A Cinque Terre wine tasting is a short, easy add-on to a day of trains and trails: the white wines here come from steep terraces above the sea. Two tastings that also teach you pesto lead Viator. Cinque Terre Course of Pesto and Wine Tasting in Vernazza is rated 4.9 across 115 reviews, from about $72. BarCa Winery Cinqueterre Trekking & Wine Tasting & Pesto Class is rated 4.9 across 59 reviews, from about $75.
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The verdict
Choose by where you want to be. The Vernazza pesto class is our pick. It is about 20 meters from Vernazza station, at Cinque Sensi on Via Roma. In an hour and a half you make pesto with a mortar, then taste three local wines with focaccia, oils and cheeses. Gluten-free alternatives are available, children get soft drinks, and a 12:30 slot includes gnocchi for lunch. Groups go up to 20.
BarCa winery is a private tasting for your group only, at the family cellar in Volastra, a hill village above Manarola. You visit the cellar, hear how Cinque Terre wine is made and taste three of its wines, including a Cinque Terre DOC and a rosé; reviewers also made pesto. One reviewer got there by train and then a bus up to the vineyard. Confirmation comes within 48 hours.
Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before, and neither is wheelchair accessible.
Vernazza is on the train line, so the pesto class is the simple choice. Volastra sits above Manarola, so plan the bus or the uphill path. To see the villages from the sea, compare the Cinque Terre boat tour options.
Which one is for you?
Take the Vernazza class if
- You want the most-reviewed tasting: 115 reviews.
- You arrive by train.
- You need a gluten-free option.
- You are traveling with kids.
Take BarCa winery if
- You want a private tasting.
- You want to see a working cellar.
- You want views from above Manarola.
- You can get up to Volastra.
What each price covers
The Vernazza class, from about $72
Included: pesto made with a mortar, a tasting of three local wines, focaccia, oils and cheeses, water or soft drinks, a gluten-free alternative and a guide who speaks English and Italian.
Not included: tips.
BarCa winery, from about $75
Included: a cellar visit and a tasting of three BarCa wines, for guests 18 and over.
Not included: nothing extra is listed.
Where each one starts
- Vernazza class: Cinque Sensi, Via Roma 71, Vernazza, about 20 meters from the station.
- BarCa winery: the cellar entrance, Via Montello 304, Volastra, above Manarola.
Side by side
| Vernazza | BarCa winery | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9 from 115 | 4.9 from 59 |
| Five-star reviews | 103 (90%) | 53 (90%) |
| Price | from about $72 | from about $75 |
| Length | 1.5 hours | 1.5 hours |
| Wines | 3 local wines | 3 BarCa wines |
| Food | Pesto, focaccia, oils, cheeses | Not listed |
| Group | Up to 20 | Private |
| Getting there | By train | Bus or path from Manarola |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before | Free up to 24 hours before |
What travelers say
On the Vernazza class
She introduced 3 different local wines and that added to the fun!
Marguerite_E, September 2026, via Viator
Beautiful setting, Jenny was vibrant, detailed in her explanation and demonstration.
Edward_B, September 2026, via Viator
On BarCa winery
We had an amazing time learning about wine and learning how to make pesto!
Keren_M, July 2026, via Viator
It was easy to get there from the neighboring village via train and then a bus up to the vineyard
Ashley_P, June 2026, via Viator
Both have 90% five-star ratings: 103 of 115 for the Vernazza class, with one rating of two stars, and 53 of 59 for BarCa winery, with none below three. Reviewers of both name their hosts and praise the wines.
More of the Cinque Terre
From the sea, compare the Cinque Terre boat tour. On foot, read our guide to Cinque Terre hiking.
To plan the villages, read our Cinque Terre itinerary and guide to Cinque Terre tours. Arriving by ship? See the La Spezia shore excursions.
Questions travelers ask
Which Cinque Terre wine tasting should I book?
The Course of Pesto and Wine Tasting in Vernazza, rated 4.9 from 115 reviews on Viator, from about $72 (checked October 2026). For a private visit to a family cellar, BarCa winery in Volastra, rated 4.9 from 59 reviews, from about $75.
What wines do you taste in the Cinque Terre?
The Vernazza class pours three local wines. BarCa winery pours three of its own, including a Cinque Terre DOC and a rosé.
Where is the Vernazza pesto class?
At Cinque Sensi, Via Roma 71, about 20 meters up the main street from Vernazza station.
How do I get to Volastra?
Volastra is a hill village above Manarola. One reviewer took the train to a nearby village and then a bus up to the vineyard.
Can I cancel a Cinque Terre wine tasting?
Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
Book the Vernazza class for pesto and wine by the station; book BarCa winery for a private cellar visit above Manarola.
Editorial assessment by Italy2Love, October 2026. Inclusions, wines, meeting points, group sizes, prices, ratings, review counts and cancellation terms read on both Viator product pages (product codes 373888P1 and 408869P1), October 1, 2026. Reviews quoted with attribution to their authors and to Viator. Next review March 2027, or sooner on any change to either option.