REVIEW · VENICE
Venice like a local: Vini and Cichetti at Liuba and Hugo’s home
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Venice tastes better from a real home. This evening pairs wine tastings with classic Venetian cichetti cooked by chef Hugo, hosted by sommelier Liuba. It’s a small-group setup, so the conversation stays warm and personal.
I love how the lineup moves step by step, starting with bubbles, then white (Lugana), red (Valpolicella), and finishing with a sweet wine. I also like that Hugo’s food feels genuinely local, with homemade touches like house-made bread and proper cicchetti pairings for each glass.
One thing to consider: it’s on the third floor with stairs and no lift, so it’s not recommended if stairs are a problem.
In This Review
- Key highlights you’ll feel right away
- A Venetian wine-and-cicchetti night at Liuba and Hugo’s home
- The four-wine tasting: bubbles to sweet wine, with clear stops
- Hugo’s kitchen: what the cicchetti pairing really adds
- Timing and meeting point: how to plan your 6:00 pm arrival
- Price and value: what you’re really paying for
- Who should book this Venice wine tasting, and who should skip it
- Should you book this Liuba and Hugo evening?
- FAQ
- What time does the experience start, and how long does it last?
- How many wines will I taste?
- What food will be included with the wine?
- Is the price per person, and what’s included?
- Are tips included in the price?
- Is this suitable for minors?
- Is there an elevator or is it accessible if I can’t climb stairs?
- Is there a local access fee for day visitors staying outside Venice?
- What if I need to cancel?
Key highlights you’ll feel right away
- Max 6 people, in a real home setting rather than a big group room
- Four wines in one flow: Prosecco, Lugana, Valpolicella, plus a sweet finale
- Cichetti + home-made dishes matched to each wine course
- Liuba’s wine explanations are part of the experience, not a lecture
- Dietary needs can be handled, including menu adjustments when possible
- Local Venice tips often come up naturally during the conversation
A Venetian wine-and-cicchetti night at Liuba and Hugo’s home
If your Venice plan is mostly churches and canals, this is the evening-side of the city: food, wine, and talk in someone’s actual home. Liuba is there as the sommelier, and Hugo runs the kitchen. You’ll start right at the meeting point at Calle Foscari, 3246 (start time 6:00 pm), then you’ll head to their third-floor place.
This experience works because it feels like a relaxed invitation, not a performance. You’re guided through a clear tasting order, and the small size (up to 6 travelers) keeps things from turning stiff. In practice, that means you can ask questions about the wines and the food without feeling rushed.
You’ll also notice how the hosts make the whole thing feel Venetian. It’s not just that the food is local; it’s that the rhythm of the meal matches how Venetians think about a snack-and-sip evening: small plates, good bread, and a reason to linger.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Venice.
The four-wine tasting: bubbles to sweet wine, with clear stops
The tasting is structured in a way that’s easy to follow even if you don’t call yourself a wine person. You’ll taste four wines, and each one gets paired with its own set of cicchetti and dishes.
1) Prosecco start (the bubbly warm-up)
You begin with a bubble and mixed fish cicchetti. In the sample menu, that includes classic Venetian flavors like sardines in saor and creamed cod. This first stop matters because it gets your palate ready for the rest of the meal. It also sets the tone: this evening is about balance, not just pouring wine.
2) White wine tasting: Lugana
Next comes Lugana, a white wine tasting segment with its own savory pairings. Expect bites like a savory croissant with mortadella, stracchino, and pistachio grains, plus a pumpkin meatball. This pairing is a smart move: Lugana tends to feel crisp and food-friendly, so the savory richness in these bites makes the flavors feel more complete rather than flat.
3) Red wine tasting: Valpolicella
Then you shift to Valpolicella, paired with meat cicchetti. The sample menu calls out a burger patty and a selection of cheeses. Even if you’ve had red wine before, this part tends to land well because the food isn’t fussy. It’s the kind of hearty pairing that lets you taste the wine without needing to decode it.
4) Dessert tasting with sweet wine
You end with a sweet wine and dessert, choosing between tiramisu or typical Venetian biscuits. This finish is the payoff. By the time you reach it, you’ve already tasted the wine styles in order, so the sweet wine feels like a real finale rather than a random last pour.
Practical note: the exact pairings follow the sample menu style shown here, but the overall flow (bubbles → white → red → sweet) is the consistent promise.
Hugo’s kitchen: what the cicchetti pairing really adds
Cicchetti are Venice’s answer to the best kind of grazing: small plates that reward curiosity. What makes this experience different is that it’s not just a platter of random bites. Hugo prepares the food at home, and the meals are built to match each tasting.
You’ll see that in the menu structure. The fish starter isn’t just fish; it’s specifically the kind of Venetian preparation that plays well with bubbles. Then you get richer, savory white-course bites (like the mortadella/cheese/pistachio croissant combo). After that comes a red-course set built around meat and cheese pairings. And finally, dessert arrives with the sweet wine so you’re not left trying to match sweetness with bitterness on your own.
One of the most praised parts of the evening is how much the food feels like it belongs in Venice, not like it was assembled for tourists. People tend to focus on two things: Hugo’s cooking quality and the way the pairing makes the wine feel easier to understand. Even better, there’s evidence from real experiences that dietary restrictions can be accommodated with menu changes when possible. If you have a must-avoid ingredient, it’s worth mentioning ahead of time so they can adjust within what they can do.
Also, this is one of those evenings where you’re not just tasting wine and then leaving. You’re fed. The glasses and place setting are included, and the food is described as home-made, even down to the bread.
Timing and meeting point: how to plan your 6:00 pm arrival
You’ll start at 6:00 pm, and the total time is about 2 hours 30 minutes. That means it’s a great slot for your evening when daytime plans start winding down but you still want a Venice activity you can actually look forward to.
Your meeting point is very specific: Calle Foscari, 3246, 30123 Venezia. It’s also noted as being near public transportation, which matters because Venice doesn’t do easy car access. Build in a little time for getting there on foot, and don’t schedule anything right afterward unless you enjoy a rushed ending.
Then there’s the staircase reality. The house is on the third floor with no lift, and the experience is not recommended if stairs are a problem. This isn’t a minor detail. In Venice, “one flight” can become several, and this one is a true climb. If you’re traveling with knee issues or limited mobility, skip this one rather than stress.
Price and value: what you’re really paying for
At $102.41 per person, this isn’t a cheap drink-and-bite stop. But you’re also not paying for a single glass and a couple of snacks. The included items are clear:
- Tasting of 4 wines
- Venetian cichetti (paired across the meal)
- Personal sommelier guidance
- Glasses and place setting
When you count it up, the value makes sense because you’re getting both sides of the experience: the food pairing and the wine explanation. If you like wine but dislike guessing, the sommelier component is a big deal. And if you love food but don’t want a full formal restaurant dinner, cicchetti-style tasting keeps it fun and varied.
There’s also a hidden value in the setting. This is limited to 6 travelers, and it happens in a home. That reduces the “tour group feeling” and increases the chance of real conversation, including practical Venice tips that tend to surface naturally during the evening.
If you’re the type who thinks taste experiences should be worth your attention, this one is built to justify its price.
Who should book this Venice wine tasting, and who should skip it
This experience is a strong fit if you want:
- A small-group Venice evening with real host interaction
- Wine tastings broken into understandable steps (bubbles, Lugana, Valpolicella, sweet)
- Cichetti paired like a meal, not like random snacks
- A warm atmosphere where laughter and conversation show up alongside the food
It’s also a good choice if you enjoy learning through tasting rather than following a list of facts. The flow of the evening is set up so you can notice differences between white, red, and sweet wines with food you’re actually eating.
You should think twice if:
- Stairs are an issue for you (third-floor home, no lift)
- You’re traveling with minors, since this is not available for minors
- You’re expecting a large, walk-by-and-finish Venice event. This is a sit-down evening in one home.
One more planning detail for some visitors: on certain dates, people staying outside Venice and visiting for the day may need to pay a €5 access fee. Check the official info for which days apply, since exemptions are listed there.
Should you book this Liuba and Hugo evening?
Book it if you want a Venice night that feels like local life: wine in a guided format, food that’s clearly home-made, and hosts who focus on the pairing and the conversation. The strongest signals here are consistent: the evening is described as welcoming, the wine knowledge and presentation land well, and Hugo’s cicchetti-style cooking makes the whole thing satisfying.
Skip it if stairs are a dealbreaker. That’s the one real obstacle, and it’s not adjustable on your side once you commit to the third-floor setting.
If your goal is a memorable Venice evening that goes beyond sightseeing photos, this is one of the more practical ways to do it—because you leave with both full stomach and better wine instincts.
FAQ
What time does the experience start, and how long does it last?
It starts at 6:00 pm and runs for about 2 hours 30 minutes.
How many wines will I taste?
You’ll taste 4 wines: a bubble (Prosecco), Lugana (white), Valpolicella (red), and a sweet wine.
What food will be included with the wine?
You’ll get Venetian cichetti and typical home-made dishes prepared by Hugo. The sample menu includes items like sardines in saor, creamed cod, mortadella/stracchino/pistachio croissant bites, pumpkin meatballs, cheeses, and dessert like tiramisu or Venetian biscuits.
Is the price per person, and what’s included?
Yes, the price is per person. Included are the personal sommelier, 4-wine tasting, cichetti, and glasses/place setting.
Are tips included in the price?
No. Tips are not included.
Is this suitable for minors?
No. This experience is not available for minors.
Is there an elevator or is it accessible if I can’t climb stairs?
There is no lift, and the house is on the third floor. It is not recommended for those who cannot climb stairs.
Is there a local access fee for day visitors staying outside Venice?
On certain dates, some day visitors who stay outside Venice may need to pay a €5 access fee. You should check the official details and exemptions on the listed website.
What if I need to cancel?
You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours before the experience’s start time. If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount paid is not refunded.
