Como: Wine Tasting Experience with Cheese and Cold Cuts

The best part of this Como tasting is its clear focus: four or seven wines, paired with cheese, cured meats, or a vegetarian dish, with a sommelier explaining what is in your glass. You are not simply handed a flight and left to guess. You get a look at Italian grapes and regions, along with a few bottles from elsewhere in the world.

I like the choice between a shorter standard tasting and a fuller top tasting. I also like the small-group setting and the option to reserve the whole shop for a private session. One point to consider: at $59 per person, this is worthwhile if you care about guided tasting and food pairings, but it may feel expensive if you only want a casual drink.

Key points

• Four or seven wines: Pick the shorter standard tasting or the more extensive top tasting.
• A proper food pairing: Expect cured meats and cheeses, or request a vegetarian dish.
• Sommelier-led guidance: Sandu has been praised for warm, energetic explanations and thoughtful wine choices.
• Central Como setting: Enoteca Capitan Drake is a few meters from the old city walls.
• Private option: The top tasting can include exclusive use of the wine shop.
• Flexible booking: You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund and reserve without paying immediately.

A Wine Shop Just Outside Como’s Old Walls

Enoteca Capitan Drake sits a few meters from Como’s old city walls, so this tasting fits neatly into a day of walking around town. Look for the wine shop directly on the street. There is no transportation included, so you will need to make your own way there.

That location matters. You do not need to give up half a day for a vineyard excursion, and you are not being carried far outside Como for a tasting that may compete with the rest of your plans. Set aside roughly two hours, including the tasting itself, and you can easily place it before dinner, after sightseeing, or during a slower afternoon.

The experience lasts one and a half to two hours, depending on the option you choose. Starting times vary, so check availability when you book. Comfortable shoes and clothes are sensible, especially if you are walking around Como before or after the tasting.

Choosing Four Wines or Seven

Your first major decision is the number of wines. The standard option includes four fine wines. The top option includes seven, giving you more time to compare grapes, regions, styles, and pairings.

Four wines is the sensible choice if you are new to tasting, have a busy Como schedule, or want an introduction without turning the afternoon into a full wine seminar. It should give you enough variety to notice how wines differ, while leaving room for questions and food.

Seven wines suits you better if wine is one of the main reasons you booked. More glasses mean more comparisons, but also more time and a higher chance that the tasting will feel like the main event of your day. The exact number of glasses and the length of the session depend on the option selected, so read the booking details carefully.

The wines are described as representative of distinctive vines and territories, with choices from Italy and around the world. That is useful for a visitor who wants more than a narrow regional sample. You may encounter familiar Italian styles alongside bottles you have not tried before. The selection can change, which is part of the appeal, but it also means you should not book expecting a fixed list of labels.

How the Sommelier Shapes the Tasting

A good wine tasting depends as much on the person leading it as on the bottles. Here, the sommelier guides you through the tasting, explains the wines, and gives context about the shop and its selection.

Sandu is a name worth noting. Her warm manner, enthusiasm, and ability to make the subject approachable have been singled out by several people who took part. If Sandu leads your session, expect an animated presentation rather than a stiff lecture. She has also been praised for choosing varied wines and encouraging an enjoyable group atmosphere.

The experience is offered in English or Italian. That makes it practical for international visitors, but you should select the language you need when booking or confirm it in advance. A sommelier can help you notice more than whether you simply like a wine. You can ask why one bottle works better with a salty cured meat, why another feels fresher with cheese, or how a grape expresses its growing area.

I especially like this part because it gives the tasting a purpose. You are not required to leave as a wine expert. You simply leave with a better sense of what you enjoy and a few useful words for ordering wine later in Italy.

Cheese, Cured Meats, and the Vegetarian Choice

The food pairing is more than a small snack on the side. The tasting includes cured meats and cheeses, or a vegetarian dish if you request one. The charcuterie is prepared on site, according to the details provided, and the pairing is meant to accompany the wines rather than replace a full meal.

For many people, this is what makes the price easier to justify. A glass of wine tastes different with salty meat, creamy cheese, or a vegetable-based dish. The food gives you a way to compare the wines in a practical setting, not just taste them one by one.

If you do not eat meat, request the vegetarian option in advance. Do not assume it will be arranged automatically at the shop. The activity is not suitable for people with food allergies, so serious allergies should rule this experience out rather than relying on last-minute adjustments.

The included food is not presented as a full lunch or dinner. You may want another meal afterward, especially if you choose the seven-wine option and arrive hungry. Additional food and drinks are not included, so ask about extras before ordering.

What the Tasting Feels Like in Practice

The visit begins when you find Enoteca Capitan Drake on the street near the old city walls. After meeting the host or greeter, you settle into the wine shop and learn about its background and selection.

From there, the sommelier presents the wines included in your chosen package. The pacing should allow time to taste, compare, eat, and ask questions. The smaller setting helps here. A large room can turn a tasting into a performance, while a small group usually makes it easier to speak up when you do not understand a wine term or want a second look at a label.

A small group is available, though the exact size is not specified. If you want the most private version, choose the private top tasting. This gives your party exclusive use of the wine shop, which may suit a birthday, a couple wanting a quiet appointment, or a group of friends who want the evening to feel more personal.

The private option does not change the basic need to choose between four and seven wines unless the booking option says otherwise. Check the precise package before paying, since tasting length and the number of glasses vary by choice.

What the $59 Price Gets You

At $59 per person, the cost covers the sommelier, the selected wine tasting, and the food pairing when included in your chosen option. You are paying for instruction and comparison, not merely the liquid in the glasses.

That can be fair value in Como if you want a structured introduction and a comfortable place to taste several wines. The seven-wine option gives you more range, while the private version adds exclusivity. The food also helps turn the appointment into a complete activity rather than a quick stop for one drink.

The value is less convincing if you already know exactly what you like and would rather buy a single bottle. One person found the experience mediocre and felt that the price was too high, especially because some wines came from bottles that had already been opened. That criticism is important. In a tasting, freshness and presentation matter, and you should feel free to ask when a bottle was opened if this concerns you.

At the same time, the overall score is 4.6 out of 5 from 19 reviews, and several people praised the wine variety, generous pours, food, and guidance. I would judge the price this way: book it for the teaching, variety, and pairing; skip it if you are only looking for the cheapest way to drink wine in Como.

The Strongest Reasons to Book

The clearest strength is the human guidance. Sandu, in particular, has been praised for being friendly, enthusiastic, and able to make the tasting enjoyable without losing the educational side. That combination is useful if wine language usually makes you feel lost.

The second strength is variety. A visitor from Canada described discovering many wines they had not known before, while another session included a selection that ranged widely enough to keep the tasting interesting. The exact bottles are not guaranteed, but the plan is clearly broader than a single local style.

The third is the food. Cheese and cured meats give you something substantial to enjoy while you taste, and the vegetarian option makes the experience more flexible for those who do not eat meat. The private booking option is another real benefit if you value quiet conversation over meeting other people.

Finally, the central location makes this easy to fit into a Como itinerary. You do not need to build your whole day around a distant winery or arrange a transfer.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

This is an adults-only activity. Pregnant women and children under 18 are not permitted, and smoking is not allowed. You should bring an ID card, with a copy accepted.

The shop is wheelchair accessible, which is helpful, but the information does not describe the exact layout or restroom arrangements. If you have specific access needs, confirm them before booking.

Food allergies are listed as a reason not to take part. A vegetarian dish is available upon request, but that is different from a guaranteed allergy-safe menu. If you have a serious allergy, this is not the right activity.

The tasting is reserved in advance. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund, and the reserve-now-pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying today. Those policies are useful when your Como plans are still shifting.

Who Will Enjoy This Most

I would recommend the experience to adults who want a social, guided introduction to wine without leaving Como. It is a good match for couples, small groups of friends, and solo visitors who enjoy sitting down with a drink and learning as they go.

Choose four wines if you want an easy addition to a sightseeing day. Choose seven if you are genuinely interested in wine and want more time with the sommelier. Choose the private top tasting if conversation, privacy, or a special occasion matters more than keeping the cost low.

You should think twice if you have food allergies, dislike group tastings, or expect a formal vineyard tour. This is a wine-shop experience in the city, not a countryside visit with vineyard walks and cellar tours. It is also not designed for children or anyone who cannot drink alcohol.

Should You Book the Capitan Drake Tasting?

Yes, if you want a well-organized wine lesson with food in central Como and you are comfortable spending $59 for the experience. The strongest reasons are the choice of four or seven wines, the friendly sommelier-led format, the cured meats and cheeses, and the possibility of a vegetarian dish or private booking.

I would choose the four-wine option for a first taste or a tight schedule. If you already enjoy wine, pay for seven and give the sommelier time to explain the differences. Ask about bottle opening times if freshness is important to you, and request the vegetarian dish before arrival.

This is a good Como activity when you want to sit, taste, and learn for two hours. It is not the bargain option, but for the right audience, the guidance and variety make the price reasonable.

FAQ

Where does the wine tasting take place?

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

How long does the tasting last?

The experience lasts about one and a half to two hours. The exact duration depends on the option you choose.

How many wines are included?

You can choose a tasting of four wines or a top tasting of seven wines. The number of glasses varies by selected option.

Is food included?

Yes, the selected option includes a pairing with cured meats and cheeses or a vegetarian dish. Additional food and drinks are not included.

Can I book a private tasting?

Yes. A private top tasting allows exclusive use of the wine shop.

Is the experience available in English?

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

Is the wine shop wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Can I cancel my reservation?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now-pay-later option is also available.