Taste of Lake Como: 4 Wines Paired with Local Cheese Charcuterie

The best part of this Como tasting is its mix of serious wine instruction and generous Italian snacks. Inside Capitan Drake, a small wine shop in Como city center, you’ll taste four wines, sometimes five, while a sommelier explains the grapes, regions, wineries, serving methods, and food pairings.

I like the personal format, with a maximum of 12 people, and I like that the wines are paired with prosciutto crudo, cheeses, buffalo mozzarella, bread, grapes, and other Italian foods. A possible drawback is that the tasting can vary by group: some people have upgraded to a longer seven-wine option, which may create confusion if you remain with the group but choose not to add it.

Key details before you book

• Four Italian wines in about 90 minutes: Expect four to five glasses, with the tasting beginning a few minutes after the scheduled meeting time.
• A sommelier leads the table: Sandu is frequently named as a warm and engaging host, while Giuseppe has led tastings focused on Lombardy and Italian winemaking.
• Food is more than a token snack: The spread includes prosciutto crudo, cheese, buffalo mozzarella, bread, grapes, and typical Italian nibbles.
• Small group, social setting: The maximum group size is 12, so you’ll likely share a table and conversation with other wine lovers.
• The shop sells bottles afterward: You can purchase wines at the end, with worldwide shipping available.
• Plan your route carefully on busy days: The address is easy enough to find, but Saturday traffic can make taxis difficult to arrange.

A Como wine tasting with a local shop feel

Capitan Drake is at Via Francesco Benzi 19, in Como city center. This is not a vineyard visit in the countryside. It is a guided tasting in a wine shop surrounded by bottles from Italy and other parts of the world.

That setting has a useful advantage. You can taste wines from several regions in one sitting without spending the day moving between wineries. The shop also gives you a chance to see what is available for purchase, and you can arrange worldwide shipping if you find a bottle you want to enjoy at home.

The tasting lasts about one hour and 30 minutes, though some groups have stayed longer. You meet at the shop, settle in, and begin a few minutes after the scheduled start time. The activity ends back at the same address.

I would allow a little extra time to find Via Francesco Benzi, especially if you are coming from the lakeside promenade or arriving by taxi. One person arrived about 10 minutes late and was accommodated, but you should not count on that during a tightly scheduled day.

What you taste, and why the food matters

The basic tasting includes four wines, with the experience sometimes offering a fifth glass. The exact bottles can change, but the format is built around comparing different grapes, regions, and styles rather than drinking one large pour of a single wine.

That comparison is the real value. A good sommelier can help you notice how the grape, climate, aging, and winemaking method affect what is in your glass. The explanations cover the wine’s region, the winery, the grapes used, and the way the bottle was made.

The food board is an important part of the experience. You receive prosciutto crudo, a selection of Italian cheeses, buffalo mozzarella, bread, grapes, and other typical foods. The portions have been described as ample, so I would not plan to arrive immediately after a large meal.

Pairing food with the wine makes the tasting easier for beginners. You can try a sip on its own, then taste it with salty prosciutto or creamy cheese and notice how the wine changes. You do not need much wine vocabulary to take part. The hosts explain the process clearly and adapt the conversation to the group.

Some tastings have included homemade tiramisu and a dessert wine. These extras are not guaranteed, so treat them as a pleasant possibility rather than part of the promised menu.

Meeting Sandu, Giuseppe, and the hosts at Capitan Drake

The personality of the sommelier seems to shape the evening. Sandu is repeatedly praised for her clear explanations, friendly manner, and ability to make both beginners and experienced wine drinkers feel comfortable.

She has explained Italian grape-growing areas, fermentation, aging, serving methods, and food matching in a way that is easy to follow. Her style appears to be personal rather than rushed, with plenty of room for questions.

Giuseppe has also hosted the tasting, including a session focused on wines from Lombardy. He has been described as especially good at explaining the winemaking process and selecting bottles to match the meats and cheeses.

The important point is that this is not simply a flight of four wines placed in front of you. You get an instructor who gives each bottle a reason for being there. The quality of the discussion may depend on the host assigned to your session, but the experience consistently centers on guided explanation rather than self-service sampling.

The small-group limit of 12 helps. You are seated with other people, often from different parts of Europe and beyond, and the shared table creates an easy social setting. If you enjoy conversation with strangers, this adds a lot. If you prefer a private tasting, the group format may feel less tailored.

A closer look at the tasting sequence

The experience has one main stop, Capitan Drake, but the tasting itself moves through several useful stages.

First, settle in and get oriented

You meet at the shop and take your seat. The tasting starts a few minutes after the meeting time, giving the host a chance to organize the table and welcome the group.

The venue has been described as cozy and attractive, with bottles providing much of the atmosphere. It is a practical place for tasting because the wine is right there, but do not confuse the shop with a traditional winery tour. You will not be walking through vineyards or touring production rooms.

Next, learn how to taste

The sommelier introduces the wines and explains what to look for. You may hear about the grape variety, the Italian region, the winery, fermentation, aging, and the correct way to serve the bottle.

The tasting notes supplied afterward are useful here. Wine details can blur together after a holiday, especially when you sample several glasses in one sitting. Having notes to take home helps you remember which grapes and regions you liked.

Then, compare wine and food

The Italian board arrives alongside the wine. Prosciutto, cheese, buffalo mozzarella, bread, and other bites are selected to support the tasting rather than simply fill the table.

This is where the experience becomes more than a lecture. You get to test the pairing yourself. A bold red may behave differently with cured meat than with a soft cheese, while a lighter wine may show better with mozzarella or bread.

The portions also make this a useful early-evening activity. The food is substantial enough that you may not need a full meal right away, though the tour does not promise a complete dinner.

Finally, decide if you want to buy

Wines are available for purchase after the tasting, and worldwide shipping is offered. That makes sense if you discover a bottle you cannot easily find at home, but remember that buying wine is an optional extra.

You should not feel pressured to purchase. The best reason to buy is that the tasting has helped you identify a style or region you genuinely like. The tasting notes can help you make that choice instead of selecting a bottle based only on its label.

Price and value at $79.24

At $79.24 per person, this is not the cheapest way to drink wine in Como. You are paying for four or five glasses, a generous Italian snack board, a sommelier-led lesson, tasting notes, and a small-group setting.

The value improves if you want context. Four wines at a bar may cost less, but you would not necessarily learn where the grapes come from, how the wine was made, or why a particular cheese works with it. Here, the food and instruction are part of the same experience.

I would consider the price reasonable for people who want a structured introduction to Italian wine without spending a full day visiting wineries. It is also useful for a couple or small group with mixed experience, since the hosts can explain the basics without making more experienced drinkers feel ignored.

The value is less convincing if you only want a quick drink or if you are looking for rare, high-end bottles. The format is educational and social, not a private luxury tasting. Also, the standard experience should be kept separate from the optional seven-wine upgrade. Ask clearly what is included in your booking so everyone at your table understands the same plan.

The main issue: different tasting levels at one table

One three-star account described an awkward situation in which one group received additional wines while another group stayed with the shorter tasting. The operator explained that the larger tasting was an optional upgrade and that the person had been offered an extra wine at no charge.

This is worth knowing before you sit down. If other people at the table select a seven-wine option, you may hear explanations about bottles you are not receiving. That can feel confusing, especially when everyone is seated together.

The simple fix is to ask at the start:

• How many wines are included in my booking?
• Is a fifth glass included or optional?
• What does the seven-wine upgrade cost?
• Will the whole table be served the same wines?

This is not a reason to reject the experience, but clear communication will make the evening smoother. The standard four-wine format is enough for most people, particularly if you want a compact 90-minute activity.

When to schedule it in your Como plans

The tasting works well on a day when you want a break from sightseeing. It gives you a seated activity in the city rather than another outdoor excursion, and the food makes it more substantial than a simple wine stop.

I would avoid scheduling it immediately before a ferry or train connection. The listed duration is about 90 minutes, but groups have sometimes remained for two or three hours, especially when conversation continues or extra wines are added.

The activity is offered in English. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The shop is near public transportation, but taxi service can be difficult on a busy Saturday, so plan your return route before the tasting begins.

Because this experience is often booked about 31 days ahead, reserving early is sensible during the high season. Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Inside that window, the amount paid is not refunded, and late changes are not accepted.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend the tasting to:

• Couples who want a relaxed food-and-wine activity in Como
• Beginners who want an easy introduction to Italian grapes and regions
• Wine fans who enjoy comparing bottles from different parts of Italy
• Solo visitors who like meeting people at a shared table
• Small groups looking for an indoor activity with food included
• Shoppers interested in tasting before ordering bottles for home delivery

It may not suit you if you want a vineyard tour, a private table, or a full meal. It is also not the right pick if you dislike group conversation or prefer to choose every wine yourself.

Families with mixed wine experience can still enjoy it, since the hosts have adapted explanations for people with little wine knowledge. However, the activity is centered on alcoholic beverages, so it is best for adults who want a wine-focused outing.

My take: book it if you want to understand what you are drinking

I would book this experience if I wanted a friendly, compact introduction to Italian wine while staying in Como city. The best features are the sommelier-led explanations, the ample cheese and charcuterie board, and the chance to meet other people without committing to a full-day winery trip.

The strongest hosts appear to be Sandu and Giuseppe, both praised for explaining regional grapes and winemaking in plain language. The food is not an afterthought, and the tasting notes give you something useful to take home.

I would skip it if your priority is a countryside vineyard, a private tasting, or a bargain glass of wine. Before the first pour, confirm whether you have booked the four-wine option or an upgrade, and allow extra time if your next appointment is important.

For an easy evening of Italian wine, local foods, and good conversation in Como, this is a sensible choice at $79.24. Book it early, arrive ready to eat a little, and ask questions before the tasting begins.

FAQ

Where does the wine tasting take place?

The tasting takes place at Capitan Drake, Via Francesco Benzi 19, 22100 Como, Italy.

How long does the experience last?

The scheduled duration is approximately one hour and 30 minutes.

How many wines are included?

The experience includes a selection of four to five glasses of wine. An optional upgrade to seven wines may be available for an additional fee.

Is food included?

Yes. Typical Italian foods are included, such as prosciutto crudo, a cheese selection, and buffalo mozzarella. Other tasting foods may include bread and grapes.

Is the tasting offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

Who leads the tasting?

A professional sommelier leads the tasting. Hosts named in the experience information include Sandu and Giuseppe.

How large is the group?

The maximum group size is 12 people.

Can I buy wine after the tasting?

Yes. Wines are available for purchase after the experience, and worldwide shipping is offered.

Does the activity return to the meeting point?

Yes. The experience ends back at Capitan Drake.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded, and late changes are not accepted.