Rochele Pasta & Wine Masterclass with Ripiena

From Brushes to Rolling Pins: 

Recently, our Rochele team traded paint rollers for pasta rollers at a very special pasta-and-wine masterclass. This wasn’t a typical team training or conference room presentation. Instead, it was hands-on in the most delicious way.

Leading us on this journey was Nicolo’ Campagnari, owner of Fortitude Valley’s one and only Ripiena pasta laboratory, who also happens to be a longtime family friend of the Rochele team. Nicolo’ generously offered to share his craft with us, turning our office into a mini Italian cucina for the day. 

From the moment Nicolo’ cracked the first egg into the flour “well,” we were captivated. He took us on a tour of Italy through its pasta: explaining where different pasta shapes originated and why they matter, the importance of choosing the right flour (we learned that a fine “00” flour can make all the difference for a silky dough), and how to pair pastas with wines to bring out the best flavours.

As we kneaded and rolled, Nicolo’ sprinkled in stories from his childhood in Verona, where he learned this craft, and his passion was simply infectious. Soon, even our most kitchen-shy colleagues were stretching fettuccine and shaping ravioli with flour-covered hands and huge smiles. 

A Masterclass Full of Heart: 

What made this experience truly unforgettable was the heart and generosity poured into it. Nicolo’ is a true artisan – a chef who lives and breathes his craft – and he brought that same patience and zeal to teaching us. Under his guidance, we laughingly competed to create the longest pasta strands and toasted each other with sips of Italian wine whenever someone perfected a new technique. It felt less like a class and more like a friend showing us his family recipes in his home kitchen. 

The meal was, of course, delicious – but what lingered with us even more than the flavours was the sense of community we all felt. Rochele has always seen itself as a family, and that day we truly felt it. Many of us remarked how special it was to spend an afternoon not as co-workers, but as friends and family learning something new side by side.  

Why These Moments Matter:

 At Rochele, experiences like this pasta night aren’t just a fun break; they’re a reflection of who we are and what we value. Our founders started Rochele as a family business, and that spirit of family has only grown over the years. We believe that when a team feels like family, it shows in their work.  

In the end, what we took away from this experience wasn’t just the ability to make fresh tagliatelle or a newfound appreciation for wine – it was a reaffirmation of what makes Rochele special. We’ve always believed that beautiful shared experiences bring people together and that nothing bonds people quite like food. This day was proof of that belief. Our team walked away feeling closer, inspired, and deeply valued. We felt, more than ever, like the family we strive to be. 

We’re so grateful to Nicolo’ Campagnari and the Ripiena team for giving us a day we’ll always cherish.

Grazie mille for the memories, the knowledge (and the carbs)!