VINYL VINO AND VIBES

By Emily Dockery

By Erin Marie Miller

Wine is something that gets paired with everything under the sun these days. And those pairings are reaching for more accessible standards from the traditional 5 course wine dinners. From Halloween candy to potato chips, from fast food favorites to Girl Scout cookies. Wine is an obvious opportunity for classic fine dining pairings but is now becoming a catalyst for modern and creative pairings appealing to new audiences.

Expanding the audiences of wine is helping to secure a new foundation for the wine industry as purchasing patterns and demands are changing. Something that stays consistent is how humans use the senses to experience wine and food, typically smell and taste are the key to experiencing these pairings. But what about using wine pairings to create an experience and tap into all of the senses, not just the famous five…but those we might not even be aware of? Some neuroscientists argue that humans consolidate their senses into clusters. These clusters when broken up can account for anywhere between 22 and 33 additional senses. Let’s take a few moments to consider pairing wine with experiences to potentially tap into those dozens of senses…and then let’s take it a step further…and consider pairing wine with community. Two women of color in Detroit are taking those concepts to heart and creating wine experiences to tap into the human senses and then some. Both of these new and exciting projects are centered around increased accessibility to wine through more comfortable entry points for many wine novices, music and books.

Vinyl, Vino, and Vibes

Cierra Mooney is a native of the Metro Detroit area, also known as Motown for many music lovers. The Motown passion for music and sound is enmeshed in her DNA. Mooney has a history of immersing her sense of sound in the record collection inherited from her father. Through this beloved pastime she realized one’s sense of sound can influence the other senses…markedly taste. Mooney prefers to tap into all of her senses to truly experience the world and add to her knowledge of it. She absorbs life using each of her senses and not just those famous five we are all so familiar with.

This practice of being fully present inspired her to create a concept for vinyl and wine dinners where she provides an immersive wine experience while prioritizing communities not historically invited into the wine space. Cierra began by curating a wine tasting and food pairing menu based around one of her many vinyl records and initiated an event at The Kitchen by Cooking with Que in Detroit. And thus, Vinyl, Vino, and Vibes was born. Vinyl, Vino, and Vibes invites guests to feel the music through the glass and taste the glass through the music in addition to reveling in community, discussion, and of course expertly prepared cuisine. Mooney works to create this experience by blending the senses together, as a winemaker blends wines inspired by the current vintage. Mooney curates the theme of these dinners and tastings inspired by the current vibe. Like wine, Vinyl, Vino, and Vibe events are all about structure, balance, and finish. They are organized by a theme, a menu, and a schedule. They are serious but fun, and they leave you wanting more.

Interview

Why is it important for you to connect wine to the senses through the experience of music and food?

I believe in using universal pleasures like food and music to help better understand the complexity of wine. I found that folks are interested in understanding wine but they're intimidated because it's just so much information. I used to work wine tasting events while living in DC. I would watch how the attendees took to the information…but more notable how they didn’t. In most cases, they’d get a glazed look as they try to grasp and understand what the hell the sommelier was saying. When I started Vinyl Vino and Vibes (VVV) I wanted to start from the basic fundamental level. And I wanted it to be fun! Using food and music as a conduit into wine just made sense to me. With sense came the senses. Applying music and food to help better understand the concept of wine just came naturally. If this particular wine was a song here’s what it would sound like. If we pair it with this particular food this is what it would taste like and so on. I love the moment when I see an attendee’s eyes get slightly big like a neural pathway was just created in their brain. When I see that I know I just planted a dope seed.

How have wine and experiences with wine shaped you personally?

Wine has allowed me to get a sneak peek into other cultures. I was introduced to old-world wines when I spent a few months in Europe. While there I got to hang with the locals and learn about their wines. At the time, I was pretty set on drinking my Barefoot

Moscato and Sutter Home White Zinfandel. But my longtime friend who lived there insisted I open my mind. So I tried some of the wines. Once I got back to the states I picked up a job working at a wine bar. My wine knowledge was still very minimal but luckily they were willing to work with me. Over four years my wine knowledge expanded greatly. I learned why wine was created, how to properly hold a glass, and the difference between the old world versus the new world.

Which audience(s) are you most passionate about reaching through Vinyl, Vino, and Vibes?

VVV is for everyone but I'm adamant about reaching the African American community. I feel Black people should have more access to experiences such as this as a way to increase their knowledge of wine. We are intentionally working our way out of hundreds of years of mental conditioning and generational trauma, and with that we sometimes struggle with subconsciously feeling like we don’t belong in particular spaces. I still struggle with that at times myself. I would like people to embrace all types of wines and not dismiss it because it’s not sweet enough. I believe by understanding the story and the proper approach to a glass of wine, everyone would have a more complete experience.

What do you see for Vinyl, Vino, and Vibes going forward?

Oh, I see so much! Currently, I am building a social media presence via an online community which anyone can follow along with on Instagram at @vinylvinoandvibes. I want VVV to be something that one can escape to and vibe to outside of our actual events, even if it's just for 30 seconds while scrolling. I would love it to be an outlet where people can find ways to create their vibe by mentioning restaurants, various wines, and different artists. Also, I plan to continue creating and hosting VVV events around the city as much as possible at various venues to spread wine knowledge and the vibe.

How will you be incorporating Michigan wines into Vinyl, Vino, and Vibes?

I’d love to partner with some Michigan-based wine companies. What better way to teach Michiganders about wine than using a Michigan Wine brand to do it? That will help people find a common ground. The Michigan Wine Collaborative is helping to do just that by facilitating communication between Michigan wineries and myself as I plan the upcoming VVV events. We are working towards sourcing Michigan wine producers as partners and creating an event calendar with a Michigan wine theme to present to our metro Detroit area guests. Once I have the venues, producers, and menus set we will announce our upcoming events for the summer.

What’s your favorite way to pair wine and food?

Food is my love language! I love sticking to the classics. A beautiful cheese and charcuterie board is EVERYTHING to me. Paired with a nice full-bodied, jammy red with chewy tannins, like a Michigan Marquette or an Italian Primitivo or even a light and fruity white wine like the newly released collaboration wine from Chateau Chantal and Drew Ryan Wines, The DREAM! The creamy cheese and salty meats bring out the amazing fruit notes of both styles of wine.

What’s your favorite or one of your favorite vinyl and wine pairing?

One of my favorite pairings is Sade’s Diamond Life with a bottle of Rosé. The album is nostalgic for me. I remember hearing Smooth Operator during summer backyard barbecues when the sun was setting. Rosé pairs perfectly with that feel. Wonderful light, crispy fruit-forward expression on the palate. Notes of ripe strawberries, tart raspberries, with a slight sweet or tart finish.

T&T Sip n Read Bookbar

As we consider the senses, let's switch gears from stacking the sense of sound and taste to stacking the senses of sight and taste with Tamela Todd who is in the final stages of constructing a wine bar and bookshop in Detroit. An incredible champion and advocate of mental health, an author, a non profit leader, Spirit of Detroit award winner, and now the owner of the city’s newest self proclaimed ‘wine-brary’ or wine library, Todd is working to create a cozy and inclusive space to enjoy some of the most classic luxuries of life, books, wine, coffee, and of course fellowship. The ‘wine-brary’ is made possible through the coveted Motor City Match Grant program which provides funding for new and expanding businesses within Detroit’s commercial corridors. Plans for T&T Sip n Read include a wine list exclusively featuring Michigan wines, cozy spots to curl up with a book, community event offerings including wine tastings and author events, book clubs, and more.

Interview

How did you come up with the idea for T&T Sip n Read Bookbar?

The idea for Sip n Read came from my love of books, coffee and wine. As a published author I thought we needed a concept using the love of books and wine to encourage fellowship and networking in a comfortable, relaxing atmosphere. This will be Detroit's 1st ‘Wine-brary’. Sip n Read will differentiate itself by putting a twist on an old classic, using the love of books and wine. Our vision is to be a one-stop shop that creates the perfect blend of books, fellowship, and fun. I have always enjoyed reading and there is nothing better than pairing a book with a glass of wine. With this in mind, I'm creating a unique wine and book monthly or quarterly membership package for our customers.

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Why is the location of the bookbar in Detroit important?

I was born and raised in the city of Detroit, and there is no better place to open, or start my business. I want my community to have access to books within walking distance along with a cozy place to enjoy their favorite adult beverages.

How have your life experiences brought you to being passionate about wine?

When I think of wine I think of an elegant, classy, and relaxing adult beverage. Wine can be consumed at a dinner party, an evening event, dinner at home, or just to relax after a long day of work. Recommending a revered read to your coworkers or a new wine like one of my go-tos, Michcato sweet white by St. Julian, is a great way to make an impression on your colleagues or unfamiliar acquaintances.

What kinds of events or experiences are you most excited to offer at T&T Sip n Read Bookbar?

We will offer community events, adult book clubs, wine clubs, books & brunch, credit & coffee, tea & journal along with indie and celebrity book launches.

How will Michigan wines be incorporated into the space?

We plan to only carry Michigan wine at this time.

What is a book and wine pairing that our readers should experience?

I would recommend your favorite romance novel paired with your favorite sweet wine. One of my favorite romance books is Before We Were Strangers: A Love Story – by Renée Carlino which pairs beautifully with Detroit White by St. Julian Winery.

Cierra Mooney and Tamela Todd are working to pioneer new ways for the community to enjoy and connect with wine in the city of Detroit. Using music and literature as ways to connect the senses to wine will serve to attract new consumers to wine through innovative events, outreach, and fellowship. The goal of making wine more accessible and approachable has been a focus in wine for some time. Black, Women founded projects such as Vinyl, Vino, and Vibes and T&T Sip n Read are two exciting examples of how the industry is closing the gap between the exclusive aura that wine has cultivated in the past and the idea that wine is for everyone. Michigan is a leader in the wave of wine accessibility and Detroit could be the next frontier of bringing Michigan wine to a whole new audience.

Make sure to follow Vinyl, Vino, and Vibes and T&T Sip n Read on social media for news on events and exciting content on how you can pair your favorite Michigan wines with tunes and books to fit your vibe.

@vinylvinoandvibes @sipnreadbookbar

Emily Dockery is the Executive Director for the Michigan Wine Collaborative, http://michiganwinecollaborative.com/. She has extensive experience in the retail wine sales industry and is a graduate of the Lake Michigan College enology and viticulture program.