Home » Authentic Pesto Cooking Class & Wine Tasting

Authentic Pesto Cooking Class & Wine Tasting

An authentic Ligurian cooking experience with tasting and local wine

Quick facts:

From €75 per person
About 1 hour
Small group
In English
Monterosso old town

Join a hands-on pesto cooking class in the Cinque Terre and discover the flavours, scents and traditions behind Liguria’s most iconic recipe.

This one-hour experience is designed for travellers who want more than a quick tasting. It is a chance to understand the territory through its food, combining culinary tradition, local history and practical skills you can take home with you.

Using a traditional marble mortar and wooden pestle, you will learn to prepare authentic Ligurian pesto from scratch. Fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino and extra-virgin olive oil are carefully balanced into the unmistakable aroma and texture of real pesto alla genovese.

Throughout the class, your host shares stories, curiosities and insights about Ligurian cuisine and life in the Cinque Terre. These details help you understand not only how pesto is made, but why it tastes the way it does, shaped by the landscape, the climate and the culture of this coast.

The experience ends with a relaxed aperitivo: a tasting of your freshly made pesto, paired with a selection of local products and a glass of Cinque Terre white wine. A perfect moment to slow down, taste and connect with the place you are visiting.

You leave with a clear, repeatable recipe and the confidence to recreate authentic Ligurian pesto at home, surprising friends and family with a flavour that truly belongs to this territory.

Why choose this pesto cooking class in the Cinque Terre

Hands-on pesto making with a traditional mortar and pestle
Authentic local ingredients and techniques
Small groups for a relaxed and personal atmosphere
A closing aperitivo with pesto tasting and Cinque Terre white wine
Ideal for both overnight guests and day visitors

Practical information

Duration: approximately 1 hour
Language: English
Group size: small group
Location: 5TerrEx Experience Hub, Via XX Settembre 27, Monterosso al Mare
No previous cooking experience required

What's included

All ingredients and utensils
Use of a traditional marble mortar and pestle
Guided pesto making with a local host
An aperitivo with a tasting of your pesto and local products
A glass of Cinque Terre white wine

What will I learn? To make authentic pesto alla genovese by hand, with a traditional marble mortar and pestle.
How long does it last? About one hour.
Is anything included to eat and drink? Yes, an aperitivo with a tasting of your pesto, local products and a glass of Cinque Terre white wine.
Do I need cooking experience? No, the class suits complete beginners.
Where is it held? At our Experience Hub in the old town of Monterosso al Mare, Via XX Settembre 27.