Como turns into a tasting room for 90 minutes. This is a small-group, sommelier-led wine experience that pairs pours from different regions with classic Italian bites, right at Capitan Drake in the city center.

I really like how the format is both simple and structured: you get tasting notes, learn what you’re drinking, and eat what’s made to go with it. The other standout for me is the food quality for the price, including prosciutto crudo, a cheese selection, and buffalo mozzarella. One thing to consider: there have been reports of occasional awkwardness if you’re seated with another group that continues with different pours or upgrades, so pay attention to what your table is included in.

Key Highlights You Can Expect in This Como Tasting

• 4–5 wine pours paired with Italian snacks, with tasting notes you can take home
• Prosciutto crudo, cheese selection, and buffalo mozzarella as the core pairing board
• A short, focused 90-minute format that ends back at Capitan Drake
• Small group (max 12), so you get real time for questions
• Multiple sommelier styles mentioned in feedback, including Sandu, Giuseppe, and Simona
• Wine shopping after the tasting with worldwide shipping available

Como’s Capitan Drake Turns Wine Tasting into a Real Conversation

If you want Lake Como without spending your whole day chasing tour buses, this is a smart slot. The tasting happens in Como city center at Capitan Drake, right on Via Francesco Benzi, and it’s set up for a relaxed back-and-forth with your host. The group stays small, capped at 12 people, which matters because it keeps the pacing human and the Q&A actually useful.

This kind of place is also nice if you’re not a hardcore wine person. You’ll still learn why one glass tastes different from another, but the experience is built around pairing and explanation instead of wine-snob theater. A mobile ticket keeps things friction-free on the day, and the shop is described as near public transportation, which helps if you’re skipping a car.

The practical feel: easy to find, short commitment

The tasting starts just a few minutes after the meeting time. That’s good news if you’re walking in from nearby sights; it’s not one of those things where you arrive too early and wait an hour. The finish is at the same spot, so you don’t have to plan an extra transfer right afterward—handy when you’re trying to string together Como’s cobbled streets, gelato stops, and sunset views.

How the 4–5 Wine Pours Work (and Why the Order Matters)

The core experience is tasting 4–5 glasses of wine. That range is important. It means you should treat this as a guided sampler, not a single “flight” and done. In fact, some feedback points to tasting an extra pour beyond four, so you might see 5 wines on certain nights.

Here’s what you’re really paying for: a guided explanation of each varietal and how it changes in your glass. The sommelier walks you through each wine and provides tasting notes so you can remember the differences later. That may sound small, but it changes everything once you’re back home trying to recreate the experience.

You’ll also hear serving and pairing logic. The host covers things like origins of the wines and how they’re made, and multiple reviews mention discussion of aging and fermentation processes. If you’ve ever wondered why one wine feels lighter and another feels more structured, this is the kind of talk that turns vague preferences into something you can predict.

A quick reality check on upgrades

One note from feedback: there is an option to upgrade to a set that includes 7 wines (with an added cost). If you’re interested in the fuller tasting, ask early about your table’s included selection so you know what you’re signing up for.

The Food Pairing: Prosciutto, Cheese, and Buffalo Mozzarella

Wine tastes better with the right food, and this tasting leans into that. You’re served an Italian mix board paired with the glasses. The listed highlights include prosciutto crudo, a cheese selection, and buffalo mozzarella, which is a classic Lake Como-area pairing style because it works across many Italian wine types.

What I like about the food setup is that it’s built for contrast:

• Salt and fattiness from cured meats make dry whites and lighter reds feel cleaner
• Creamy cheeses help round out tannins in red wine
• Buffalo mozzarella brings a fresh, milky balance that doesn’t overpower the wine

And the board isn’t treated like an afterthought. One review mentions plenty of wine and ample bites, and another calls out a very satisfying amount of tasting food. That’s a big deal because cheap tastings often serve a tiny piece of cheese that disappears before your palate wakes up.

If dessert shows up, don’t be surprised

While the core experience is wine and charcuterie, one feedback note mentions homemade tiramisu and a dessert wine. That’s not something you should assume every time, but it does suggest the operator is willing to go a step further when it fits the flow.

Stop Feel: Capitan Drake and the Small-Shop Wine Wall Vibe

Even if you’ve never been to Capitan Drake before, the setting is described as lovely, cozy, and surrounded by a variety of wines. That matters because the space supports the pacing. You’re not in a huge hall where you hear a lecture but can’t ask questions. The small-shop feel keeps you focused on what’s in front of you.

Also, this is one of those experiences where meeting people becomes part of the point. Reviews mention groups from across Europe, shared conversation, and a friendly atmosphere. If you like learning in a social setting, the max-12 cap helps a lot. You get talk time without the feeling that you’re stuck waiting for the next person to catch up.

Who you might meet

I can’t guarantee your exact group makeup, but because the tour is small and operates in Como city center, you’re likely to end up with international visitors who also want something more intimate than a standard tourist stop.

The 90-Minute Timeline: What Happens After You Check In

You’re looking at about 1 hour 30 minutes total. After meeting at Capitan Drake, the tasting begins a few minutes after the posted time. From there, expect the pacing to move through wine explanations and pairings as you go.

The key steps you’ll feel in the room:

• You’re guided through each varietal by the sommelier
• You get tasting notes while you drink
• You eat bites that match what you just tasted
• You’re given time for questions and quick clarifications

This kind of timing is a sweet spot in a city like Como. You can do this before dinner without losing your whole night, and you can still keep an appetite for local pasta after.

End where you started

The experience ends back at the meeting point. That’s practical. It means no figuring out where you’ll be dropped, and no stressing about trains, taxis, or last-mile walking. If you’re using public transportation, it’s easier to plan the rest of your evening too.

The People Factor: Sandu, Giuseppe, and Simona in the Mix

The big praise in the feedback is the host. Multiple names come up in reviews, including Sandu, Giuseppe, and Simona. While you can’t count on the exact person for your date, the consistent theme is that the team is friendly and explains wine in a way that makes the tasting feel personal.

More importantly, they don’t just name-drop regions. Reviews mention clear explanations about:

• grape growing regions
• origins of the wines
• proper serving methods
• and what’s happening during fermenting/aging

That kind of explanation is what turns a nice glass of wine into something you can remember and replicate.

Great for beginners, but still fun for enthusiasts

If you’re brand new to wine, you’ll get a guided framework. If you already know your way around Italian bottles, you’ll still pick up details like how production affects taste. That dual appeal is part of why the rating is so high.

Price and Value: Is $79.24 Fair for Lake Como Wine Lovers?

Let’s talk money. At $79.24 per person for about 90 minutes, you’re buying more than four sips. You’re paying for:

• 4–5 wine pours (not just a single glass)
• pairing food: prosciutto, cheeses, buffalo mozzarella, and breads/snacks as part of the mix board
• tasting notes to take home
• a hosted explanation of the wines and pairing logic
• a small-group setting with time to ask questions
• the ability to buy wine afterward, with worldwide shipping available

For Como, this is the kind of experience that can feel like a bargain compared with pricier multi-hour tours that include less wine and fewer structured takeaways. It’s also one of the few options where the “souvenir” might actually be useful once you get home: a bottle you know how to pair and talk about.

Don’t forget what’s not included

Tips and additional wines after the tasting are not included. That’s normal. If you want more bottles during the session beyond the included pours, you’ll be looking at purchasing options after you finish tasting.

Buying Bottles to Ship Home: The Best Souvenir Strategy

One of the best practical upsides here: after the tasting, you can purchase wines and have them shipped worldwide. That turns the experience into a real memory you can taste later, and it also helps if you’re traveling without a lot of luggage space.

A few feedback notes mention guests purchasing a dozen bottles for shipping. That might sound extreme, but it shows the operator is helping people make confident choices. You’re tasting with explanations, not guessing later in a shop.

How to shop smart

When you buy, use your tasting notes. Think about what you liked by pairing type, not just by the wine name. If you enjoyed how a certain pour worked with cheese or cured meat, look for bottles that match that style.

Who This Fits Best (and Who Might Feel Friction)

This tasting is ideal if you want:

• an easy Como city center plan
• a small-group wine experience with pairing
• a sommelier-led explanation with tasting notes
• a mix of Italian classics, especially cured meats and cheeses
• a way to meet other people without a long excursion

It may be less ideal if you:

• dislike any chance of table-to-table differences (especially with upgrades)
• want a totally uniform flight with no variations

One review did flag an awkward moment related to different wines being served to different groups at the same table. If you want to avoid surprises, confirm what’s included for your group before you start.

Should You Book This Como Wine Tasting?

I’d book it if you’re in Lake Como with a realistic appetite for learning a bit and eating well, without committing half your day. The combination of small-group size, 4–5 wine pours, and solid Italian pairing food is the sweet spot here, and the high recommendation rate backs that up.

Skip it only if you’re the type who hates any possibility of upgrades or differences between groups. Otherwise, this is a confident pick for a wine-and-cheese night in Como.

You’ll leave with tasting notes, a clearer sense of Italian varietals, and a strong shot at finding a bottle (or two) to ship home.

FAQ

How long is the Taste of Lake Como wine tasting?

The experience runs about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Where does the tasting take place?

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

How many wines are included?

You can expect a selection of 4–5 glasses of wine.

What food is included with the wines?

You get a snacks and cheese/charcuterie pairing, including prosciutto crudo, a cheese selection, buffalo mozzarella, and a mix board.

Can I upgrade to taste more wines?

There is an option to upgrade to a tasting set that includes 7 wines, with an added cost.

Can I buy wine after the tasting and have it shipped?

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

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance of the experience’s start time. If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount paid is not refunded.