Top Lake Como Wine & Food Tasting: 7 Wines Meat & Cheese or Veg.

Wine is a fine break from sightseeing. This tasting at Capitan Drake brings seven wines to a central Como shop, with a certified sommelier explaining the bottles, producers, regions, and tasting notes. I like the broad mix, from sparkling wine and white to rosé, serious reds, and sweet wine with chocolate. I also like the food, which is generous enough to feel like a light meal rather than a few token snacks.

The main consideration is price: at $180.22 per person, this is not a casual aperitivo. Seven pours, specialty food, and expert guidance help explain the cost, but you should enjoy wine and ask questions to get full value. Seven glasses can also feel like a lot, especially if you are planning dinner afterward.

Key points to know before booking

• Seven wines in one sitting: Expect sparkling wine, white, rosé, several reds, and a sweet red, with choices adjusted to your preferences.
• Capitan Drake in central Como: The shop is within walking distance of the city center and useful on a rainy afternoon or between sightseeing stops.
• Food is more than a nibble: Meat, cheese, salami, prosciutto, bresaola, olives, bread, vegetables, and other Italian specialties accompany the tasting.
• Sommelier-led, not self-guided: Ricardo and Sandu are among the hosts named in accounts of the experience, and both are praised for clear explanations and warm service.
• Vegetarian and vegan options are available: Ask for the meat and cheese board or a plate featuring vegetables and other plant-based choices.
• The format can be flexible: The tasting is listed as a two-hour experience, but one reported visit lasted about three hours, so avoid booking it immediately before a fixed dinner reservation.

What happens at Capitan Drake in Como

You meet at Capitan Drake, at Via Francesco Benzi 19 in Como. The activity starts a few minutes after the scheduled meeting time, giving the staff a little room to welcome the group and prepare the glasses.

This is a shop-based tasting, not a vineyard visit. That distinction matters. You will not travel into the hills or walk through a cellar, but you can sample bottles from a broad selection of Italian and international producers in one convenient place.

The setting works well for a city day. Como’s old center is easy to explore on foot, and this tasting gives you a comfortable indoor stop when the weather turns wet. One account called it a good rainy-day filler, which is exactly the right way to think about it. It is also handy late in the afternoon, when you want something more substantial than a quick coffee but are not ready for a full restaurant meal.

The tasting may be listed as a private activity for your group. At the same time, an account describes sitting at a table of seven and meeting other people. Group arrangements may depend on the booking, so ask Capitan Drake if having a private table is important to you.

Seven pours, with room to follow your own taste

The standard format includes seven wines. The advertised sequence covers an Italian sparkling wine described as a Champagne-style pour, a white, a rosé, three top reds, and a sweet red served with chocolate.

The exact bottles can change according to your preferences. If you prefer lighter whites, bold reds, sparkling wine, or unusual regional styles, say so early. The sommelier can adjust the selection from the bottles available in the shop.

That flexibility is one of the strongest parts of the experience. A fixed flight can be educational, but it can also leave you stuck with wines you already know you dislike. Here, you have the chance to explain what you normally drink and ask for comparisons. You might taste a gentle wine beside a fuller, more tannic bottle, making the differences easier to notice.

The red wine portion receives particular attention. The tasting may include Amarone from Ca’ Coato and Sagrantino di Montefalco from Arnaldo Caprai, two styles with very different weight and character. You may also finish with Recioto della Valpolicella, a sweet red that works naturally with chocolate.

The sparkling pour can be Franciacorta, a high-quality Italian sparkling wine from Lombardy. It is a useful regional choice because it gives you something connected to northern Italy without limiting the tasting to wines from the immediate Lake Como area.

Do not expect seven full glasses. This is a tasting, but seven alcoholic pours still add up. Eat the food, pace yourself, and use the sommelier’s guidance to focus on what you enjoy rather than trying to prove you can finish every drop.

The food board can function as lunch

The food pairing is a major part of the value. The standard board may include Italian cheeses, salami, prosciutto crudo, bresaola, buffalo mozzarella, compotes, porcini, anchovies, Taggiasca olives, fresh bread, rye bread, and taralli.

That is a serious spread for a wine tasting. It gives you salty, creamy, sweet, earthy, and savory flavors to compare with the wines. A cheese with a sparkling wine can feel very different from cured meat with a full red, and the food helps keep the tasting grounded in everyday Italian eating.

The portions have also been described as generous enough for a light meal. I would still avoid treating this as a guaranteed dinner replacement if you have a large appetite, but it is far more substantial than a few crackers and nuts.

Vegetarian and vegan selections are available. The alternative may include puntarelle, vegetables, Taggiasca olives, and other plant-based foods. The menu also welcomes pescatarians, with ingredients such as anchovies available. Tell the staff about your preference when booking or on arrival so the board suits you.

The final sweet pairing adds a pleasant change of pace. Recioto or another sweet red may arrive with dark chocolate, and one account highlights a homemade chocolate salami from Mama. That small family touch gives the ending more personality than simply pouring a dessert wine and calling it finished.

Ricardo, Sandu, and the teaching style

The quality of the host makes or breaks a tasting. Here, Ricardo and Sandu are specifically praised for their wine knowledge, easy manner, and ability to explain without making the session feel like a lecture.

The useful part is not simply hearing the name of each bottle. You learn about the winery, the region, the producer, the style of wine, and the reason a particular glass may be used. The staff also explain that different wines need different glass shapes, a detail that can make the tasting feel more purposeful.

The instruction is suited to both beginners and people who already know their way around a wine list. If you are new to Italian wine, ask about grapes and regions. Italy has a huge range of local varieties, and this tasting gives you a quick introduction to that variety. If you already drink Italian wine, ask for comparisons between producers or for a bottle that is less familiar.

The tone appears friendly rather than formal. One solo visitor found the welcome reassuring, and the social setting can make it easier to meet people if you are dining alone in Como. Couples, families, and small groups also fit the format. A family with a son and his fiancée described laughing with the host while learning about the bottles, which says plenty about the atmosphere.

You should take an active role. Ask why one red feels more tannic, why another seems softer, or what food the sommelier would serve at home. The more specific your questions, the more useful the two hours become.

How the timing works in a Como itinerary

The stated duration is approximately two hours. In practice, allow extra time. One reported session ran from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., partly because the group was enjoying the conversation and wines.

That longer pace may be a benefit if you want a relaxed evening. It is less helpful if you have a restaurant booking soon afterward. I would leave at least an hour of breathing room after the scheduled finish, especially if you plan to buy wine or continue chatting.

The central location makes this easy to pair with other Como plans. You can visit the city center first, stop at Capitan Drake, and then walk on to dinner. It also makes sense as a break during a day when lake weather is poor. There is no private transportation included, but none is needed for the stated meeting point if you are staying near central Como.

The experience is offered in English. Confirmation is provided when you book, and the activity ends back at the meeting point. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. Public transportation is nearby.

Is $180.22 a fair price?

The cost is high compared with a simple Italian aperitivo. A bar aperitivo usually gives you one drink and a small plate, while this experience includes seven wines, a substantial food board, and a guided lesson.

The value depends on how you use it. If you want only a taste of local wine, the price may feel excessive. One account specifically considered it expensive for what it was, despite enjoying the host and the wines.

If you are curious about Italian wine, the calculation looks better. You are sampling several styles without buying full bottles, receiving explanations from a certified sommelier, and eating enough food to avoid needing an immediate snack. You may also discover a bottle worth ordering for home. Several people purchased wine after the tasting, including one person who found a rare Champagne they had been seeking.

Capitan Drake offers bottles from independent producers as well as local and international selections. That means the tasting can act as a buying guide, though you should never feel obliged to purchase anything. Ask about shipping if you are interested in sending bottles home. The fact that shipping was arranged for some customers does not mean it is included in the tasting price.

For a special occasion, the cost may be easier to justify. It suits a birthday, a pre-wedding outing, or a final evening in Como when you want a relaxed food-and-wine event rather than another formal meal.

Who will enjoy this tasting most?

I would recommend it most strongly to people who enjoy learning while they drink. You do not need advanced wine knowledge, but you should be open to trying styles outside your usual order.

It is a good fit for:

• Couples who want an evening activity with food included
• Solo visitors who like a social table and conversation
• Families with adult children
• Wine drinkers seeking Italian bottles beyond the usual Chianti or Prosecco
• Anyone needing an indoor activity on a rainy day
• Vegetarians, vegans, and pescatarians who arrange the appropriate board

It is less suitable if you dislike alcohol, want a vineyard tour, need a very short activity, or prefer to choose every bottle yourself. It may also be too much for someone who wants a quiet meal with only one glass of wine.

The seven-wine format rewards curiosity. It is not simply a parade of famous labels. You can compare smooth, gentle wines with heavier reds and finish with a sweet style that changes the mood of the tasting.

Practical tips for getting the most from it

Tell the staff your preferred wine styles at the start. The selection can be adapted, and this is your best chance to avoid spending several pours on bottles you will not enjoy.

Ask about the producer, not just the grape. The experience includes information about the wineries, and independent producers can give you a more useful sense of how Italian wine is made and sold.

Eat steadily. The board is generous, but the tasting still includes seven alcoholic pours. If you are sensitive to alcohol, ask whether smaller pours are possible and take your time.

Wear something comfortable for sitting and talking. The tasting takes place at the shop, and the focus is conversation, food, and glasses rather than sightseeing.

If you are booking around dinner, leave room for the session to run longer than two hours. The relaxed pace is part of its appeal, but it can stretch when the group is engaged.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book Capitan Drake’s wine tasting?

Book it if you want a guided introduction to Italian wine in Como, especially if you value a generous food pairing and a host who will answer questions. The central location, indoor setting, flexible wine selection, and vegetarian options make it easy to fit into a lake trip.

Skip it if $180.22 feels too steep for a tasting or if you are mainly looking for a quick drink. You should also think twice if seven wines sound excessive.

For the right person, this is more than an aperitivo. It is a relaxed lesson, a light meal, and a chance to find bottles you would probably miss on a standard restaurant list. Ask for the wine styles you like, give yourself plenty of time, and you will get the best value from the experience.

FAQ

Where does the wine tasting begin?

It begins at Capitan Drake, Via Francesco Benzi 19, 22100 Como, Italy.

Where does the activity end?

The tasting ends back at the Capitan Drake meeting point.

How long does the tasting last?

The advertised duration is approximately two hours. It can run longer, with one reported session lasting about three hours.

How many wines are included?

The tasting includes seven wines. The selection may include sparkling wine, white, rosé, three reds, and a sweet red.

Can I choose which wines I taste?

The selection can be adjusted according to your preferences and curiosities. A wide range of Italian and international wines is available.

Is food included?

Yes. Typical Italian food is included, such as cured meats, cheeses, bread, olives, buffalo mozzarella, porcini, anchovies, and other accompaniments.

Are vegetarian or vegan options available?

Yes. Vegetarian and vegan selections are available, including vegetables and olives. Pescatarian choices are also welcomed.

Is the tasting offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

Is transportation included?

No. Private transportation is not included. The meeting point is in Como, near public transportation.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.