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Interview with Vivo In Vivo's Creators

August 13, 2010

The Antlers at In Vino, photo from BrooklynVegan.com

Vivo In Vino is an "intimate wine salon" started by our good buddies over at In Vino (who you have probably seen at all of our parties) on the Lower East Side.  The restaurant pairs some of NYC's most interesting musicians with inspiring wines for a night of listening, chatter, and... tasting.  We sat down with the brains behind the series to talk about the artists, how this all came to be, and what kind of wine they'd pair with Lil' Weezy.

Tell us a little bit about Vivo in Vino. Where did the idea come from? How did it all begin?

David: Vivo In Vino came about from our love of music and our love of wine, and the bridge that exists between the two.  When you think about going to a show, you're often left with just a few options of domestic beer, and if you're lucky, some watered down mixed drinks.  We wanted to break that mold and highlight that wine and music is actually an ideal pairing in that they are two art forms that similarly benefit from creativity, experimentation and independence.  Additionally, we also want to show that you don't just have to listen to a symphony or a jazz trio if you're drinking wine.

How do you pick the artists? Do they typically know a lot about wine?

Adam: We pick artists we love that we think would do well in an intimate setting.  Although an artist's knowledge of wine is not a criteria for us booking them, every artist so far that has played Vivo in Vino has been very into wine and food and has had a blast at the event.   Nicole Atkins and The Antlers have both told us they'd play it again, it was such a good time.

Keith: Typically, when a band we reach out to wants to do the show there is a definite interest in wine there. The whole idea is very appealling to them because,  they get to show off there skills in an intimate environment. No big stage and haul ins and outs. 

Did you guys have anything special for the recent Vivo in Vino with Holly Miranda? 

Keith: BEAR FLAG! Love these wonderful Cali ladies! Hillary and Beth each make a wine( a white and a red) that they pour their heart and soul into. We have been carrying the wines at the shop for quite sometime now and when it was time to reach out and pair with Holly Miranda Bear Flag was on the tip of both mine and David's tounges… Beth and Hillary used this event to showcase their two latest wines. Sweet.

You've already paired wines with The Antlers, Nicole Atkins, and Holly Miranda - how about pairing a from your menu with them? 

Keith:

The Antlers: Porcini Ravioli with a truffle cream sauce

Nicole Atkins: Skirt steak medium rare finished with a balsamic vinaigrette served with sauteed spinach and roasted rosemary potatoes

Holly Miranda: Pappardelle Abrrabiata with shrimp in an aioli sauce.

Pair a wine with the following artists (and tell us why!)

LADY GAGA

David: Txakolina -- Effervescent and frothy, it's a wine that people love or hate.  Low enough in alcohol to keep you light on your dancing feet.

JAMES BROWN

Keith: The hardest working man in showbiz had a very strong type A personality. But those moves and that rhythm gets anyone shuffling their feet. So, Work Hard/Play Hard says to me celebrate with a bottle of grower's Champagne. It is full enough to compliment the attitude and bubbly enough to celebrate.

David: I'd go with a Fine Tawny Port for him.  High octane, intense, but still fruity and lively.

PASSION PIT

Adam: A really good rose cause they are poppy, fresh, young and make me think of summer. 

David: A poppy and energized music would pair well with zesty, gooseberry style New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs. 

WILCO

Adam:  Man, I think depression and winter, a very heavy red

Keith: Brooding, cautious, slightly tortured. This calls for some serious good wine. These guys will think about whatever is put in front of them. Gotta go Vintage Bordeaux, specifically from the Medoc/left bank region where the blends are primarily Cabernet Sauvignon. Pop it, pour it and let it evolve.

David: A band with a long and evolving catalogue in music could match up great with a similarly long and complex wine like a Burgundy or a Barolo.

LIL WAYNE

Keith: Lil Wayne is the kind of entrepreneur that will stick his toes in all kinds of stuff, hip hop, sports, rock, possession. I can totally see him making his own wine one day. But for now this dude is a big, oaky, Cali Chardonnay. I am not sure why. It just feels right.

Adam: He would only ever drink Champagne, so I'd switch it up and give him a lambrusco. 

David: He says he only drinks pink champagne, but I agree with Adam that a lambrusco would be a perfect match for Lil Weezie.

Anything else our readers should know about the series?

Keith: One thing to point out is that David and Adam and I truly enjoy organizing these events. I can't tell you how much fun it is to get wine and music into our little cave and all hang out with common interests. When I watch a Vivo In Vino event go down it just feels so good and so right to be doing this.

Adam: Wine and good music to the people.  No pretension at all.

Posted in FOOD, MUSIC on August 13, 2010 2:45pm by Seth | 20 comments

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We are young (early 20's) and hungry (for knowledge! music! art! food!) friends living on (or in areas which border) Manhattan. We moved to the city seeking higher education, and an alternative to frat parties and gin buckets. We prefer a bottle of Chianti to a keg, lunches at City Bakery to a dining hall, Joe's to Starbucks, Frankie's Amatriciana to Batali's. Our uniting factor is our love for food. For detailed, personal information, keep reading.
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