Brunate turns wine into an aerial experience. This private tasting in the town of Brunate pairs three Lombardy wines with classic local bites, all while you take in Como and its lake from high above. I particularly like the intimate private-group feel and the fact that the experience starts with the Funicolare Como Brunate climb. One drawback: it depends on good weather, so if clouds or rain move in, your date may shift.

What makes it feel special is the mix of view + food + clear wine focus. You’ll taste one sparkling wine, one white, and one red from Lombardy, paired with homemade focaccia and a selection of cured meats and cheeses from a small farm near Como, plus some extra traditional local food. The host, Arianna, also ties it all to place—Brunate, the Voltiano Lighthouse area, and what to do around town once the tasting is done.

Key things to know before you go

• Private, small-feel experience: only your group participates, so it’s not a crowded tasting room.
• A 7-minute Funicolare ride sets the tone: you move from Como up to Brunate fast.
• 3 Lombardy wines, in a logical order: sparkling, white, then red, with pairings for each.
• Classic, substantial local food: homemade focaccia plus cured meats and cheeses.
• Voltiano Lighthouse is part of the scenery: you’re tasting near one of Brunate’s main symbols.
• Good-weather dependent: the view matters, so the experience needs decent conditions.

Why Brunate makes this tasting feel like more than wine

If you’ve ever done a wine tasting in a plain room, you know the trade-off: you get the wine, but you lose the emotion. Here, the setting does half the work for you. Brunate sits above Como, and the whole mood changes once you’re up there—suddenly the lake looks wider, the town looks smaller, and your food and wine feel tied to the place instead of stuck in a schedule.

I also like how the tour stays practical. This isn’t a long lecture. It’s a focused sequence: three wines, three food pairings, and time to look out at the view between courses. That pacing is great if you want to enjoy yourself without feeling like you’re racing through a checklist.

And Arianna’s role matters. The experience is described as exclusive, and you can feel that in the way she guides the group—helping you get to the right spot, keeping things smooth during the funicular ride, and sharing context on both the wines and Brunate itself. From the reviews, the best part is how she connects wine to grape growing and the local territory, not just facts read off a label.

Price and what you’re actually paying for (about $150 per person)

At around $150.51 per person, this won’t be the cheapest food-and-wine activity in Lake Como. But it does include a lot that adds up in the real world: three wines, homemade focaccia, cured meats, cheeses, and other traditional local food surprises. You’re also paying for a private guide-led setup and the scenic funicular element that brings you into Brunate without you having to manage the climb on your own.

The value gets clearer when you compare it to piecing it together yourself. If you try to do this as a DIY tasting, you’ll spend time searching for the right wines and the right local food pairing. You might not find a single plan that bundles all of it into one neat 2-hour block with the same view payoff.

Also, the tour timing is set for late afternoon: 5:00 pm. That matters. In this area, late day light can make the view look softer and more dramatic, which is exactly when wine and conversation tend to land best.

How the 5:00 pm Como meeting point keeps things easy

You meet at Piazza Alcide de Gasperi, 22100 Como CO, Italy at 5:00 pm, and the tour returns to the same place afterward. That round-trip design is helpful because you don’t have to figure out transport back to the city center after tasting and relaxing.

It starts with the Funicolare Como Brunate, so the schedule is built around a short, simple transport segment rather than a long walk right at the beginning. It’s a relief if you’d rather save your energy for the view and the food.

One more practical point: it’s offered in English and it’s a private tour/activity, meaning it’s just your group. If you’re going with a partner, friends, or family and you want a calmer pace than a big public group tour, that privacy changes the whole feel. You can ask questions without feeling rushed.

Funicolare Como Brunate: the short climb that makes the view work

The first part is the funicular ride—just 7 minutes—which gets you from Como up to Brunate. This is the kind of detail that seems small until you’re in Lake Como traffic and hills: saving time and effort is part of the enjoyment.

During that short ride, you’re also mentally shifting from city mode into viewpoint mode. The funicular is quick enough that you’re not annoyed, and you arrive with enough energy to actually appreciate the surroundings rather than just get through the logistics.

In the reviews, people call out the views into Switzerland plans along with Como below. Even if you don’t focus on which border line you’re seeing, the point is the same: at that altitude, the lake reads differently. It looks like a broad, layered scene rather than a single waterfront strip, and it makes the tasting feel like it belongs to the mountain setting, not something bolted on afterward.

If you’re someone who enjoys scenic travel but gets tired of long climbs, this is a smart compromise: you get the elevation payoff with minimal effort.

Brunate and the Voltiano Lighthouse area: where the tasting comes to life

Once you reach Brunate, the tasting happens in the town with that famous high view of Como and the lake in front of you. Brunate is also tied to the Voltiano Lighthouse, one of the symbols of Lake Como in this area. You’re not just looking at a distant landmark—you’re in the same zone where locals and visitors recognize the lighthouse as part of the Brunate identity.

This is where the tour’s “exclusive” feel really shows. It’s not set up like a warehouse tasting flight. You’re in a real town, with real scenery, and the host is walking you through what you’re drinking and eating as you take it all in.

Arianna also shares the story of Brunate and gives advice for discovering this small, characteristic paradise after the tasting ends. That’s valuable because a view can be a one-time thing, but a town can be explored if you know what to prioritize—where to stroll, what to look for, and how to keep the day flowing.

Three Lombardy wines, matched with real local food

The tasting centers on three different wines produced in Lombardy: a sparkling wine, a white, and a red. That sequence is helpful. Sparkling first keeps the palate fresh. The white then sets up a cleaner, lighter contrast. The red ties the meal together with a deeper flavor profile.

Here’s the key: the pairings aren’t random. The tour describes pairings that connect the wine types with traditional local dishes. You’ll get homemade focaccia and a fine selection of cured meats and cheeses from a small farm not far from Como. On top of that, there are other traditional local food surprises.

That combination matters because it reflects what wine tasting should be: not just sipping, but tasting with context. Cured meats and cheese usually test a wine’s structure—does it stay balanced with salt, fat, and savory flavors? Sparkling wine often works well when there’s some bite in the food. A white can handle delicate flavors and keep things lively. A red can bring warmth and finish the set with more depth.

From the reviews, the standout theme is that the pairings feel right. People mention that each wine matched the food well and that the host guided the experience in a way that made it easy to understand what to pay attention to.

If you’re the kind of person who likes to learn, this part is also where Arianna earns her reputation. Reviews say she explained grapes and how they’re planted, harvested, and bottled. That kind of detail helps you taste the wine differently afterward, even if you’re not a wine expert.

What stops 1 and 2 feel like in practice (and where it can fall short)

Stop 1 is all about transit with purpose: you start in Como and take the funicular to Brunate. This sets expectations immediately—everyone is going upward, and the view is part of the plan from minute one.

Stop 2 is the real experience: Brunate town, the Voltiano Lighthouse area, and the tasting itself. This is where you slow down. You taste the three Lombardy wines with focaccia, cured meats, cheeses, and extra local food bites while the host tells you Brunate’s story and gives practical advice for what to do afterward.

The one consideration that can affect the experience is weather. The tour requires good weather, and if it’s canceled due to poor conditions, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. So if you’re flexible on timing, you’ll likely have a better experience because the view is a big part of why Brunate feels special.

Also, this is a wine-focused activity. If you don’t drink wine or you’re avoiding alcohol, you might find the food interesting but the overall format less compelling than a pure food or scenic walk. The tour does serve alcoholic drinks for ages 18+, so plan accordingly with your group.

Getting the most from Arianna’s guidance without overthinking it

Even if you don’t consider yourself a wine person, this experience is designed so you can still participate comfortably. It’s private, it’s in English, and the host explains what you’re tasting and how it connects to where it’s made.

Here’s how to make it work for you:

• Ask one or two questions about the wines as you go. You’ll get more from the tastings if you know what to look for.
• Pay attention to how the pairing changes your perception. A good match can make the same wine taste more balanced or more interesting.
• Use the view breaks. If you spend the whole time staring down at the table, you miss the emotional payoff. The tasting is supposed to happen with Como spread out in front of you.

From the reviews, one practical advantage keeps showing up: Arianna helps people meet her and makes the funicular step quick. That matters more than you’d think. In places like Como, it’s easy to waste time trying to locate a meeting point and figure out how to get where you’re going. This tour is built to keep the transition smooth.

If you like experiences where your guide does more than hand you a glass—where they also guide your attention to what matters—this one fits that style.

Who should book this Brunate tasting (and who might skip it)

This is a great fit if you:

• want a view-forward Lake Como experience without a long hike
• like wine pairings that come with local food you can actually taste and recognize
• prefer a private, calmer group setting
• are traveling with a partner or small group and want something that feels curated in the good way: clear, focused, and paced

You might skip it if:

• you want a purely sightseeing walk with no alcohol focus
• your schedule is rigid and you can’t handle a date shift due to weather needs
• you’re expecting a big variety tasting beyond three Lombardy wines (this is deliberately focused)

Should you book the Exclusive wine tasting in Brunate?

If you’re aiming for one high-quality, high-satisfaction experience in Lake Como, I think this is a strong choice. The reason is simple: it combines the best parts of a wine activity—three structured tastings and solid local food—with one of the best settings in the Como area, Brunate above the lake.

The most praised aspect is the intimate feel. People mention it’s more intimate than they expected, and that the host, Arianna, is warm and gives plenty of useful context while keeping things smooth. If you value a guided experience that helps you understand what you’re tasting (and not just drink it), this is exactly that.

Book it if you can be in place for the 5:00 pm start and you’re okay with the weather dependency. When the clouds cooperate, the view is part of the meal.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Piazza Alcide de Gasperi, 22100 Como CO, Italy.

What time does the tour begin?

The start time is 5:00 pm.

How long does the experience last?

The duration is approximately 2 hours.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

What wines and food are included?

You’ll taste three Lombardy wines (a sparkling wine, a white, and a red) paired with homemade focaccia, cured meats, cheeses from a small farm near Como, and other traditional local food.

Is this a private experience?

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

What is the minimum age to drink alcohol?

Alcoholic drinks are served from age 18.

Is the tour affected by weather?

Yes. The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.