Wine tasting beats museum fatigue. This private 2-hour break in Como mixes 7 wines (including sparkling and sweet finishes) with meat-and-cheese or veg boards, all guided by a certified sommelier with producer stories. The only catch to think about is that seven pours is a lot of alcohol for some folks in a single sitting.

I love the fact that it happens right in the city center, so you’re not spending your evening trapped in transit. At Capitan Drake, hosts like Ricardo and Sandu run the tasting, and Mama pops in with extra touches on the food side. It’s a mobile-ticket setup, offered in English, and it starts a few minutes after you meet.

One more thing I appreciate: you’re not stuck with a rigid menu. You can tailor what you taste based on your preferences, then get tasting notes as you go—so it feels like learning, not just drinking.

The quick hit: what makes this tasting in Como work so well

• 7 wines in one session: sparkling, white, rosè, multiple reds, plus a sweet chocolate pairing finish.
• Central location at Capitan Drake: walkable from the Como city center, easy to fit between sightseeing stops.
• Certified sommelier-led explanations: producer background, tasting notes, and guidance on what to notice in each glass.
• Real Italian food boards: meat-and-cheese options and vegetarian/vegan choices that aim to match the wines.
• Preference-based selection: you can steer the tasting toward reds, whites, sparkling, or specific curiosities.
• Small-group feel: organized seating makes it easy to ask questions and compare impressions.

Capitan Drake in Como: a city-center setup that saves time

This tasting is anchored at Capitan Drake (Via Francesco Benzi 19), which is the kind of location that makes an afternoon or early evening feel easy. You’re close enough to the main Como action that you can come straight from sightseeing, then head back without building a whole logistics plan.

You meet at the shop, and the tasting starts a few minutes after the meeting time. That small buffer matters when you’re traveling—no awkward waiting marathon, no rush scramble either.

Also, because it’s described as a private activity, it’s for your group only. So you can relax, talk to the guide, and move at the pace of your group rather than feeling like you’re on a conveyor belt.

Your 7 wines: how the tasting sequence teaches your palate

The heart of this experience is straightforward: you taste seven great wines, and you choose the direction (white/red/sparkling) based on what you want. The format is designed to show how different styles behave in the glass—how they smell, how they feel on the tongue, and how the flavors shift as you move through the lineup.

From the information shared about the experience, the tasting often includes:

• A sparkling Italian champagne-style pour to start
• A white wine
• A rosè
• Three reds
• A sweet red with a chocolate pairing

Even better, you’re not just handed glasses. The guide gives you information about each producer and tasting notes tied to what you’re drinking. In practice, that turns the session into a mini crash course you’ll remember later when you try to recreate the flavors at home.

Some specific wines that have come up in the tasting experiences include Franciacorta for the sparkling start, plus wines like Amarone and Recioto Valpolicella. For reds, you might see expressions such as Sagrantino di Montefalco by Arnaldo Caprai, and Ca Coato was also mentioned. You might not get that exact set every time, since selections can adapt to your preferences, but these examples show the range you’re likely to encounter.

What seven pours actually means for you

Seven wines is a lot in one sitting, even if the pours are measured for tasting. If you’re the type who likes to sip slowly with food and conversation, you’ll probably have a great time. If you’re sensitive to alcohol—or you want your night to stay light—you may want to tell the guide up front that you want a slower pace or fewer heavier reds.

The food pairing: Italian boards that go beyond crackers

The food isn’t an afterthought here. You’ll get a typical Italian food board that pairs with the wine, with options that can include meat-and-cheese or a vegetarian/vegan selection.

If you go the meat-and-cheese route, the menu examples include things like cheese and salami, bresaola, and a mix that can include puntarelle and Taggiasca olives. Other snack components noted include prosciutto crudo, cheese selection with compote, porcini, anchovies, and buffalo mozzarella—so you’re not just eating one flavor lane.

If you prefer vegetarian or vegan, the board can include local veggies and a welcome spread designed around those preferences. That matters because wine tasting works best when the food gives your palate something to react to, not just something to fill your stomach.

One small-but-important detail: you’re not just paired with a token bite. The boards are described as generous, with enough variety that you can actually notice how the wine changes as you go from salty cured meats to softer cheeses to more vegetable-forward bites.

The chocolate finish: where the sweetness lesson lands

The tasting ends with a sweet red and a chocolate pairing. In addition, one guide-led moment included homemade chocolate salami, which adds a fun, unexpected twist if you’re into trying the local version of sweet-salty combos.

This kind of finish is useful even if you don’t normally buy dessert wine. It teaches you how sweetness and fat (and chocolate) can reshape tannins and fruit flavors. And it gives the evening a clear landing point instead of stopping mid-conversation after the reds.

The guides at Capitan Drake: what Ricardo, Sandu, and Mama bring

The experience is guided by a certified sommelier, and the vibe you get from the descriptions is friendly and interactive. Guides like Ricardo and Sandu are mentioned by name, and Mama is also referenced as part of what makes the experience feel warm rather than stiff.

What I like about this style is that the explanations match what you’re already tasting in real time. You’re not receiving a lecture while your glass sits untouched. Instead, you get tasting notes and producer info as you move through the lineup, which makes it easier to connect words like acidity, tannin, and body to something you can actually taste.

The guide also adapts when preferences come up. You’re told you can customize the tasting to suit your preferences and curiosities, and one review-style detail notes flexibility with red selections. That’s a big deal for value: it means you’re more likely to leave feeling you drank wines you genuinely wanted, not a random assortment.

And yes, the glassware is part of the experience. One note mentions that different wine glasses are used because each wine benefits from the right shape and style for aromas and enjoyment. It sounds fancy, but it also signals that they’re treating this like a real tasting, not a quick pour-and-go.

Timing and pacing: how to fit it into a Como day

The listing says about 2 hours, and that matches the idea of a solid late afternoon break. At the same time, there are mentions of a longer evening window in one instance (a session running from 6pm to 9pm). So I’d plan for about 2 hours as the baseline, and keep a bit of breathing room if your schedule is tight.

A practical tip: treat this like your main event for the evening, not a short stop. Once you start with sparkling and move through reds and sweets, your pace naturally slows. That’s great for learning and conversation, but it can make it harder to cram in a big dinner reservation right after.

If you’re pairing it with Como sightseeing, aim to schedule it before you get too hungry or exhausted. The boards do a good job acting like a light meal, so you’ll likely want something after that is simple and low-pressure.

Wine education vs. wine shopping: what you can do after

This tasting is set inside a wine shop, and one advantage of that setup is that the learning doesn’t end when the last glass goes down. If you connect with a wine during the session, you can ask about what to take home and how to get it shipped.

Prices are described as reasonable in the experience context, and people have purchased bottles to ship. Even if you don’t buy a thing, the practical benefit is that you’ll know what style you liked and why, which makes any future purchase smarter.

Just remember: if you’re planning to travel light, shipping wine at home is often the easiest path. You’ll want to confirm options with the shop if you’re interested, since the provided info only points to purchasing and shipping as something guests did, not the exact details of how.

Price and value: is $180.22 worth it?

At $180.22 per person, you should judge value by what’s actually included, not by the headline price. Here’s what you get based on the details provided:

• Alcoholic beverages with a tasting that includes seven wines you choose among wine styles
• Italian food pairing/snacks with both meat-and-cheese and vegetarian/vegan options
• A sommelier-led explanation with producer and tasting notes
• A central Como location that saves you time and effort

That combination is why this can feel like a good deal for wine lovers: you’re paying once for guided tastings plus food pairing, instead of paying separately for wine at bars and ordering random snacks.

Where it can feel pricey is when you’re not planning to drink much, or you don’t care about wine education. One caution point mentioned in the experience context is that seven glasses can be more than you expected, and another note questions the price for what felt like a lot of alcohol for the money. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad choice—just means you should decide honestly if you want a full tasting night.

Best-fit people for this Como tasting

You’ll likely enjoy it most if you:

• Want an organized way to taste multiple Italian styles in one evening
• Like learning the stories behind producers, not just the taste
• Appreciate food pairing and local Italian ingredients
• Need a rain-friendly, city-center activity that feels like a real experience

It might be less ideal if you:

• Prefer non-alcoholic activities or want to avoid a strong alcohol load
• Want a quick two-glass stop that doesn’t turn into a full evening
• Are extremely cost-sensitive and only want a light tasting

Should you book the 7-wine Lake Como tasting at Capitan Drake?

If you want a practical, central Como experience that feels like both fun and education, I’d book it. The strongest reasons are the 7-wine structure and the fact that the food pairing is designed to match—not just to fill space.

Before you reserve, do one quick check with yourself: are you good with seven glasses in about a couple of hours, and do you want guidance on what you’re tasting? If yes, this is a very efficient way to understand Italian wine variety and walk out with new favorites. If no, you might do better with a lighter wine bar plan.

FAQ

How many wines will I taste during the experience?

You’ll taste 7 wines.

Can I choose the wine types I want to drink?

Yes. You can choose among white, red, and sparkling options, and the tasting can be customized based on your preferences.

Is food included with the wine tasting?

Yes. The experience includes typical Italian food snacks, such as meat-and-cheese options and also vegetarian/vegan selections.

How long is the tour?

It runs for about 2 hours (approx.).

Where do I meet for the tasting?

You meet at Capitan Drake, Via Francesco Benzi 19, 22100 Como CO, Italy.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, it’s offered in English.

Is this a private tour or will I join other people?

This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate.

Is transportation included in the price?

No private transportation is included. You’ll handle getting to Capitan Drake yourself.

Can I cancel and get a full refund?

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

If you’d like, tell me your group size and whether you prefer mostly reds, mostly whites, or a mix—and I’ll suggest how to steer the tasting so it matches your palate.