Como tastes best with a glass in hand. This small-group tasting in Como pairs four wines with classic Italian bites, led by a sommelier who breaks down what you’re tasting and why it works. You also get tasting notes to help the memories stick after you leave the lake.

I especially like the clear, sommelier-led walkthrough of each varietal, including where the grapes come from and how wine is made. I also love the food pairing: a generous mix board with prosciutto crudo, a cheese selection, and buffalo mozzarella that keeps changing the way each sip feels.

One consideration: there’s an optional move to a longer flight (more wines), so if you go for that, make sure your whole table lines up on the same tasting flow so no one feels mismatched.

Key highlights worth planning for

• 4 wines (often 4–5 glasses) in a focused 1.5-hour slot
• Classic pairings like prosciutto crudo, cheese, and buffalo mozzarella
• Tasting notes you can actually use later, not just a “tasting memory”
• Small group with a max of 12 for easier conversation
• Optional longer flight for people who want more pours
• Wine sales and worldwide shipping available after the tasting

Capitan Drake in Como: the friendly base for a real tasting

If you want a wine experience that doesn’t feel like a classroom, the setup at Capitan Drake works well. You meet right in Como’s city center, walk in with the normal street energy around you, and then the room shifts into tasting mode.

What I like about this kind of bar/tasting-shop format is that it’s practical. You’re not dealing with long transfers or timing games. You simply show up, get seated, and start tasting.

Also, Capitan Drake is built for groups that want to talk. The vibe is easy enough that even if your wine background is basic, you’re still part of the conversation. You’re guided through what to notice with each pour, and you can ask questions as you go.

Arrival timing and what the first minutes feel like

The tasting starts a few minutes after the meeting time, not exactly on the dot. That small buffer matters in Como, where sidewalks, traffic, and meeting points can make you feel rushed.

You’ll get a mobile ticket, and the experience runs in English, which is a big deal for following details like grape regions and serving suggestions. Since it’s near public transportation and service animals are allowed, you’re not stuck if you’re traveling without a car.

In the first moments, your sommelier gets you started with the overall plan: how the flight moves from wine to wine, and how the food is meant to work with it. Then you begin tasting.

The wine flight: 4 wines, structured notes, and extra pours if you want them

The headline here is a flight of four wines paired with local cheese and charcuterie. Even if you’re brand-new to wine tasting, the pacing is friendly. You’re not asked to memorize anything on the spot. You just taste, listen, and learn what to look for next time.

What you’ll learn with each pour

The sommelier explains more than flavor words. Based on what’s been shared in past sessions, you can expect talk that includes:

• where the grapes are grown and what regions they come from
• how wine is made, including aging/fermenting ideas
• practical serving mindset, like how pairing changes the experience

They also provide tasting notes, meant to refresh your memory when you’re back home and trying to remember what you liked.

Do you get more than four wines?

Most sessions include 4–5 glasses of wine, depending on the exact flow that night. And there’s an optional longer path: you may be offered an upgrade that includes 7 wines. That’s great if you love tasting, but it’s also where you should be alert about your table experience.

If you’re going as a group, I recommend clarifying early whether everyone is staying on the standard flight or joining the longer one. It avoids a situation where you’re listening to extra pours while not everyone is tasting the same lineup.

Stop 1 at Capitan Drake: the tasting setup and why it helps you enjoy the food too

There’s one main stop, right at Capitan Drake. That simplicity is part of the value. You spend your time tasting and learning, not commuting between locations.

In the shop setting, you’re surrounded by wine bottles, which makes the environment feel like a place that takes wine seriously. But it never turns stiff. The staff keep it friendly, and the conversation style is meant to pull you along, not lecture you.

This is also where the “paired tasting” approach makes sense. If you were just drinking wine on your own, you might taste and move on. Here, the pacing encourages you to taste first, then adjust with food. You start to notice how salt, fat, and texture can soften tannins or brighten flavors.

The Italian snack board: prosciutto crudo, cheese, and buffalo mozzarella

This is not a light snack situation. You get a mix board built to match the wines, typically featuring:

• prosciutto crudo
• a cheese selection
• buffalo mozzarella

And the rest of the board usually includes breads and additional typical Italian bites that help you reset your palate between wines.

Why the food pairing matters

I like that this tasting teaches pairing as a tool, not a trick. Charcuterie and cheese bring strong salt and fat, which changes how you perceive acidity and fruitiness.

A classic example: salty cured meat can make a wine taste fruitier, while a creamy cheese like buffalo mozzarella can round out harsher notes. When that’s done in a guided way, it helps you understand pairing without needing a wine encyclopedia.

Dessert and dessert wine: possible bonus

Some sessions have included extra treats like homemade tiramisu and dessert wine. The core experience is the wine-and-board pairing, but if you’re lucky, you’ll get a little sweet finish too.

What to ask your sommelier (so you actually remember it later)

The sommelier will cover grape regions and wine-making methods. But you’ll get even more value if you steer the talk toward what you care about.

Here are a few questions that fit the flow described here:

• Which grape traits show up most in these wines for beginners to notice?
• What makes the pairing work with prosciutto and cheese specifically?
• If I buy one bottle from this tasting, which one is easiest to enjoy at home?
• How should I serve it, and what food would you pair it with?

If you’re new, ask them to recommend a “you can taste this right away” cue. Past hosts have done a great job of keeping it approachable, even when someone at the table knows little about wine.

Group size and the social pace: conversation without feeling stuck

This is built as a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 travelers. That size hits a sweet spot. Big enough to meet people, small enough that the sommelier can keep track of the room.

The pace is also designed for social comfort. You’ll be tasting, then listening, then tasting again, and the board keeps everyone moving between sips without waiting around for an empty glass.

If you’re traveling solo, it’s also one of the easiest ways to meet other people in Como without hunting for bars and hoping you like the vibe. If you’re traveling with family or a partner, it works well because the experience includes both education and food, so everyone can find their favorite part.

Price and value: why $79.24 can make sense in Como

At $79.24 per person, the headline question is: what are you actually buying?

Here’s the value math that matters:

• You’re paying for four wines (often 4–5 glasses), not just a single pour
• You get a food pairing board with cured meat and multiple cheese components
• You receive tasting notes and winery/region context from a sommelier
• The group stays small (max 12), which usually means better attention
• You can purchase wines afterward, with worldwide shipping, if you find a bottle you want again

Also, the time is tight: about 1 hour 30 minutes. That makes it easier to fit into a Como day that already includes lake walks, views, or ferry hopping.

One practical tip: go hungry enough to enjoy the board, but don’t arrive stuffed. If you want to taste clearly, your first bites should still be exciting.

Logistics that keep things smooth: language, timing, and where you’ll end up

This tasting is offered in English, with a start time that comes “a few minutes after” meeting. Use that as your planning anchor rather than expecting a strict minute-by-minute schedule.

The location is:

Capitan Drake, Via Francesco Benzi 19, 22100 Como, Italy

And the experience ends back at the same meeting point.

If you’re using taxis or rideshare, plan extra time on busy days. Como can get crowded, and reaching a city-center location at the right moment matters.

Buying bottles and shipping home: when to say yes and what to consider

One of the best parts of this kind of tasting is the chance to go from “I liked that” to “I can buy it.” Wines are available for purchase after the experience, and they offer worldwide shipping.

If you want to buy, I suggest doing it with a plan:

• Pick one bottle that matches a food you already like at home
• Pick one that’s a little different from what you normally drink
• Use the tasting notes right away to avoid second-guessing later

And if you think you might want a lot of bottles, remember you’ll want to be practical about shipping cost and timing. The tasting experience itself gives you a short list of what to look for.

Who this tasting is perfect for

This tour is a strong fit if you:

• want wine education without the pressure of being a wine expert
• enjoy food pairings, especially Italian charcuterie and cheese
• like small-group experiences where you can ask questions
• are visiting Como and want something that feels local and not overly touristy

It also works if you have no wine vocabulary. Hosts described making people feel welcome even when they aren’t familiar with wine terms. The point is to help you taste and understand.

The main drawback to watch for: the optional longer flight

The most important “heads up” is about the optional longer tasting (extra wines). If you’re offered the upgrade, decide early.

From an experience quality perspective, the goal is that everyone at your table gets the same sequence and amount. If you want the standard 4-wine experience, say so clearly before pours begin. If you want the longer 7-wine style, commit to it so you’re included in the full flow.

This is the only real friction point that can affect how the evening feels.

Should you book Taste of Lake Como: 4 Wines Paired with Local Cheese Charcuterie?

I’d book it if you want a short, high-reward tasting in Como: four wines, real Italian bites, and guided pairing that helps you remember what you liked. The small-group size (max 12) is a big plus, and the tasting notes plus optional bottle shipping make it easy to turn the experience into a souvenir that you actually drink.

Skip it only if you prefer very long wine sessions or you don’t want any talk at all. This is structured and educational by design. If you like learning while tasting, it’s a great way to spend 90 minutes in the city.

If you go, arrive with an appetite, ask one or two questions early, and pay attention to which wine you like most with the prosciutto and cheese. That’s where the experience clicks into place.

FAQ

How long is the tasting?

The experience runs about 1 hour 30 minutes.

What language is the tour offered in?

It’s offered in English.

How many wines do you taste, and what’s included?

The standard experience includes a selection of very good wines, typically 4–5 glasses. Alcoholic beverages and snacks are included, including prosciutto crudo, cheese selection, and buffalo mozzarella.

Is there an option to taste more wines?

There can be an upgrade option that includes a longer tasting with additional wines.

Where does the tasting take place?

You meet at Capitan Drake, Via Francesco Benzi 19, 22100 Como, Italy, and the tour ends back at the meeting point.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.