Most visitors to Lake Como come for the villas, the hotels, and the views. The serious traveler comes also for the wine. Lake Como wine is one of Italy’s best-kept secrets — a small, high-quality production from terraced hillside vineyards that has been quietly improving for decades and is only now beginning to attract the international attention it deserves.

This guide covers the wines of the Lake Como region — the local Terre Lariane IGT designation, the world-class reds of nearby Valtellina, the best wineries to visit, and where to drink well on the lake. Furthermore, we recommend the best pairings with the region’s exceptional lake fish cuisine. New to Lake Como? Start with our complete Lake Como travel guide first.

Quick Summary: Lake Como Wines

Terre Lariane IGT: The Wine of Lake Como

Winemaking in the area around Lake Como has very ancient origins — however, it experienced a sharp decline over centuries. The Terre Lariane Protected Geographical Indication (IGT) was recognised in 2008 during the relaunch of the area’s viticulture. Today it is a small but growing designation that produces wines of genuine character.

The climatic and environmental conditions of Alto Lago di Como allow producing high quality wines. Most of the vineyards are concentrated on the slopes of Domaso and Colico. The vineyards are located on extremely steep hillsides and terraces, and the considerable temperature range gives the wines elegance, freshness and flavour.

In 2009 the Terre Lariane Consorzio Vini IGT was born, counting today around twenty associates with the goal of revamping the wine-producing tradition of the area. As a result, what was once a forgotten regional curiosity has become a genuine quality wine destination.

The Grapes of Terre Lariane

Popular grape varieties in the region include Nebbiolo, Merlot, Barbera, and Chardonnay. The wines produced in Terre Lariane often have a mineral quality, reflecting the influence of the lake on the terroir.

The most interesting local variety is Verdesa — an ancient native white grape that was nearly lost. After a strong work of research and cultivation, Verdesa was added to the Italian official list and local producers started to use it alongside other varieties. The result is a product with roots in the times and history of these lands. It produces a crisp, floral white wine that pairs perfectly with the lake fish — perch, whitefish, and char — that define the local cuisine.

Valtellina: The World-Class Red Next Door

While Terre Lariane is the local wine of Lake Como, the truly world-famous wine of the region comes from just beyond the northern tip of the lake — the Valtellina valley. Reachable from Colico in under 30 minutes by car, Valtellina produces some of Italy’s most distinguished red wines from the Nebbiolo grape grown on dramatic Alpine terraces.

The Key Valtellina Wines

Where to Drink Wine on Lake Como

The best wine experiences on Lake Como range from relaxed local wine bars to curated tastings at historic wineries. Here are the most worthwhile options — from the hidden gems to the established favorites.

Bottega e Caffè da Luciano — Laglio (Hidden Gem)

One of the most charming and least-known wine spots on the entire lake — a small bottle shop and café in the village of Laglio on the western shore. Known among locals for its exceptional selection of Terre Lariane and Valtellina wines, honest prices, and the kind of atmosphere that is increasingly hard to find on a lake that is becoming more touristic every year.

Me revealing to you the names of the hidden gems of Secret Italy 😉.
This place is a little dream for lovers of peace, the quiet of the lake, and good wine…
It's called "Bottega e Caffè da Luciano," 📍Laglio, Lake Como – Italy 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/1KlWjsmvAA

— Mambo Italiano (@mamboitaliano__) March 6, 2024

Sorsasso Winery — Domaso

One of the leading producers of Terre Lariane wines, located in Domaso on the northern lake. Sorsasso produces the Domasino white IGT Terre Lariane — characterized by freshness and delicate floral perfumes — and the Domasino red IGT Terre Lariane with its bright ruby color and pleasant aroma of red fruit. Visits and tastings can be arranged in advance. Furthermore, the vineyard’s position on terraced hillsides overlooking the lake makes it one of the most scenic winery visits in northern Italy.

Wine at the Luxury Hotels

The lake’s finest hotels maintain exceptional wine cellars — particularly strong on Valtellina producers and rare Terre Lariane bottles that are difficult to find outside the region. Villa d’Este, Grand Hotel Tremezzo, and Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni all offer wine lists that include small local producers alongside the classic Piedmont and Tuscany labels. For a full overview of the best luxury hotels on Lake Como, our dedicated guide covers every property in detail.

Lake Como Wine and Food Pairings

Combining Wine with the Full Lake Como Experience

Wine is one part of what makes Lake Como one of Europe’s most complete luxury travel destinations. The lake offers world-class sporting facilities alongside exceptional food and wine. If you are planning a multi-day stay, combining a morning of golf with an afternoon winery visit and dinner at one of the lake’s finest restaurants is a near-perfect day.

For the full sporting picture, our guide to the best golf courses on Lake Como covers both Golf Club Menaggio & Cadenabbia and Villa d’Este Golf Club in detail. Furthermore, our guide to tennis courts on Lake Como covers every option from the public courts at Villa Olmo to the famous infinity court at Passalacqua.

For those considering a longer commitment to the lake — whether as a primary or secondary residence — our Lake Como real estate guide covers the property market across all three branches of the lake, from the western shore to the northern vineyards of Domaso and Colico.

Practical Tips for Wine Lovers on Lake Como

When to Visit the Vineyards

September and October are the best months for visiting the Terre Lariane wineries — harvest season, the vines are at their most dramatic, and producers are often present and happy to talk. In addition, autumn colors on the hillside terraces above Domaso and Colico make for some of the most beautiful scenery on the entire lake.

Getting to the Wine Region

The main Terre Lariane wine area — Domaso and Colico — is in the northern lake, approximately 60 kilometers from Como city. A car is necessary. However, the drive along the western shore is one of the most scenic roads in Italy and is worth taking slowly. Allow a full day for a winery visit combined with lunch and a walk through the northern lake villages.

What to Buy and Take Home

Terre Lariane wines — particularly the Verdesa white and the Domasino red from Sorsasso — are almost impossible to find outside the region. Consequently, buying directly from the producer is the only reliable way to take them home. Most wineries sell directly at the cellar door. Alternatively, Bottega da Luciano in Laglio stocks a well-curated selection of local bottles at honest prices.

Final Thoughts: Lake Como Wine Is Worth Seeking Out

Lake Como wine will not replace Barolo or Amarone in the canon of great Italian wine. However, it offers something those famous wines cannot — a direct, intimate connection to a specific landscape, a specific lake, and a specific way of life that has been shaped by water and mountain for two thousand years.

Drinking a glass of Verdesa on a lakeside terrace while watching the evening light change over the water — paired with a plate of freshly fried perch from the morning’s catch — is an experience that no amount of grand wine label can replicate. It is local, seasonal, and completely unrepeatable anywhere else on earth.

That is exactly what makes it worth seeking out.