccia, cured meats, cheeses from a small farm near Como, and other traditional local foods.

Is this a private activity?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If the experience is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.