Story
My name is Michael Kirkendoll, aka the Uncorked Pianist. I am a concert pianist and professor of piano at the University of Kansas (www.michaelkirkendoll.com) with a deep passion for fine wine, great food, travel, and an equal passion for sharing those experiences with others. In 2010, I founded a contemporary music festival in Cortona, Italy, and began leading small groups of musicians (up to 40 people) on tastings at some of the finest wineries in Tuscany. During these annual adventures, my wife and I would enjoy time following our festival, and began visiting dozens of wineries and regions around Italy. Over the years, I have built wonderful relationships with a number of winemakers, restaurants, and others in the region, falling deeper and deeper in love with the flavors, scents, history, and passion of this country.
My love for food and wine began as a 19 year old when I took my first trip to France and was treated to incredible food and wine, and experienced the central place that these delights had in the daily lives of my hosts. I was picked up at the airport by a jolly Frenchman named Claude in a vintage WWII American Army jeep and taken immediately to lunch which included bottle of Loire Valley Rosé! While living in New York, I had my first tastes of fine dining and began buying and tasting wines that had life and character, starting primarily with the wines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape from France’s Rhone Valley. By the time, I started my doctoral degree, I was fully committed to studying, experiencing, and tasting wines from around the world, and started a small but enjoyable cellar, buying wines at auction and beginning to understand the intricacies of the winemaking process. In 2006, my wife and I made our first trip to Italy, tasting wines from Montalcino, Super Tuscans from around Tuscany, and incredible Syrah from Cortona. I was hooked. The wines of Italy became my passion and I began an exploration that continues today.
In 2019, I founded Uncorked Pianist, LLC as a new venture to share my passion for wine and food with others through tastings, tours, personal cellar management, and other wine-related events. This led to my completion of certifications and exams in 2021 from the Court of Master Sommeliers (Certified Sommelier), Wine & Spirits Education Trust (Level 3 Award in Wine, and Society of Wine Educators (Certified Specialist in Wine), and the development of Pane e Vino Wine Bar & Academy.
Named after one of my favorite restaurants and wine lists in Cortona, Pane e Vino (“bread and wine”) is where I hope to recreate many of the experiences I have had in Italy, where I have been invited into the homes of winemakers and shared glasses and stories about their culture, history, and the deep passion they have for their work. As a work/live space, you will be entering my living room and enjoying wines, cheeses, charcuteries, and dinners all prepared and curated directly by me from my own experiences. Classes discussing wine regions, individual grape varieties, and the winemaking process will be features of our programming, while the Tasting Room will be open for regular service each week, and free events called Vino Veritas will present music and talks from some of the talented and interesting people in our community. In addition, I offer guided tours to wine regions around the world that include highly personalized services and experiences with visits to top wineries and some of the world’s best restaurants.
I am looking forward to welcoming you and sharing a glass, a story, and a journey into the world of wine!
Saluté!
Michael Kirkendoll
Certifications:
Court of Master Sommeliers: Certified Sommelier
Wine & Spirits Education Trust: WSET Level 3 Award in Wine
Society of Wine Educators: Certified Specialist of Wine