When guests come to Pane e Vino, they are not just entering a restaurant and wine bar, they are actually welcomed into Michael and Mary Kirkendoll’s living room, styled to invoke the feel of the European homes where Michael first learned about wine. By the end of the evening, they hope everyone enjoyed an experience verses a regular night out.
“It’s reminiscent of the wine tasting we would do in Italy,” he says. “You go through a cellar and taste the wines; before you know it, you’re in the kitchen. Nonna walks around the corner, and then the owner comes in. Mom shows up, and all of a sudden, you’ve got the family sitting around the table drinking and telling their stories. That’s how we want it to feel here. When guest walk in, they’re being welcomed not only into our bar or restaurant but into our home. It’s a whole experience of hospitality.”
Michael is a concert pianist and a professor of piano at the University of Kansas. His passion for wine began on his first trip to Europe as a 19-year-old. When he was picked up at the airport in France, the first stop was for lunch, where they put a bottle of rose on the table.
For the following two weeks, Michael stayed with different families. Wine, food, and cheese were part of every interaction. He remembers, “Lunch, dinner, concerts, celebrations, toasts. It became how I observed the world through their food and wine. In the Czech Republic, it was learning about their beer and food. In China it was learning their customs about how they toast and eat. Then starting at a festival in Italy, wine became such a major part of that experience. I started studying and learning. That interaction, the way it’s shared amongst friends and families, celebrations and memories, it’s all tied together for me now.”
In 2019, Michael started the Uncorked Pianist, LLC as a way to share his passion for wine and food through tastings, tours, personal cellar management, and other wine-related events. He became a certified sommelier in 2021 through the Court of Master Sommeliers and a certified wine specialist through the Society of Wine Educators.
Pane e Vino is named after one of Michael’s favorite restaurants in Cortona and means “bread and wine” in Italian. The wine bar offers 250 wines by the glass. Tuesdays are Pasta Nights, where Michael makes homemade pasta featuring a different Italian sauce each week. Fridays are Wine Experience Nights, with discounted three-wine flights exploring a specific grape, region, or wine style. Then Saturdays are Bistro Nights, highlighting seasonal dinner options that change weekly.
Michael also leads wine-tasting trips to Europe. While these tours will include stops at some well-known wine producers, he will also include small wineries where he’s developed personal relationships with the owners. These are where the winemaker will lead the vineyard tour, and the tastings often take place in their living room.
“We work really hard to make them experiential, diving deep into some of the best wines you could ever taste,” Michael says.
Mary is a crucial component of Pane e Vino’s success. She partners with Michael on the tours and wine bar events. Outside of the wine experiences, she also owns Yoga of Kindness yoga studio and Touch of Kindness massage therapy.
Pane e Vino will be open for Valentine’s Day and will have a special Valentine’s Day menu the weekend before. For Michael, the holiday is all about champagne and pinot noir.
“There’s something romantic about pinot noir as a wine and the foods that go with it,” he says. “They can be nice warm wintery foods. I think it’s a really beautiful winter food and wine pairing. And, of course, champagne is always celebratory in nature, even though, for me, it’s a wine we should drink all the time and not just for celebrations.”
Michael encourages people to expand their wine experience. He points out two key reasons many find the wine world intimidating. One is the language; some find dealing with a foreign language a significant stumbling block.
The second is the misconception that wine is for the elite and not for every day. He acknowledges that wine does have its place as a luxury commodity, with some bottles coming with a hefty price tag. But at its roots, wine is made in the garage of many European homes in much the same way home brewers make beer in the United States. He stresses that excellent wines are available and reasonably priced, and it’s possible to learn about and taste wine from all over the world without going broke.
“For me, wine is about stories,” Michael says. “Especially with the menu I’ve created here, I try as often as possible to choose wines that have a story that is meaningful to me. Something that I can share that is related to me and is an experience. When people come over here just for fun, when I’m having dinner with friends, it’s opening a nice bottle that has a story that becomes a new story with that group of people. It’s about stories and experiences and people.”
To make reservations at Pane e Vino and to register for classes or trips, go to www.panevinoks.com.
“And in the end, I hope guests leave having learned something about the wines they drink.” Michael Kirkendoll, owner of Pane e Vino.