Exclusive wine tasting in Brunate

Brunate turns Lake Como into a postcard, and this exclusive tasting pairs that view with a guided sip session you can follow. I love the Brunate lookout over Como and the lake, and I love how the wine-and-food pairings make each glass make sense. The whole thing stays personal, not rushed.

Arianna leads the tasting, walking you through three Lombardy wines (sparkling, white, and red) with homemade focaccia plus cured meats and cheeses from a small farm near Como. You also get stories about Brunate and practical ideas for how to enjoy the area after the tasting ends.

The main thing to keep in mind is weather. This experience requires good weather, and at about two hours, it is a focused tasting, not a long dinner.

Key highlights you will feel right away

• Funicolare Como-Brunate ride: a quick 7-minute lift that sets the tone for the views
• Panoramic Brunate viewpoint: Como below, and on clear days, distant directions toward Switzerland
• Three Lombardy wines, staged well: sparkling, white, and red, each with its food match
• Homemade focaccia and local farm products: cured meats and cheeses designed to go with the wines
• A small-group, private vibe: your time with Arianna stays relaxed and conversational

Starting at Piazza Alcide de Gasperi, then up to Brunate

This tasting starts in Como at Piazza Alcide de Gasperi (22100 Como). You meet there at 5:00 pm and the experience returns to the same spot at the end. That round trip matters. It means you are not stuck figuring out what to do after wine, you just enjoy the plan.

The timing also helps. A late-afternoon start gives you a calmer pace than midday sightseeing, and Brunate is the kind of place where lighting and visibility change how beautiful the view feels.

It is also set up for a straightforward arrival. You get a mobile ticket, the tour is offered in English, and the meeting point is near public transportation. If you travel with a service animal, they are allowed.

The Funicolare Como Brunate ride, 7 minutes that matter

Stop one is the Funicolare Como Brunate, with a ride time of about 7 minutes. Do not treat that like a mere transfer. This is the moment you go from city level into viewpoint mode.

Even before you taste anything, the funicular ride does two useful things for you:

• It puts you in the right mood for the rest of the evening
• It makes the Brunate viewpoint feel earned, not handed to you

From up there, the town sits above Como and out toward the lake. That shift is part of why this tasting works. You are not just eating and drinking, you are pairing flavor with a place.

Brunate town, Voltiano Lighthouse, and the view that turns heads

Stop two is Brunate itself. The tasting happens in town in front of the standout view across Como and the lake. Brunate also has the Voltiano Lighthouse, and it is mentioned as one of the symbols of Lake Como. So you are not hiding from the reason people come up here.

Here is what you should expect as you take in the view:

• Como and the lake are spread out below you
• The line of sight can reach far enough that distant directions toward Switzerland can show up when conditions are right
• The mountain setting makes it feel like a separate world from Como, even though you are close enough to go back easily

This part of the experience is the reason the tasting is tied to Brunate instead of being set down somewhere flat. You taste while you look, and it makes the whole evening feel like more than a quick activity.

If you want photos, plan to take them early in the Brunate time window, while everyone is still excited and moving around. Once the tasting begins, you will settle in and your attention shifts to the table and the glasses.

Three Lombardy wines, and how the tasting stays easy to follow

The tasting includes three wines from Lombardy: a sparkling wine, a white, and a red. Instead of a random flight, the order is structured. That structure is what keeps the experience approachable.

Think of it like this:

• The sparkling sets a crisp, clean baseline
• The white helps you focus on acidity, texture, and how well the wine handles food
• The red rounds out the lineup with more body and a different flavor style, so you notice the contrast

A key bonus is the way the host explains what you are drinking. Arianna shares stories about how grapes are planted, harvested, and bottled. You do not need to be a wine expert to benefit. You just get better at describing what you taste, and you start to understand why the region’s character shows up in the glass.

That is also why this tasting feels exclusive. It is not only tasting, it is learning with a human voice. You can ask questions and you get tailored suggestions.

Homemade focaccia plus cured meats and cheeses that do the heavy lifting

The food pairing is a big part of the value here. You get homemade focaccia, plus a selection of cured meats and cheeses produced by a small farm not far from Como. That matters because strong pairings are hard to fake when the ingredients come from the same local food world.

You also get other tastings of traditional local food, so the meal is not only wine and cheese. The goal is balance. Each wine comes with bites designed to match it, so you get to test the pairing theory in real time.

Here is what you will likely notice if you pay attention:

• The focaccia adds a comforting, bread-forward element that softens sharp wine edges
• The cured meats bring salt and savory depth, which can make certain wine textures feel smoother
• The cheeses add fat and tang, which can highlight acidity and change how you perceive fruit in the wine

This is where the experience earns the high marks. The pairing is not treated like an afterthought. It is part of how Arianna builds the story of the wines and the territory.

Practical note: since the tasting includes multiple food elements, you usually will not want a huge meal right before. Come with room for a proper tasting portion so you can enjoy each course without feeling stuffed.

Arianna’s Brunate stories and practical tips for the rest of your Como time

A big reason people enjoy this tour is Arianna’s style. She is described as friendly and gives more than a wine script. She talks about Brunate itself, including what makes the town worth slowing down for, and she shares advice for discovering the area beyond the tasting.

That advice can be useful if you are trying to avoid the usual sightseeing treadmill. Brunate is small, but it can still be easy to miss what makes it special if you rely only on guidebooks. Having a local-minded host give suggestions helps you build a simple plan for after your two hours are done.

You also get cultural context tied to the wines and food. Lombardy is a real place with real farming and real production choices behind it. When someone connects the wine to how the land and the process influence the glass, it changes the tasting experience from consuming to understanding.

Price and what you actually get for $150.51 per person

At $150.51 per person, this is not a budget wine stop. But it is also not priced like a fancy dinner with plates you might not remember.

What you are paying for is a combination of:

• An exclusive, private setup for your group (not a shared cattle-call)
• A guided tasting in English
• Three Lombardy wines, paired with multiple local food elements
• The funicular ride up to Brunate, which is part of the experience, not a separate add-on
• A host who explains production and region connections, instead of handing you a glass and walking away

Where the value really lands for me is the full package. You get place, food, and wine in one coherent block. If you try to copy this yourself, you can manage the viewpoint and you can find wine, but it is harder to recreate the pairing logic plus the guided regional context without extra planning time.

One more thing: this is booked on average about 36 days in advance. That suggests it is popular and can fill up depending on dates and weather. If you have flexibility, it is worth booking early.

Logistics that keep it stress-free

The tour ends back at the meeting point, Piazza Alcide de Gasperi, so you do not need to coordinate transport after drinking. The experience also runs about two hours, which is a tidy chunk of your day.

Since it requires good weather, you should consider what your alternative plan is if it is postponed. The good part is that the activity depends on conditions that matter. You are going up for a view and tasting outdoors in the Brunate setting, so a weather check is not just a legal technicality.

Another small but real comfort: this is a private tour/activity, only your group participates. That usually means you can move at a conversational pace and get the kind of attention that makes the explanations land.

Who this Brunate wine tasting is perfect for

You will likely enjoy this most if you want:

• A view-forward wine experience, not a cellar sitting
• A guided tasting with food pairings that make sense
• An easy plan for a short late-afternoon window
• A host-led approach with time to ask questions

It is also a strong pick for couples and small groups who want something that feels personal. The private format and the clear structure of sparkling, white, and red with matching bites make it feel special without turning it into a long formal event.

If you are looking for a fast, casual drink-only stop with no explanations, this might feel a bit structured. But if you enjoy learning while you eat, it fits well.

Should you book it or skip it?

Book it if you want an all-in-one Como add-on that uses Brunate for what it does best: the viewpoint, the mountain town feel, and a guided tasting built around Lombardy wines and local foods. The pairing quality and Arianna’s explanations are the kind of details that tend to stick after the trip ends.

Skip it only if you cannot handle weather-based changes or you are trying to squeeze in too many other things in the same evening. This is a focused block of about two hours, so protect that time.

If you are choosing between doing wine on your own and doing it with a guide who connects the dots, this Brunate tasting gives you the better experience per minute.

FAQ

How long is the wine tasting in Brunate?

It lasts about 2 hours.

Where do we meet, and where does the tour end?

You meet at Piazza Alcide de Gasperi, 22100 Como CO, Italy. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

What wines are included?

You’ll taste three wines produced in Lombardy: a sparkling wine, a white wine, and a red wine.

What food is included with the wines?

You’ll have homemade focaccia, plus a selection of cured meats and cheeses produced by a small farm not far from Como. The tasting also includes other traditional local food.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. It is a private tour/activity, and only your group participates.

What are the rules on alcohol, and is good weather required?

Alcoholic drinks are served from age 18. The experience requires good weather; if it is canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Can I cancel for free?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Cancellation must be made at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time for a refund.