Taste of Lake Como: 4 Wines Paired with Local Cheese Charcuterie

At Lake Como, wine is the shortcut to local flavor. This tasting pairs 4–5 Italian-focused pours with prosciutto crudo, cheese, and buffalo mozzarella, led by a sommelier (often mentioned by name as Sandu). You also get tasting notes to bring the experience back to your glassware at home.

The main thing to consider is pacing and choice: the standard session includes the core tasting, while there’s also an upgrade option for more wines. If your party isn’t on the same level, the flow can feel a bit uneven.

Key things that make this tasting worth your time

• Capitan Drake in Como city center: easy to find, lively wine-shop vibe, and close to public transport.
• 4–5 glasses, not token sips: you actually taste your way across styles and regions.
• Sommelier-led variety plus serving guidance: you learn what to look for in aroma, taste, and pairing.
• Cheese and charcuterie built for pairing: prosciutto crudo, cheese selection, and buffalo mozzarella show up alongside the wines.
• A small group (max 12): better chance to ask questions without a classroom feel.
• You leave with notes and the option to ship bottles home: great if you want to recreate the night later.

Why this wine tasting works in Como (and not just as a stop)

If you’re in Lake Como and you want something that’s local but not a huge production, this is a strong option. It’s built around one simple idea: wine tastes better when you understand it, and it tastes even better when you’re eating the right foods at the right pace.

The format is also practical. You meet at Capitan Drake at a set time in Como city center, the tasting begins a few minutes after meeting, and the whole thing runs about 1 hour 30 minutes. That’s long enough to learn and compare, short enough that it doesn’t hijack your day.

Value matters here. At $79.24 per person, you’re paying for a guided tasting with multiple pours plus a proper snack board. Many casual wine tastings feel like you’re paying mainly for access to a bar. This one feels more like you’re paying for structure: the sommelier explains what’s in the glass, and the food is meant to make those explanations stick.

Inside Capitan Drake: the setting and the vibe you’ll notice fast

Capitan Drake is the kind of place that makes wine feel normal, not stuffy. The room is set up like a wine shop with tastings happening right there, so you’re not stuck in a bland tour room. You’ll likely see a wide selection in the shop, including Italian and world wines, and that matters because it helps you place what you’re tasting in context.

The small-group cap (up to 12 people) is a big deal. In a crowd, wine tasting turns into “listen while sipping.” In a smaller group, you can ask questions, react to what you’re tasting, and get real explanations instead of generic talk.

Also, the experience is in English and uses a mobile ticket, so you can keep things simple once you arrive.

The core tasting: 4 wines paired with Italian cheese and charcuterie

This is where the experience earns its reputation. You’re served a mix board designed to complement the pours—think cured meats and Italian cheeses, including prosciutto crudo plus a selection of cheeses and buffalo mozzarella. That’s a classic pairing logic: salty, fatty foods help highlight acidity and texture in wine.

You should expect 4–5 glasses during the tasting, guided by a sommelier who describes each wine as you go. From the way the host talks about grapes and winemaking in the session, the goal isn’t just to name bottles. It’s to help you develop a quick mental checklist for tasting:

• What’s the wine trying to do (bright and crisp vs. round and soft)?
• What do you taste first (fruit, acidity, bitterness, spice)?
• How does the pairing change what you notice?

You also receive tasting notes. That’s more useful than it sounds. After a few glasses, your memory gets fuzzy. Notes help you remember which grape or style you liked and why—so you can actually buy the right thing later.

Meet the sommelier (and why the hosting style matters)

The heart of this experience is the host. People consistently highlight the way the sommelier explains what’s in the glass and why each wine works with each food. Names that come up in past sessions include Sandu and Giuseppe. You may also run into other staff members like Simona, depending on the timing.

What I like about this approach is that it’s not just tasting. It’s also translation—turning a wine’s technical story (grape varietals, region, process) into something you can taste immediately.

If you’re new to wine, this is a comfortable entry point. If you already know your way around Italian reds and whites, you’ll still get useful comparison points, especially when the host connects grape traits to flavor and pairing.

Itinerary in real life: what happens at Capitan Drake

The entire experience is centered on one stop: Capitan Drake at Via Francesco Benzi, 19, 22100 Como. You start there, and you finish back at the same meeting point.

Here’s what that means for your day:

• You don’t have to coordinate multiple locations.
• You don’t have to guess about timing across the city.
• You can plan dinner afterward without stress.

The tasting begins a few minutes after the scheduled meeting time. That’s normal for small-group experiences, but it’s still smart to arrive early enough to get seated and settled. If you’re late, you might lose part of the opening explanation, and that’s where you learn the pairing logic.

The wine-and-food pairing experience you’ll actually remember

The mix board isn’t an afterthought. Prosciutto crudo and cheese selection are made to sit alongside wine without overpowering it. Buffalo mozzarella adds a milder, creamy element that helps balance sharper wines or more tannic pours.

That pairing structure gives you two benefits:

1. You learn the wine faster because the food makes differences easier to detect.
2. You can reproduce it at home. Once you know what kind of wine works with salty cured meat or creamy dairy, your shopping gets easier.

A few notes to keep expectations realistic:

• You should come hungry enough for snacks.
• You’ll taste more than a quick sample—people describe the food and wine portions as ample.
• The focus is pairing, not a long lecture.

Are the wines mostly Italian, or is it a mix?

It’s Italian-forward, with room for other regions. The tasting is described as including a range of Italian and world wines available in the shop. In practice, you’ll likely spend most of the session comparing styles that make sense for Italian pairing habits—especially when the food board is made of classic Italian items.

That balance is ideal for travelers who want to feel Lake Como without drinking only local labels. You get familiar Italian anchors, then you can compare them to other wine styles.

The upgrade option (and the one thing to check before you go)

There’s a key detail that can affect how the session feels for your group: an upgrade option exists for more wines (for example, an option for 7 wines vs. the standard 4). The standard part of the tasting stays the same, but the expanded option continues after.

If you’re traveling with friends or family, check that everyone is buying the same ticket level. If you don’t, you can end up in a situation where the explanation continues for the rest of the group while your table has fewer pours. It’s still a good experience, but it’s avoidable.

Getting bottles to ship home: how this adds real value

One of the smartest parts of this setup is what happens after the tasting. Wines are typically available for purchase after the experience, and worldwide shipping is offered.

This matters because tasting notes are great, but they don’t let you taste the wine again tonight. If you find a bottle you genuinely love—especially one tied to a grape or region the sommelier explained—shipping makes it realistic to bring that flavor home without guessing at import rules.

Also, small-group tastings often lead to impulse buying. Here, the buying feels more rational because you’re not just buying a label—you’re buying a wine you understand enough to pick again.

Timing and logistics: the practical stuff that saves your trip

This is a mobile ticket experience, in English, near public transportation. Most travelers can participate, and service animals are allowed.

Duration is about 1 hour 30 minutes, which is perfect if you want something scheduled but not heavy. If you’re also doing a day of lake views, a tasting like this is a great “rain plan” or an evening activity that doesn’t require a full night out.

One caution from how scheduling can go: if your arrival is late, you may miss part of the initial pairing explanation. Arrive a little early, even if the tasting starts only a few minutes after meeting time.

Price check: what $79.24 buys you (and how to judge it)

Price is always personal, but here’s the value math you can use:

• You pay for 4–5 glasses of wine (not just a single pour).
• You get a full snack board designed to pair with the wines, including cured meat and cheeses.
• You get tasting notes plus a sommelier explanation.
• It’s capped at 12 people, so the time feels more like a guided session than a show.

Then add the “future value” factor: the option to buy bottles and ship worldwide. If you end up buying just one or two bottles you truly like, the total cost often feels more reasonable than it would for a standard bar tasting.

If you’re totally broke-leaning on budget, you might decide to skip it. But if you like learning and eating well for the price, this is one of the more efficient wine experiences in the Como area.

Who should book this tasting?

Book it if:

• You want a structured wine-and-food activity in Como city center.
• You like meeting other wine lovers in a small group.
• You’d enjoy explanations about grape varietals and pairing.
• You want tasting notes plus a realistic shot at finding bottles to ship home.

Skip it (or consider other options) if:

• You hate group settings or want a totally private tasting.
• You’re very strict about everyone in your group receiving the exact same set of pours—double-check the upgrade level.

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

I’d book it if you want a fun, guided, and genuinely “useful” wine experience. The combination of 4–5 glasses, a proper Italian snack board (prosciutto crudo, cheese selection, buffalo mozzarella), and a sommelier who walks you through tasting notes makes it more than a quick drink.

My recommendation comes down to one tip: before you go, make sure you and your group are aligned on whether you’re doing the standard tasting or the upgrade for more wines. Get that right, and you’ll have a smooth evening where the wine and food teach each other.

If you’re looking for something easy to fit into your Como schedule—and you want to leave with flavors you can actually remember—this is a strong pick.

FAQ

Where does this wine tasting start?

It starts at Capitan Drake, Via Francesco Benzi, 19, 22100 Como, Italy, and ends back at the same meeting point.

How long is the tasting?

It lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes.

How many wines do I taste?

The experience includes 4 to 5 glasses of wine during the tasting.

What food is included with the wines?

You’ll get Italian snacks, including prosciutto crudo, a cheese selection, and buffalo mozzarella, served as a mix board.

Is the tour in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

How big is the group?

The maximum group size is 12 travelers.

Can I buy the wines after the experience?

Yes. Wines are available for purchase after the tasting, with worldwide shipping.

What is included in the price?

Wine (alcoholic beverages) and typical Italian snacks are included.

What is not included?

Tips and any extra wines after the tasting are not included.

Is free cancellation available?

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