A wine tasting with a view. This exclusive Brunate experience pairs regional pours with local bites in a spot that makes Lake Como feel huge. After a short funicular ride, you reach Brunate and the area around the Voltiano Lighthouse, with sweeping views toward the lake and, on clear days, beyond.
I especially love how the tasting is small and private, so you can ask questions and actually follow the story behind each wine. I also like the food pairing: homemade focaccia plus cured meats and cheeses from a small farm near Como, each one matched to the wines.
One thing to consider: this experience depends on good weather. If conditions aren’t great, you may be offered a different date, so I’d plan to be flexible if you’re traveling on a tight schedule.
In This Review
- Key highlights worth planning for
- Why Brunate Makes This Wine Tasting Feel Like a Private Escape
- The 5:00 PM Funicolare Ride: Views and Timing That Work
- What Arianna Will Pour: Three Lombardy Wines and What They Signal
- Food Pairings You’ll Actually Remember: Focaccia, Cured Meats, and Cheese
- Inside Brunate: Voltiano Lighthouse and Stories Between Sips
- Price vs. Value at $150.51: When It’s Worth It
- Who This Private Tasting Fits Best (and Who Should Skip It)
- Should You Book It? My Quick Decision Guide
- FAQ
- Where is the tour meeting point?
- How long does the wine tasting in Brunate last?
- Is this tour private?
- What language is the tour offered in?
- What wines and food are included?
- Is the funicular ride included?
- Can children participate, and is there an alcohol age requirement?
- What happens if the weather is bad?
Key highlights worth planning for
- Funicolare Como Brunate included: a quick 7-minute ride that also gets you up to the viewpoint smoothly
- Three Lombardy wines: a sparkling wine, plus a white and a red that reflect the local terroir
- Homemade focaccia and local farm products: paired with the tasting so you’re not just sipping
- Brunate viewpoint time: you spend real time looking out, not just arriving and leaving
- Guide Arianna in English: she explains the wines and adds Brunate context and practical suggestions
- Private group format: only your group participates, which makes the pacing feel relaxed
Why Brunate Makes This Wine Tasting Feel Like a Private Escape
Brunate is the kind of place that changes your perspective fast. You start down in Como, then climb just enough to feel like you stepped into a different scale of Lake Como. The payoff is the view: Como spread below, the water curving away, and the sense that the day is slowly unfolding rather than rushing past.
This tasting is built around that moment. It’s not just a sip-and-go stop. It’s an evening reset with three Lombardy wines and local food paired deliberately, guided by Arianna in English. If you like travel that feels personal—more conversation than presentation—this format hits.
It also helps that you’re going to an iconic spot without having to plan every detail yourself. Brunate is tied to the Voltiano Lighthouse, so the area has instant identity. You’ll get the story of Brunate while you’re actually there, not later through a screen.
Other Lake Como wineries and tastings we have reviewed
The 5:00 PM Funicolare Ride: Views and Timing That Work
Meeting at Piazza Alcide de Gasperi in Como and starting at 5:00 pm is a smart timing choice. You’re not stuck doing the hardest part of the day (heat, crowds, and long museum lines) and then trying to squeeze in dinner. Instead, you ride up when the light can be forgiving and the mood can turn leisurely.
The funicular part matters. It’s only 7 minutes, and it keeps you from burning time or energy on steep walking right before your tasting. So you arrive with time to settle, look around, and get into the rhythm of the experience.
One practical note: a viewpoint tasting up in Brunate often means a cooler feel than you expect if you’re coming from the lakefront. Even if the day is warm, I’d bring a light layer. You’ll be standing and looking out, and your wine time will feel better if you’re comfortable.
What Arianna Will Pour: Three Lombardy Wines and What They Signal
The heart of the experience is a focused tasting of three wines from Lombardy: a sparkling wine, a white, and a red. That simple progression is helpful. It gives you a clear path to compare styles without turning it into a confusing flight.
Here’s how that typically plays out in a well-run tasting like this:
- The sparkling wine sets the tone. It wakes up your palate and makes it easier to notice texture—how fine or creamy it feels, and how it holds up with food.
- The white wine usually brings the aromas into focus. You’re likely to notice how the wine balances acidity and freshness, especially when paired with the first bites.
- The red wine brings depth and weight. This is where you can start thinking about structure—how it feels on the tongue and how it interacts with fattier or saltier tastes in the food.
A big part of value here is the way Arianna explains what you’re drinking. The reviews you shared point to her being very good at talking through the grapes and how they’re handled before bottling. Even if you don’t consider yourself a wine person, you’ll still benefit. You don’t need to memorize terms. You just want to understand what you’re tasting and why it pairs well.
Also, this isn’t a one-note experience. The guide doesn’t just list facts; she connects the wine to place—Lombardy and the local terroir. That context makes the tasting feel less like a product demo and more like learning something real.
One small logistics point: alcohol service is for ages 18 and up, so if you’re traveling with anyone under that age, plan accordingly.
Food Pairings You’ll Actually Remember: Focaccia, Cured Meats, and Cheese
The food is not an afterthought. It’s part of the main event, and it’s designed to match the wines. You’ll start with homemade focaccia, which is the kind of pairing that works fast: warm bread helps everything feel more inviting, and its texture stands up well to both sparkling and whites.
Then comes a spread built around a small farm not far from Como: a selection of cured meats and cheeses. This is where the tasting feels more substantial. Cured meats bring salt, savory depth, and sometimes a smoky edge. Cheeses add fat and flavor that can either soften a wine’s bite or make it feel more structured—depending on the pairing.
The surprise element matters too. The plan includes other traditional local food bites beyond just the core pairing items, so you won’t leave feeling like it was only three wines and a small snack.
If you’re the type who hates tastings that leave you hungry, this is a good fit. You get enough food to turn the outing into a real part of your day, not a quick intermission.
Inside Brunate: Voltiano Lighthouse and Stories Between Sips
Wine is the headline, but Brunate is the setting. You’ll spend time in the town after the funicular ride, and you’ll hear the story of Brunate as you move through the experience.
The Voltiano Lighthouse is one of the symbols of Lake Como, so it naturally anchors the cultural side of the visit. Even if you don’t plan to do a long lighthouse visit, knowing what it means and why it’s recognized helps you look at the view differently. Instead of just taking photos, you start spotting details with context.
A practical benefit of this storytelling: you’ll likely walk away with ideas for discovering the area on your own. The experience is built to end with advice for exploring Brunate and the surrounding Como region. That’s exactly what I look for in a tour—something that makes independent time afterward better.
Also, the atmosphere tends to feel calm. This is private, and the pacing stays focused on tasting, food, and viewpoints. So you’re not trying to cram a full day of sightseeing into two hours.
Other food & drink experiences in Lake Como
Price vs. Value at $150.51: When It’s Worth It
At $150.51 per person for about 2 hours, this is not a bargain, and it shouldn’t pretend to be. Instead, judge it like this: you’re paying for a private, guide-led tasting with transportation up via the funicular and a multi-item food pairing.
Where the price starts to make sense:
- Private format: only your group participates, so you avoid the feeling of being herded.
- Three wine types: sparkling, white, and red is a full mini-lesson, not a single pour.
- Food that’s actually paired: focaccia plus cured meats and cheeses from a small farm near Como, plus other local tastings.
- Time in a viewpoint town: the ride plus Brunate setting means you’re not just drinking in a back room.
One way to decide if it’s worth it for you: if you enjoy having someone tailor explanations to what’s in front of you—and you like tasting food alongside wine—this likely feels like good value. If you only want to buy a bottle and taste something quickly, you may find cheaper options elsewhere.
Booking trend also matters. It’s often reserved about 36 days in advance on average, which tells you this isn’t the kind of thing you should treat as spontaneous unless your dates are flexible.
Who This Private Tasting Fits Best (and Who Should Skip It)
This experience is a strong match if you want:
- a private guided outing rather than a large group scramble
- a wine tasting that includes food pairing, not just drinks
- the Lake Como view without the stress of planning transportation and timing
It’s also a good fit for couples and small groups, since the private setup keeps the pace relaxed.
It may not be ideal if:
- you’re expecting a long, full sightseeing day (this is about 2 hours)
- you’re only interested in casual sightseeing and don’t care about wine or food pairings
- you know your travel schedule can’t handle weather changes (the experience requires good weather)
There’s also a simple comfort check: you’ll be riding up and spending time outside looking out. If you’re very temperature-sensitive, bring layers.
Should You Book It? My Quick Decision Guide
Book it if you want an evening that feels like Lake Como in miniature: a short climb, a dramatic view, and a guided tasting that actually connects wine to place. I like that it includes food pairing and gives you Brunate context instead of just pouring wine and sending you on your way.
Think twice if your plan depends on a specific day with no flexibility and you can’t accept weather-related changes. Since the experience relies on good conditions, build in some slack.
If you do book, I’d treat it like a set piece in your day: eat a light meal earlier, plan for a bit of cooler air up top, and go in curious. The whole thing works best when you want to learn a little and slow down.
FAQ
Where is the tour meeting point?
The tour meets at Piazza Alcide de Gasperi, 22100 Como CO, Italy, and it ends back at the same meeting point.
How long does the wine tasting in Brunate last?
The experience lasts about 2 hours.
Is this tour private?
Yes. It’s a private tour/activity, and only your group will participate.
What language is the tour offered in?
The experience 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 and a selection of cured meats and cheeses from a small farm not far from Como, plus other traditional local food tastings.
Is the funicular ride included?
Yes. The activity includes the funicular journey from Como to Brunate, which is described as a 7-minute ride.
Can children participate, and is there an alcohol age requirement?
Most travelers can participate. Alcoholic drinks will be served from 18 years of age.
What happens if the weather is bad?
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
If you want, tell me your travel month and group size and I’ll help you decide if 5:00 pm is the best time for your schedule in Como.
