Billy’s Online Wine School

MasiCampoLesson #9 ITALY’S RICH RED

Italian families seldom drinks rich red wines. They keep the big hitters for weddings and other celebrations. We, however, drink rich reds all the time. It’s our default wine. But what about a compromise wine – the muscle without the brawn?

Ripasso is a brilliant Italian invention. Enriched Valpolicella. A red wine that feels substantial but not heavy. Vitality and earthiness partnered with nourishment. The last glass won’t knock you out. You could even entertain a second bottle.

The house of Masi are masters of Ripasso and the current 06 vintage is the best ever. Deep earthy flavours are delivered with an assured, confident feeling. You get a feeling of history as opposed to the obvious fruitiness on many of today’s wines. An invitation to put the wine with simply grilled meats, and good friends. Italian wines always invite food and company.

MASI 06 VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO ‘Campofiorin’, Veneto, Italy 155051 $17.45

Kato Wake is an entrepreneur – a creative thinker and a visual maker with over twenty years experience in the design business. She possesses strong communication skills and has managed teams and groups of many sizes. Creative, resourceful and curious by nature – Kato is an ideas person and a problem solver. She sees the big picture, the practical steps needed to achieve it and the means to do so. Experienced with both print and web, she is motivated by serving the client and communicating ‘their story’ – however it needs to be told. She has been involved in the restaurant and hospitality industry for almost as long as Billy – but hasn't drunk quite so much. Over the years, Kato has instructed hundreds of hospitality workers in 'the art of service' and has implemented training programs for several restaurants. Presently, Kato manages both the print and web for Billy’s Best Bottles (www.billysbestbottles.com) and has designed 10 editions of Billy’s Best Bottles annual wine book – which has been a Canadian best seller each year. She also designed Kathy Guidi’s book on Canadian Cheese (published by McArthur and Company) and is currently designing a breakfast cookbook for County resident Elizabeth Pulker. As Billy's 'right hand woman', she helps him conduct seminars is is the 'operations manager' behind the Wine with Life Tours. :)

2 Comments on "Billy’s Online Wine School"

  1. Andrew Bloomfield says:

    Ahhhh… Campo is an old friend. I remember the backyard party where I first tasted it. Surrounded by sumac trees and english profs, I felt young and out of my depth. Someone passed me a glass of this and conversation just seemed a lot easier!

    Campo may even have been the reason that I started drinking red wine… way back when. Is it really possible that was 20 years ago? Zoinks! Well, it’s nice to know that one of us has improved with age!

  2. Kathryn says:

    I definitely got the earthiness with this one. The day I bought it I tried it and found it a bit strong. The following day, I tried it was a pasta dinner and enjoyed it much more.

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