The Great Led Zeppelin Wine Pairing is a series of “wine and music pairings” created by noted restaurateur and viticulturist Joe Bastianich and writer-musician Mike Edison, along with writer and wine expert David Lynch (not the freaky film maker).
The idea was formed when Bastianich and Edison were pondering how to pair the songs of Led Zeppelin with various wines.
Our passion for wine is only rivaled by our passion for Zeppelin,” said Bastianich, and encouraged attendees to taste with their ears and listen with their mouths.
Edison, in an interview with publishing blog Galley Cat, said, Either you see this as a hyper-intellectual exercise in promoting the lexicon of oenology as a valid critical system while simultaneously subverting it and subjecting it to ridicule—or you think it is just some dudes who want to drink some really good wine and listen to Led Zeppelin. No matter what, it is still going be the best salon since Dorothy Parker made that crack about horticulture.” – You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think.
Why Led Zeppelin?
Edison has explained that “Zep is the perfect band to pair with wine – maybe the only band. They have all the right qualities: They can be earthy and intense, or dark and mellow, or just insanely huge. They've got some very real, edgy twang, and some rich, complex textures. They embrace both the Old World and the New. I can't think of any other band that shows so much depth and development, both within individual songs and across entire records,” adding, that the wine pairings were both “freakishly sophisticated and patently absurd.” Bastinach further explained the pairing, “I think because of the sheer complexity and the deep roots of the music – where the music comes from, and how profound it is – Led Zeppelin's music can only really be paralleled with the kind of evolution, importance and complexity of wine, as both a cultural thing as well as a beverage.”
History
The first Great Led Zeppelin Wine Pairing was held at Becco restaurant in New York City on March 17, 2009, and received excellent reviews and widespread media attention. The New York Post reported, “Guests at Tuesday night's first-ever Great Led Zeppelin Wine Tasting were an odd combo of wine fans and Zep heads but it didn't take many samplings for everyone to start feeling a whole lotta love.”
The menu, created by chef Billy Gallagher, featured six courses, each paired with wine and select Led Zeppelin songs, as follows:
~Antipasto~
“The Song Remains the Same”
Grilled Calamari & Dandelion Salad with Hard-Boiled Egg
Champagne 1er Cru Vertus NV, Guy Larmandier (France)
Gruner Veltliner Smaragd Terrassen 2007, Domane Wachan (Austria)
~Primi~
“Going to California”
Pappardelle with Wild Mushroom Ragu
Pinot Noir Knox Alexander 2006, Au Bon Climat (California)
“Black Dog”
Black Spaghetti Arribiata with Sautéed Shrimp
Malbec 2005, Tritono (Argentina)
~Secondi~
“Kashmir”, “Whole Lotta Love”
Bistecca alla Becco
Black Angus Rib-Eye Steak grilled Medium-Rare with Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Sauteed Broccoli Rabe
Barolo Vigne Rionda 2000, Oddero (Italy)
~Dolci~
“Tangerine”
Farm Fresh Tangerines
Moscato d’Asti 2008, Vietti (Italy)
“Custard Pie”
Vanilla Custard Pie & Led Zeppolini
The second Great Led Zeppelin Wine Tasting was held at City Winery in New York City on May 2, 2009, and featured Led Zeppelin Tribute band Six Foot Nurse performing live with special guest Scott Ian from the band Anthrax. There was less focus on food this time round.
Henriot Brut Blanc de Blancs NV – The Immigrant Song
William Fevre Chablis 2006 – Misty Mountain Hop
Truchard Carneros Pinot Noir 2005 – What is and What Should Never Be
Padrillos Mendoza Malbec 2007 – Black Dog
Fontanafredda Barolo Serralunga 2001 – Kashmir
Chateau de Sales 2004 – Whole Lotta Love
More events are expected, including one in Las Vegas.
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