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

The best part of this Como tasting is the range. In about two hours, you can move from sparkling Franciacorta to white and rosé wines, then on to Amarone, Sagrantino, and a sweet red with chocolate. Ricardo and Sandu guide the tasting with plenty of room for questions and preferences.

I like the generous food board, which feels closer to a light meal than a few token nibbles. I also like the central Como location, since you can fit it between sightseeing and dinner. The main caution is the price: at $180.22 per person, this is a serious tasting rather than a casual aperitivo.

Key points to know before booking

• Seven wines in one sitting: Expect sparkling, white, rosé, several reds, and a sweet finish, with the exact choices shaped by your preferences.
• A real food pairing: Prosciutto, salami, cheeses, bresaola, olives, vegetables, bread, and other Italian bites make this more substantial than a standard tasting.
• Expert-led but relaxed: Ricardo, Sandu, and the Capitan Drake team explain the wines, producers, glasses, and tasting notes without turning the session into a lecture.
• Meat, vegetarian, and vegan choices: Tell the team what you eat, and the board can be adjusted.
• Central meeting point: You meet at Capitan Drake, Via Francesco Benzi 19, then finish at the same place.
• Good for rainy afternoons: The indoor setting gives you a useful Como activity when the lake weather turns gray.

Seven wines, from Franciacorta to sweet red

This is not a tasting built around one narrow corner of Italian wine. The advertised sequence covers a sparkling Italian wine, often presented in the style of Champagne, followed by white and rosé wines, three major reds, and a sweet red served with chocolate.

That broad lineup gives you a quick lesson in contrast. Sparkling wine shows freshness and bubbles. White and rosé wines keep the early part of the tasting lighter. The reds then move toward more body, tannin, and weight. The final sweet wine changes the pace again and gives you a clear closing point.

The exact bottles depend on your tastes and the selection available at Capitan Drake. This matters if you already know what you like. You can ask for more reds, focus on Italian producers, or show interest in a style you have never tried.

I would not book this expecting seven tiny, unrelated pours with no explanation. The point is to compare wines while learning why they differ. The sommelier talks through tasting notes, producers, and the regions behind the bottles. Several wines come from independent winemakers, which gives the session a more personal angle than a generic supermarket tasting.

One memorable lineup described during the experience included Franciacorta, Amarone from Ca Coato, Sagrantino di Montefalco from Arnaldo Caprai, Recioto Valpolicella, and chocolate at the finish. Your selection may not match that exact order, but it shows the level of variety you can encounter.

Capitan Drake in central Como

You meet at Capitan Drake on Via Francesco Benzi 19. The tasting begins a few minutes after the stated meeting time, so do not panic if the first pour is not exactly on the dot.

The shop is in Como city center and is within walking distance of the main sightseeing area, though one person found it a little out of the way. That is a useful distinction. You will not be tasting beside Lake Como itself, and this is not a vineyard visit with mountain views. You are visiting a wine shop and tasting space in town.

That setting has a practical benefit. You can reach it by public transportation, and you do not need to arrange a private car. The activity ends back at the same meeting point, so you can continue on foot afterward or make your way to dinner.

I especially like this format for a rainy afternoon. You get shelter, food, and a structured activity without spending half the day in transit. It also works well as a break from churches, waterfront walks, and Como’s compact historic center.

What the food board adds

The food is one of the strongest reasons to consider the price. The standard board includes typical Italian items such as prosciutto crudo, salami, bresaola, cheeses with compote, buffalo mozzarella, porcini, anchovies, olives, fresh bread, and taralli.

The exact mix can vary, but the basic idea is clear: you receive enough food to do more than simply nibble between wines. One account described the board as almost a light meal, with beef, prosciutto, cheeses, vegetables, and bread. That makes the tasting easier to schedule in place of a small lunch or early dinner, though I would not treat it as a full restaurant meal.

The pairings also help you understand the wines. Salty cured meat can make a wine feel softer. Cheese can bring out fruit or spice. A sweet red with dark chocolate gives you a simple but effective comparison at the end.

Vegetarian and vegan choices are available. The alternative board can include local vegetables, puntarelle, Taggiasca olives, and other meat-free items. Pescatarian diners can also ask for suitable options. Tell the team your needs when booking or at the start, rather than waiting until the board arrives.

The food is generous, but this is still a wine tasting first. If you want a long, multi-course Italian dinner, book a restaurant separately.

How the sommelier-led session works

The host introduces each wine and explains its tasting notes, winery, and region. You are encouraged to ask questions, and the order can be adapted to your preferences.

The staff’s strongest quality is their enthusiasm for teaching without making the experience stiff. Ricardo is frequently named as the host, while Sandu or Sadu appears in other accounts. Spelling varies, but the key point is that Capitan Drake uses an active sommelier rather than leaving you to read labels on your own.

You may also learn why different glasses are used. The tasting can place several glass shapes in front of you, with each one chosen to suit a particular wine. That may sound like a small detail, but it shows how the team wants you to notice aroma, texture, and finish, not just alcohol and sweetness.

The style is friendly and social. If you are alone, you may find it easy to speak with the host and others at the table. If you come as a couple or family, you can keep the experience focused on your own group. The booking is listed as private, meaning only your group participates, although some accounts describe meeting other people at a shared sitting. Confirm the format at booking if exclusivity matters to you.

Do not confuse friendly conversation with a short, rushed tasting. One session lasted close to three hours because the group asked questions and enjoyed the wines slowly. The stated duration is about two hours, but the pace can stretch if the room is engaged.

Is $180.22 good value?

At $180.22 per person, the cost is high for a two-hour activity. You are paying for seven wine pours, a food board, a sommelier, the central location, and access to bottles selected from a wide Italian and international range.

The value improves if you would otherwise pay for a wine-focused dinner and want instruction with it. The food is substantial, and the wine list can include bottles that are not easy to encounter by the glass. The tasting also gives you a chance to find wines to buy afterward, and Capitan Drake can arrange shipment for purchased bottles.

The price is harder to justify if you want only a quick local sample or if you are not very interested in wine. Seven glasses can be a lot, especially when several are full-bodied reds. Eat at a sensible pace, ask for water, and do not feel pressured to finish every pour. The session is meant to be enjoyable, not an endurance test.

I also think the price makes more sense for a wine-curious couple or a small group than for someone seeking a cheap rainy-day filler. The activity has real substance, but it is not a budget aperitivo.

Which wines and guests suit this best?

You will get the most from this experience if you like comparing styles. The tasting can move from elegant bubbles to soft or powerful reds, with tannin and body becoming more obvious as the session continues.

It is a good match for:

• Couples celebrating a special trip
• Small groups wanting a relaxed evening activity
• Solo visitors who enjoy meeting people and asking questions
• Wine beginners who want a guided introduction to Italian regions
• Experienced drinkers looking for lesser-known producers
• Vegetarians and vegans who want more than a token plate

It may be less suitable if you want a vineyard tour, sweeping lake views, or a hands-on cellar visit. You stay in Como and learn through tasting, conversation, and food. There is no private transportation, and no countryside stop is included.

I would also think twice if your group dislikes red wine. The tasting can be adjusted, but the suggested lineup includes several reds, including powerful bottles such as Amarone and Sagrantino. Tell the sommelier what you enjoy before the pours are set.

Practical timing and booking advice

The experience is offered in English and accepts a mobile ticket. Confirmation is received when you book, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Because the activity averages booking about 46 days ahead, popular dates may fill early. That is especially worth noting if your Lake Como visit is short or falls in a busy season.

Allow at least two hours, and keep your schedule flexible afterward. The advertised duration is approximate, and a curious group can easily stay longer. I would avoid placing a formal dinner reservation immediately after the tasting.

The meeting point is near public transportation. Service animals are allowed, and most people can take part. Since you return to Capitan Drake at the end, the logistics are simple compared with a wine tour outside town.

The small details that make it memorable

The strongest personal touch comes from the staff. The family-run feel is more evident here than in a large commercial tasting room. You may be greeted by a member of the family before the sommelier begins, and the session can feel more like an evening in a welcoming wine shop than a fixed script.

The final sweet wine and chocolate are a nice example. In one session, homemade chocolate salami appeared with the closing wine. It is a modest touch, but it gives the tasting a clear finish and adds something local and playful to the heavier red wines.

Another useful detail is the chance to buy bottles after tasting them. If you discover a wine you like, you do not have to rely on a blurred photograph of the label. You can ask about the producer, prices, and shipping options. Several people chose to send bottles home, and the prices were considered reasonable for the wines offered.

The experience also works in poor weather. A rainy day does not reduce the value of an indoor tasting, and you still get an activity with food and a clear start and finish.

Should you book the Capitan Drake tasting?

Book it if you want a serious wine lesson in Como without leaving the city. The range of seven wines, generous Italian food, flexible choices, and warm guidance from people such as Ricardo and Sandu make this much more than a quick drink at a bar.

I would skip it if your main goal is a vineyard setting, lake scenery, or the lowest possible price. At $180.22, you should care about wine and plan to spend the full session tasting and asking questions.

For wine lovers, couples, solo visitors, and anyone caught in a wet Como afternoon, this is a strong choice. Go in ready for several reds, request the food style you need, and leave room in your schedule for the tasting to run longer than two hours.

FAQ

Where does the wine tasting take place?

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

How long does the experience last?

The stated duration is approximately two hours, though the timing can run longer depending on the pace of the group.

How many wines will I taste?

The experience includes seven wines. The selection can include sparkling, white, rosé, three reds, and a sweet red, depending on preferences and availability.

Is Champagne included?

The tasting offers sparkling wines, including Italian sparkling wine presented in a Champagne-style tasting. The exact bottle selection can vary.

What food is included?

Food can include prosciutto crudo, salami, bresaola, cheeses with compote, buffalo mozzarella, porcini, anchovies, olives, bread, and taralli.

Are vegetarian or vegan options available?

Yes. Vegetarian and vegan selections are available, including vegetables, puntarelle, Taggiasca olives, and other meat-free items.

Is the tasting offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

Is transportation included?

No. Private transportation is not included. You travel to and from Capitan Drake on your own.

Does the activity end at 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 or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.