Billy’s Online Wine School: Lesson 7

by Kato on March 24, 2010 in Wine Picks with 5 Comments Tweet

Billy’s Online Wine School
Lesson #7 EXPERIENCE PURITY

With the early arrival of Spring (we hope) I though you might be up for exploring purity. At least wines with a pure expression. Examples of purity in everyday life are mineral water, green apples, stainless steel sinks, marble flooring and the little black dress. Experiences that feel ‘refreshing’ in a world full of clutter and decoration. Dry Riesling is the torch carrier for a pure expression in wine. So is Champagne but we’ll leave that one for another day.

Pure wines work best as first-of-the-day drinks and to refresh. And to tease our senses. They are high in energy but low in flavour. You feel invigorated and the absence of flavour leaves the door open for whatever follows. So here’s the drill. Have a glass or two of ‘purist’ wine, recork, refrigerate, and repeat the next evening. Feel the ‘cool touch’ of marble. And feel the need to move on from the purist experience to something nourishing.

WAYNE GRETZKY 08 Riesling, VQA Niagara 144865 $14.95
VINELAND ESTATES 07 Dry Riesling, VQA Niagara 167551 $13.75

P.S. Look for a longer list of local Rieslings in a few weeks. (If you’ve missed other lessons check out the ONLINE WINE SCHOOL in this site – see the link on page left)

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Kato

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. :)

Tagged: riesling, Vineland, VQA, Wayne Gretzy

5 Comments on "Billy’s Online Wine School: Lesson 7"

1. David Marsh says:

   March 29, 2010 at 6:51 pm

   We’ve been really enjoying the Vineland Estates Riesling the past few nights. After work or before dinner, it’s a nice relaxing sip, and at 9.7% it doesn’t preclude a glass or two of something else with the food. We also like the way it softens but retains its character for a couple days after opening.
2. PEC_fangirl says:

   March 30, 2010 at 9:45 am

   I couldn’t find these bottles at my local LCBO… but I did get my hands on a Lindemans Pinot Grigio for Lesson No.6. I’ll report back.
3. Kathryn says:

   March 31, 2010 at 7:46 am

   I picked up the Gretzy Riesling. It is a nice ‘coming home from work’-'relaxing at the end of the day’ kind of wine. Quite refreshing. Unlike some Rieslings that I have tried in the past, it does not seem tangy (sour?).

   Will very likely buy again in the summer.
4. Travis Oke says:

   March 31, 2010 at 10:14 pm

   We have been serving Larch Tree Hill Riesling from Prospect Winery in BC for our Spring wine tasting menu at the Red Brick Café, in Guelph, to rave reviews.
   People like a dry Riesling when introduced to a good one. “Larch Tree Hill” is a cool name but can’t compete with a name like “Wayne Gretzky” – is he a German wine maker or something? The name is very familiar.
5. billy munnelly says:

   March 31, 2010 at 11:27 pm

   Isn’t Oke a cheese from Quebec!
   And did you know that Guelph is the queen of England’s family name.

   No foolin!