Four pours, one cheese board, Como. This small-group wine tasting at Capitan Drake pairs 4 wine pours with prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella, and you walk out with tasting notes you can actually use. It is a focused, friendly way to understand Italian wine without needing a wine vocabulary from day one.

My one caution: this is a shop-based tasting with a set amount of wine included, unless you choose an upgrade. So if you’re expecting a free-for-all of extra pours, plan on paying for more.

The best part is the structure. A sommelier guides you through each wine, including what to look for in the glass and how to pair it, with hosts reported by name like Sandu, Giuseppe, and Simona, plus fresh tasting notes to refresh your memory later.

Quick Takeaways Before You Go

• Capitan Drake is the whole show: meet at Via Francesco Benzi 19 in central Como, a real wine bar setting rather than a tour bus stop.
• You learn varietals, not just sip: the sommelier explains each wine and hands you tasting notes.
• Food is built for pairing: prosciutto crudo, a cheese selection, buffalo mozzarella, and a mix board designed to match the wines.
• Small group, max 12: you get conversation time without feeling lost in a crowd.
• You can buy wine to ship home: bottles are available after the tasting, with worldwide shipping.
• Plenty of wine for 90 minutes: you should expect 4-5 glasses during the experience.

Capitan Drake in Como: The Setting and Why It Works

You start at Capitan Drake, Via Francesco Benzi 19, in the city center of Como. The location matters because this experience is short, about 1 hour 30 minutes, and it is meant to fit into a day of sightseeing. Being near public transportation also helps. If you are walking around Como anyway, this is easy to tack on without adding a whole transit puzzle.

Timing is simple: the tasting begins a few minutes after the meeting time. That small buffer is practical. It gives the staff a moment to get everyone seated and started without rushing you the second you arrive.

Inside, you are in a wine shop atmosphere, surrounded by bottles and the tools of the trade. That is part of the charm. Instead of a formal lecture, it feels like a guided tasting where you can ask questions and get answers tied to what you are tasting in real time.

What the 90 Minutes Really Include (And What You’ll Taste)

This tasting is built around the idea of pairing wine with Italian favorites. The core is 4 wines paired with local cheese and charcuterie, served as 4-5 glasses. The exact number of glasses can vary slightly depending on how the host runs the session, but the expectation is clear: you get more than a single sip per wine.

Food comes as part of a mix board style platter. The provided sample menu includes:

• prosciutto crudo
• a cheese selection
• buffalo mozzarella

In practice, you should also expect extra small bites that support the pairing. The point is that you are not just chewing while you drink. The bites are placed in the flow so each wine can make sense on its own, and then again with the food.

One extra note from the experience style: some sessions have added treats beyond the standard mix board, like dessert elements and a dessert wine. You should treat that as a bonus that might happen, not something to count on every time.

Bottom line: plan to arrive a little hungry. This is designed so the food does its job, and you leave satisfied, not just buzzed.

The Sommelier Flow: From Varietals to Real Pairing Logic

What sets this tasting apart is how the sommelier turns each pour into something you can remember. You are not left with a vague, pleasant wine buzz. You get explanations about the varietal, where it comes from, and what you should notice in the glass.

Expect the host to walk you through:

• how each wine is made and what that means for flavor
• how to serve it properly (so it tastes the way it’s supposed to)
• what pairs best with each wine

Hosts reported by name in sessions include Sandu, Giuseppe, and Simona. Across those different names, the common thread is that the teaching sticks to what you are tasting and eating. It is the difference between tasting like a hobby tourist and tasting like you are learning a skill.

One nice touch for beginners: the experience is set up so you do not need prior wine knowledge to keep up. If you are the type who looks at the wine menu and feels nervous, this format can be a confidence booster because everything is explained in plain steps.

And you get something practical to take home: tasting notes. That matters more than it sounds. If you have ever returned home and thought, What was that bottle again, this helps you avoid that problem.

The Mix Board and Pairing Strategy: Cheese, Prosciutto, and Buffalo Mozzarella

Let’s talk food, because the food is not just filler. It is the pairing tool.

Prosciutto crudo brings salt, a fatty mouthfeel, and a savory punch. Cheese brings a different texture and richness, and buffalo mozzarella adds a creamy, mild dairy character that can soften sharper wines. Put together, they help you notice how a wine changes as it meets food, not just how it tastes alone.

Here’s the pairing logic you can actually use later:

• If a wine feels too sharp on its own, a creamy element like buffalo mozzarella often smooths it out.
• If a wine feels too heavy, a salty charcuterie bite like prosciutto can sharpen the balance.
• If you want to compare wines, start by tasting with plain bites first, then move to more intense bites. Your palate learns faster that way.

Also, the experience is paced. You are tasting with the platter in front of you, not walking between courses. That reduces the common problem where people forget which wine they are on when the food starts coming fast.

As a bonus, if your session includes dessert touches like homemade tiramisu and a dessert wine, treat it like the finale. Dessert wines and sweet bites are a whole separate pairing game, and it’s a nice cap to the lesson.

Small Group Size: How the Conversation Gets Better (Not Awkward)

The group size caps at 12 travelers. That matters. In a group that small, you usually get more interaction than you would in a bigger tasting room. You have room to ask a question, get an answer, and then hear it echoed in someone else’s reactions.

A common vibe described is an international mix, with conversations flowing across different countries and backgrounds. That’s useful because wine prompts questions, not just silence. If you enjoy meeting people while you travel, this is the kind of activity that naturally creates small talk without forcing it.

There is also a practical consideration. One session issue can happen when groups at the same table have different chosen levels or upgrades. If you want a specific amount of wine, pay attention at the start and choose your option clearly. If you’re unsure, ask the host right away so you do not end up listening to other pours that you did not order.

But overall, the small group format is part of why the experience scores so high. People feel included, not herded.

Price and Value: Is $79.24 Worth It?

At $79.24 per person for about 1 hour 30 minutes, you are paying for more than wine. You are paying for the combination of:

• multiple wine glasses (4-5)
• a structured pairing meal (mix board, prosciutto, cheeses, buffalo mozzarella)
• a guided explanation by a sommelier
• tasting notes to help you remember later

This is value if you want a guided crash course. If you were to buy wine and cheese on your own, you might spend a similar amount, but you would not get the comparisons and instruction that turn tasting into learning.

It also becomes extra good value for wine lovers who plan to bring bottles home. Wines can be purchased after the experience, with worldwide shipping. That means the tasting can act like a short tasting-and-buying decision, not just a souvenir memory.

What is not included is tips and any extra wines after the tasting. So keep a little flexibility in your budget if you know you will want more bottles.

Who Should Book This Tasting (And Who Might Not Love It)

This works best for you if:

• you enjoy wine and want to understand what you’re tasting
• you want a small group activity that still feels informative
• you like food pairings, especially Italian charcuterie and cheese
• you want tasting notes for use back home
• you might buy wine afterward to ship internationally

It might feel less ideal if:

• you want a scenic boat ride or a walk-around sightseeing tour
• you dislike alcohol or want a mostly non-drinking experience
• you are expecting unlimited pours as part of the base price
• you want a hands-off event where you do not ask questions

If you are on the fence, the easiest test is this: if you can enjoy learning through taste, you’ll get your money’s worth. If you want pure sightseeing, look for a different kind of Como outing.

Tips for Getting the Most From Your Tasting

Here are a few practical things that make this type of tasting go smoother.

First, arrive on time, or even 5 to 10 minutes early. Since the tasting starts a few minutes after the meeting time, being prompt helps you settle in and start tasting without stress.

Second, keep a tiny mental checklist for each wine:

• acidity or no?
• light or full body?
• does it taste better with the cheese or prosciutto?

Third, ask one good question you care about. Maybe you want to know what makes one region different, or why the host pairs that specific cheese with a specific wine. The best moments usually come from questions that connect the explanation to your own taste preferences.

Finally, if you think you might want to buy bottles, pay attention to the wines you like most. Then, after the tasting, ask about what’s available and how shipping works.

Should You Book Taste of Lake Como at Capitan Drake?

If you want a fun, low-stress way to understand Italian wine while eating local favorites, I’d say yes. The experience is structured, short, and built around real pairing, not just a few token sips. The rating is very strong at 4.8 and recommended by 95%, and the most praised moments cluster around the flow: multiple wines, good food pairings, and hosts like Sandu, Giuseppe, or Simona guiding the session clearly.

Book it if you like learning by tasting, and if you want a Como activity that fits into a busy itinerary. Skip it only if you’re looking for sights and walking, not wine and pairing.

FAQ

How long is the Taste of Lake Como wine and cheese tasting?

It lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes.

What does the tasting include?

You taste 4 wines with Italian snacks. The included food highlights include prosciutto crudo, cheese selection, and buffalo mozzarella, served as part of a mix board.

Do you get tasting notes?

Yes. You receive tasting notes during the experience to help refresh your memory back home.

Where is the meeting point?

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

How many people are in the group?

The group size has a maximum of 12 travelers.

Can I buy wine to take home?

Yes. After the experience, wines are available for purchase, and they can be shipped worldwide.