Como: Wine Tasting Experience with Cheese and Cold Cuts

Como’s Capitan Drake Wine Shop offers a neat way to sample Italian wine without leaving the city center. You’ll taste four or seven wines, depending on your booking, while a sommelier explains the grapes, regions, and styles. Sandu has earned special praise for her warm, lively teaching style, though your host may vary.

I like the choice between a standard tasting and a larger top tasting, and I like that the food is more than an afterthought: you get cheeses and cured meats, or a vegetarian dish by request. The main caution is value. At $59 per person, this feels worthwhile when the selection is strong and the tasting is generous, but one earlier booking found the wine came from bottles already opened.

Key Points

• Four or seven wines: Pick the shorter standard tasting or the fuller top option.
• Sommelier-led guidance: Sandu has been singled out for her friendly, enthusiastic explanations.
• Food pairing included: Expect cheeses and cured meats, with a vegetarian plate available on request.
• Near Como’s old walls: The wine shop is easy to reach on foot in the central city.
• Private option available: The private top tasting gives your group exclusive use of the shop.
• Small-group setting: This suits people who want conversation and instruction rather than a large tour.

Starting Near Como’s Old City Walls

Your meeting point is Enoteca Capitan Drake, a wine shop a few meters from Como’s old city walls. Look for the shop directly on the street. Transportation is not included, so plan to walk there on your own or allow for a short local taxi ride if you are staying farther out.

The central location matters. You can fit this tasting between sightseeing stops, an early dinner, or an evening walk around Como. It is not a vineyard visit, and you will not be taken into the countryside. Instead, the setting gives you a convenient introduction to wines from Italy and beyond while keeping you in town.

The shop setting also shapes the experience. You are tasting in a working wine store, surrounded by bottles that represent different grapes and territories. If you discover a wine you like, you may be able to ask about taking a bottle home, although extra purchases are not included in the activity price.

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. You will be sitting or standing in a shop for roughly 90 minutes to two hours, and the tasting is meant to be relaxed rather than formal. Bring an ID card, or a copy, as requested by the operator.

Choosing Four Wines or Seven

The first decision is the size of your tasting. The standard option includes four fine wines. The top tasting includes seven, with a private top tasting available if you want exclusive use of the wine shop.

Four wines is enough for a useful introduction, especially if you are new to Italian wine or have other plans afterward. You can compare several styles without turning the session into a long drinking event. This shorter choice also makes sense if you are visiting Como for only a day and want to keep your schedule flexible.

Seven wines gives the sommelier more room to show contrasts. You might move between different grapes, regions, or levels of style and quality. The exact bottles are not fixed in the information provided, which is part of the appeal but also means you should not book this expecting a guaranteed Barolo, Amarone, or Franciacorta.

The number of glasses and the exact length of the tasting vary by option. Check the selected package carefully before paying. The listed duration is 1.5 to two hours, but the larger tasting naturally gives the host more to explain and you more wines to consider.

The wines are described as coming from Italy and around the world, with an emphasis on distinctive vines and territories. That makes the tasting useful for anyone who wants more than a basic parade of familiar Italian labels. You can ask the sommelier why each bottle was selected and how its region shapes its taste.

How the Sommelier Shapes the Tasting

The sommelier is the heart of this experience. You are not simply handed glasses and left to guess what is in them. Your host explains the wines and guides you through the tasting, with English and Italian available.

Sandu is the named guide most closely associated with the experience. Her style is described as friendly, enthusiastic, and highly engaged, which matters in a tasting. Good wine instruction should help you notice something new without making you feel tested. A warm host can turn unfamiliar grapes into a conversation rather than a lecture.

The exact format is not spelled out bottle by bottle, so you should expect a flexible tasting rather than a rigid class. The sommelier may discuss the wine shop’s story, the bottles on offer, and the areas represented in the selection. You can make the most of the time by asking direct questions:

• What grape is in the glass?
• Which Italian region does it come from?
• Is it better with food?
• What should you notice in the aroma or finish?
• Is there a similar bottle at a lower price?

The group atmosphere can add to the fun. Small groups are available, and the experience has been praised for bringing people together around the table. That is useful if you enjoy meeting other wine drinkers. It is less ideal if you want a completely private conversation, unless you reserve the private top tasting.

Cheese, Cured Meats, and the Vegetarian Choice

The food pairing gives the tasting substance. You receive a selection of cheeses and cured meats, or a vegetarian dish if you request that option. The pairing is important because wine often makes more sense with food. Salt, fat, acidity, and texture can change how a wine tastes.

The charcuterie has received particularly warm attention, with the food described as prepared on site. Portions have also been described as generous in one account, though the exact amount can vary by booking and selection. Think of this as a substantial tasting plate, not a full restaurant meal.

If you choose the vegetarian option, request it in advance. The information specifically says it is available upon request, so do not wait until you arrive if you need it. People with food allergies should not book this activity, as the experience is listed as unsuitable for them.

This is also a useful place to keep expectations clear. The food is included only according to the selected tasting option. Additional food and drinks cost extra, and the package does not promise a specific cheese, meat, or vegetarian dish.

What the Standard Tasting Is Like

The standard tasting gives you four wines and the accompanying food pairing. I would choose it if you are curious about wine but do not want to spend most of an afternoon tasting, or if you are pairing the activity with a busy day in Como.

The sommelier introduces the wine shop and its selection, then guides you through the chosen bottles. The four-wine format lets you focus on the differences between bottles instead of rushing through a long list.

This option works especially well for couples and first-time tasters. You get enough variety to learn something, while the 1.5 to two hour window leaves room for a stroll afterward. The drawback is simple: if you are already comfortable with wine or want a wider comparison of regions and grapes, four bottles may feel brief for the price.

What the Seven-Wine and Private Options Add

The top tasting expands the experience to seven wines. The extra bottles give you a broader sense of the shop’s range and give the sommelier more chances to explain different grapes, regions, and styles.

At $59 per person, the seven-wine option is easier to justify if you value variety and instruction. You are paying not just for liquid in a glass, but also for the food, the host’s time, and the chance to taste bottles you may not normally order. Still, value depends heavily on the quality and size of the pours. One earlier participant felt the price was too high after being served wine from bottles that had already been opened.

The private top tasting is the most special version. Your group gets exclusive use of the shop, which gives you more control over the mood and conversation. It makes sense for a celebration, a group of friends, or anyone who finds public tastings distracting.

The private choice does not automatically mean a different wine list or a longer session. It means privacy, so check the package details if the exact bottles or timing matter to you.

How Much Value You Get for $59

The $59 price is neither a bargain tasting nor an unreasonable splurge. It depends on which version you choose and what you want from the session.

The value is strongest when you want a guided introduction to Italian wines, a generous food plate, and a central Como location. A sommelier-led tasting can also save you from ordering random bottles at dinner, especially if you are unfamiliar with Italian regions.

The price is less attractive if you mainly want to drink wine without explanation. You can find less expensive glasses elsewhere, but that would not include seven guided samples, the food pairing, or the chance to compare bottles in a focused setting.

I would compare the price with a typical meal before booking. If you see the tasting as a light meal plus a wine class, it can fit well. If you need a full dinner, plan to eat elsewhere. Additional drinks and food are not included.

Ask about the pours if this matters to you. The information promises four or seven wines, but not a precise pour size. Also remember that one earlier participant raised concerns about bottles being opened in advance. That does not prove every session has the same issue, but it is a fair reason to ask how the wines are handled.

Who Should Book This Experience

I would recommend it to adults who enjoy food, want to learn about wine, and prefer an easy city-center activity. It is a good match for:

• Couples looking for a relaxed Como evening
• Friends who want a shared tasting rather than a formal meal
• Wine beginners who appreciate plain explanations
• Experienced drinkers who want to discover less familiar Italian bottles
• Small groups interested in a private setting
• Visitors with enough time for a two-hour stop near the old city walls

The activity is not suitable for pregnant women or children under 18. People with food allergies should also avoid it. Smoking is not allowed.

Wheelchair access is listed as available, but the meeting point is a wine shop on the street, so you may want to confirm any specific access needs before booking. English and Italian are offered, and small groups are available.

Practical Timing and Booking Advice

Reserve in advance. The activity requires a reservation, and starting times depend on availability. The operator allows cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later if that option is offered during checkout.

I would book the four-wine version if your Como schedule is tight. Choose seven wines if the tasting itself is one of the main activities of your day. For privacy, select the private top tasting rather than hoping the shop will be quiet when you arrive.

Do not plan to drive after the tasting. Transportation is not included, and the activity involves multiple wines. The most sensible plan is to walk back to your accommodation or continue on foot around Como.

Bring your ID, wear comfortable clothes, and tell the operator about the vegetarian request when you reserve. There is no need to bring special wine equipment. The shop provides the tasting.

Should You Book the Capitan Drake Tasting?

Book it if you want a friendly, guided introduction to Italian wine with real food and a convenient location. The strongest parts are the sommelier-led explanations, the chance to choose four or seven wines, and the pairing of cheese and cured meats. Sandu may be your host, and her warm style has been a major part of the experience for many people.

Choose carefully if you are price-sensitive or very particular about bottle freshness. At $59, you should expect the wine selection and pours to feel worthwhile. Ask about the tasting format, choose the larger option only if you truly want more wine, and reserve the private version when privacy matters.

For most adults spending time in Como, the standard tasting is the safest choice. It offers enough variety to learn something without taking over your day. Wine enthusiasts and groups celebrating a special occasion may find the seven-wine private option a better fit.

FAQ

Where does the Como wine tasting take place?

It takes place at Enoteca Capitan Drake, a wine shop located a few meters from Como’s old city walls. Look for the shop directly on the street.

How many wines are included?

You can choose a tasting of four or seven fine wines. The number of wines, glasses, and the duration vary according to the option selected.

Is food included with the wine tasting?

Yes. The tasting includes a pairing with cured meats and cheeses, or a vegetarian dish if you request that option. Additional food and drinks are not included.

Can I reserve a private tasting?

Yes. A private top tasting is available and gives your group exclusive use of the wine shop.

Is the tasting available in English?

Yes. The host or greeter can speak English or Italian.

Who should not book this experience?

The activity is not suitable for pregnant women, children under 18, or people with food allergies. Smoking is not allowed.