Welcome to the eclectic wine and music world of Lucas Bozzoli
Drop 02 | Season 02
Nestled in the historic Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, petnat isn’t just a bar, it's a sensory journey where wine and music intertwine. At the helm is Lucas Bozzoli, a connoisseur who brings a diverse flair to both his wine and music selections. With an eye for the unique and a taste for the extraordinary, Lucas has curated 12 deep cuts of wine and music for us. Let’s dive into the captivating world of Lucas Bozzoli.
Lucas Bozzoli, a self-proclaimed music nerd, is the maestro behind your perfect wine night in Barcelona.
His talent lies in the ability to choose wines that are both drinkable and delicious, making the world of wine feel accessible to anyone. Drawing inspiration from his experiences in Barcelona's diverse neighborhoods, he intertwines wine and music, creating a rich and immersive tapestry for visitors to his wine bar. His authentic and passionate approach to both fields crafts a multi-sensory journey that deeply resonates with those in search of an engaging and genuine experience.
Season 02 | Drop 02 Interview | Feb 01, 2024
Playlist’s Matt Friesen: If you could match any wine with a city's music scene, which city would you choose, and what wine would represent its rhythm?
Lucas Bozzoli: People tend to think Barcelona is the party city: you know, summer, beaches everywhere, a bit of mountain, you can do anything. A lot of people see it as very cosmopolitan, but I think Madrid is a special city.
So I would pair Bysnes by Layn with Madrid. And for the wine, I would go for something very easygoing. Probably the Microbio Brutale Verdero. Similar to the cuvee I put on my list, but the orange wine instead.
A little bit sweet, so very juicy, and something you can drink any time of the day. Something not too strong.
Yeah, I think that first perfectly.
MF: That's, that's my jam right there. I love it. That's so good.
Wine, words, & music by Lucas Bozzoli
Milan Nestarec’s
Danger 380 Volts 2022
Lucas’ Picks | Wine 1
At first, I was surprised that the Czech Republic produced wine, and a little doubtful until I tried Milan Nestarec’s one. Nestarec is a family business. They are totally, in what I believe, on par with my wine vision. Transparency is a must and they do it very well.
Danger 380, is one of my favorite bottles of all time. Produced from a balanced blend of Muller, Neuburger, and Muscat. Somehow, it's a little bit creamy with nice aromatic, mango, and exotic fruit flavors. It has as well this electric acidity, with this lively sparkliness. You can’t stop sipping it, dangerously good!
I discovered Japanese city-pop through internet (like most of us I guess ?) around 10 years ago
and fell in love with it.
As for wine, when I get hooked, I have to dig it like a madman.
Kage Ni Natte is smooth, relaxing, but has so much energy and funk with it! A banger that has so many samples potential for a Hip-Hop killer tune.
MF: Can you recall a moment when a specific song not only matched but also elevated the taste of a wine you were enjoying?
LB: That happens to me all the time.
Working in wine, you always try to help people create a mood. They say “Oh, I want to drink this type of wine”, but then you come up with your own recommendation. Sometimes you try to surprise them. Not to change the pace, but you know this isn’t the right time to drink it. So you bring your own perspective to the table.
For example, Jean Yves Perron produces wines that require contemplation. You can’t drink them fast, because they have a lot of complexity and layers to them. That type of wine requires a calm album, but not too calm. Almost like an ambient jazz type of thing. And then you know it's going to be something special because your senses won’t be too brutalized by it.
But if you have something juicy, something easy drinking, I always pair it with something fun. Like party mode. Maybe a bit of house music or a bit of techno. Something super joyful, because it's easy. You don't have to bring a lot of complexity to what you're feeling with your palate and your nose, you know?
You just need to find the right balance.
Karnage is a Jura project from Charles Dagand and Stéphane Planche, that I had the chance to meet at his cellar in Arbois. Only négoce. And you know what? It is gonna blow your mind. Here, we have the union of two macerated grapes :
Grenache Blanche and Muscat of Alexandrie.
First, muscat aromatic in the nose. Peachy, white flower, intense. Then, easy-going, no tannins, fruity and slightly sweet in the month. Pure summer juice and incredibly fun.
I mean, they wrote it themselves: Pure grape juice, nothing else. Nothing added, nothing taken away.
Karnage’s
Greska 2022
Lucas’ Picks | Wine 2
80s French synth-pop/boogie is undoubtedly one of the genres I could listen to any time of the day. There is this groovy vibe, stacked bassline, cheesy lyrics, that I can’t get enough of. It always puts me in the mood.
MF: I want you to imagine you're hosting a dinner party and the playlist is curated by a famous musician. Who would that musician be and what wine would you bring to the party to compliment their music?
LB: You know what? I would go with the jazz drummer Youssef Dayes. Oh, and Kamaal Williams! They had a band together so they could go really deep together.
It would be jazz music, but also a bit of hip hop, a bit of house, a bit of UK garage, and probably a nice blend of different genres that I would appreciate listening to.
And I would choose my wine based on the mood of the night. Maybe a serious wine, but not too serious, you know? There will also be a bottle that is very easygoing - a juicy one. And a sparkling to start because I always like to start with sparkling.
But they will all be interesting wines in terms of flavor. Like the music, the wines will be from all over the world - lesser-known countries and types of grapes.
But, still always balance.
MF: Can you make sure I get an invite?
Les Foulards Rouge’s
Octobre 2023
Lucas’ Picks | Wine 3
From the french Catalan coasts, Jean François Nicq does wine how I like it. From the graphic design and his references to the grapes he used and what he does with it.
Octobre is his primeur, so basically the first wine of the year. 10 days on carbo, then a month in barrels, so a process of more or less 6 weeks. Quickly done but nicely done. This Syrah with a touch of Grenache is juicy, fresh, a bit creamy, and easy with a balanced acidity. Which is quite rare to find in those really young wines. With an appetizer or with some tapas: 10/10.
Plus I was born in October, so I had a special connection with the wine solely for his name at first sight haha.
Scandal Night from Miharu Koshi is my fav synth-pop track ever.
Catchy, kitsch, groovy, weird, with the ringtone and the Japanese lyrics.
The best. Word.
MF: So you've been working at petnat for a little while now. If running the wine bar is like a stage where different stories unfold every night, have you ever had the perfect night from opening act to the encore?
LB: There are actually two of us who manage petnat. We are quite similar, but at the same time, very different stylistically. I'm usually shaved with glasses, and he is super tall with long hair. But we have the same taste in music.
My perfect night would start slowly, with a few people who will be keen to try several glasses. Like I did with you, for example, I would bring 10 bottles to the table.
I don't know what they want to drink, but I will make them try everything. And then they're already tipsy before they even get the drinks. And that's what I like! Try, try, try, try, try. And how did you feel about them? You didn't like it? Okay. No problem. I’ll bring something else.
That’s the kind of night I like most. The place is full. Everyone is in a good mood. No one is too complicated. And the flow is so good that I can go to the table with three or four bottles and know I nailed it straight away.
Sometimes it happens that you have these amazing nights and it's full of people enjoying wine and the music is pumping.
MF: It's a bit like being a DJ. You have to read the room and pick the right music and take someone on a journey, but you do the same thing through wine. So you're like a wine DJ as you set the mood for the table.
LB: Exactly!
Joan Rubio’s
Essencial 2020
Lucas’ Picks | Wine 4
I had to put at least one Cataluñan wine on that list. I could have chosen many but lastly I really do have a crush on Joan Rubio. From Penedes, he mostly works Xarel-lo and Macabeu, but he does have two red cuvée as well.
His take on the white wine is undoubtedly one of my favorites. I chose “Essencial” which is his entry level white because it’s simply amazing when you think about it. Bergamote, citric notes and a tiny rustic flavor on the nose. Green apple, lemon zest, and nice savoriness on the month. It is surprisingly light for the amount of things it made me feel. You can either have a glass by yourself or with some friends while having dinner.
And I’ll be honest, I once forgot an opened bottle in my fridge for maybe 7 days, and it was still crazy good after all that time !
Magnificient Seven is my introduction to music and a “madeleine de Proust'' to me. I discovered it in an advertisement on TV around 11 years old and asked my dad right after who the artist was. After giving me the reference, he then shared his vinyl collection with me.
I had to list it. To me, a perfect blend of punk rock, funk, and hip-hop music. Timeless classic.
Everything’s started from here.
MF: How do you see the natural wine movement influencing the way consumers are approaching wine? What are some of the trends that you’re seeing?
LB: The trend has been around for a few years, but I'm quite new to the natural wine world. I think it's a similar story for everyone - I went to a bar with my ex-girlfriend and she suggested we try an orange wine. And I was like, there is no orange wine. What the hell are you talking about? That doesn't even exist.
Which is actually true, because orange wine is just white with skin contact. So it's the wrong word. But, I get it, because of the color.
So she made me try it. And it was so good!
I think orange wine will always be a trend in natural wine because, historically speaking, it's probably the first type of white wine. It existed in Georgia, which are the oldest wines in the world, and somehow we lost this knowledge.
And nowadays with the growing movement of natural wine, orange wine will always be the trend because when you start drinking natural wine, you tend to go for this funky, interesting flavor, high acidity wine with a lot of volatility.
MF: I think you might be right. There's actually a shop here in New York that sells only orange wines…. and that's it.
Jean Maupertuis’
Pierres Noires 2022
Lucas’ Picks | Wine 5
This Gamay from Auvergne is typically what you expect from a red issue from volcanic soil. Peppery, herbal, and slightly raw, with some nice red fruit notes. The wine is subtle and light. It has an amazing guard potential, and I believe the older it gets, the better it is.
I haven’t met the winemaker yet, but Jean Maupertuis is one of the most humble people in the wine industry to me. No crazy labels, is quite classy, and price-wise he always stays affordable. The quality-to-price relation is one of the best. There is always a but, it’s quite complicated to find !
I guess by now you’ve noticed my love for Disco-funk, synth-pop, world music, and the ’80s. In my many lost hours listening to SoundCloud sets, radio shows, etc… The tracks I love the most are covers most of the time. In another style, in another language, it’s always refreshing to get surprised by a melody you think you know but do not at the same time.
It was hard to make a choice but that track is definitely one of my last crushes.
MF: Let’s get to know you a bit more. Outside of wine and music, what's an unconventional pairing in your life that you absolutely love?
LB: My daily routine is made out of habits and I pair a lot of things together. But for me, the best pairing is reading a book while drinking a specialty coffee. I usually go for the V60, books, and cinnamon rolls.
That's the pairing, the perfect pairing. You cannot start a day better than this.
MF: So habits and coffee and a good book. What book are you reading right now?
LB: It’s a book of something like 10 different stories and it’s by Alain Damasio called “Aucun souvenir assez solide”, which means no memory is solid enough. It's a lot about dystopia. So, it's kind of sad at times, but it makes you self reflect on your behavior.
Schmelzer’s
Big Nature White NV
Lucas’ Picks | Wine 6
Schmeltzer is one of the big powerhouses of biodynamic wines in Austria. The quality remains each year, the bottles are numbered, and they are as well super transparent on their product.
This 1L bottle is a nice slightly macerated blend of Samling and Müller-Thurgau. The color looks quite clean, even though you have a lot of creaminess on the mouth. Flavor-wise, pears, and apples mostly with a touch of grapefruit, quite citrusy but the acidity doesn’t go overboard. It’s a nice bottle when you are in a big group with people who don't really like or know skin contact. So clear that it’s an orange wine in disguise.
Obscure 80’s space disco/italo-disco from Germany, which gives a sort of Giorgio Moroder vibe that gets everyone to agree. Groovy, cosmic, easy-going, what else do you need?
MF: Alright, that's enough about non-wine. Let's get back to the good stuff. So you've been working in the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona, which is this incredible historic area. How has the rich cultural tapestry of the area influenced your approach to wine and music?
LB: Barcelona is more than just a neighborhood. The city and the people are a game changer.
It’s not a huge city, but you have different vibes depending on the neighborhood. And I’ve lived in four different neighborhoods over the past six years. Each one was another page of my life because you don't hang out in the same places.
Barcelona has so many amazing spots. And as you explore you discover these tiny little places - and this is what affects you the most. You meet new people and you influence each other.
The city is lively, so you're never too bored. But it can be exhausting!
MF: So it’s not the tapestry of a single neighborhood - it’s the tapestry of them all!
Laurent Lebled’s
Je T'ai Dans La Peau 2019
Lucas’ Picks | Wine 7
“A la vôtre!” is one of the ten first bottles of natural wine I tried in my life.
It’s made out of an obscure grape called “menu pineau” or “orbois” that only grows in Loire, France. This 2022 cuvée is skin contact with a bit of tannins, quite refreshing, with a nice salinity. Citric, and citrusy, I’d recommend drinking quite fast though. 2022 has been the more juicy cuvée I had. In past years, the wine seemed more cloudy, earthy, and tannic. Anyhow, it’s quite a joyful bottle to get and share in one go!
Fun fact, “A la vôtre!” means “Cheers to you!” in formal french.
Same as Caroline Loeb, and like a good gamay, anytime.
MF: What is one of the traditional wine rules that you currently like to break?
LB: That's a great question!
There is this rule about pairing red wine with meatballs or cheese, but I actually prefer white wine.
This is such an easy one for me. I would go to a restaurant and the server would tell me to pair them with a nice red wine, but I realized it's way better with white!
Maybe I was just ignorant until now, but I think you can break all the rules with natural wine. And that's the most freaky thing about it. You can have fish with a light red. You can play so much with the rules. And maybe I'm from the new school, but I think you can play around.
So you don't have to always pair with the same type of wine. You can still go classic, but, I don’t think yo have to.
MF: So what you're saying is you're a bit of a rebel.
LB: Ha! Kind of, yeah.
Microbio’s
Brutal Tinto 2020
Lucas’ Picks | Wine 8
This cuvée from Microbio was one of the nice discoveries I made this summer. By the way, Ismael Gonzalo makes two versions of this cuvée, one a skin contact verdejo and a red one made from Syrah.
This light red goes with berries and early cherry notes, a well-balanced acidity, and a nice texture. Slightly tannic, it’s not really glou-glou but not complex yet either. To me, this wine has amazing potential. Let it sleep a few years in the right condition and you’ll get a wonderful experience.
Some friends had the chance to sip an older vintage and apparently it was mind-blowing.
Old school house, with a slight techno element. I love it!
Especially the second part of the track, when the keys appear after the break. That’s where it shines the most to me.
Serious wines are kinda similar in a way, you wait a bit then a bit more. It opens itself and you get deep flavor from it.
MF: Could you pick a favorite pairing from your curation and share the story behind it?
LB: I'll go with the bottle from Juan Rubio. It’s called Essencial and it's made from 100% Xarelo from Catalonia. I think it’s the only Catalonian wine I put on the list.
The first time I tried his wine it blew my mind. As you know, I come from France and used to mostly drink French. I didn’t know a lot of Spanish wine, never mind a Catalonian one. But the scene here is amazing and that was my first experience with it. I had to put it on the list.
And a funny story, I opened a bottle of it like eight days ago and then finished it yesterday. And after eight days, it was even better than it was at the beginning.
MF: That’s a good tip for our community!
LB: I paired it with The Clash because it’s the first track that got me into music as a teenager. Without this track, I would have never been a music nerd.
Lolita Sene’s
Ginger Sushi 2022
Lucas’ Picks | Wine 9
This one is a weird one, and not in a bad way at all. More like flavor-wise. I could talk about it, but I kinda want you to go grab a bottle and try it yourself.
I mean the wine is called “Ginger Sushi”, isn't it quite intriguing ?
This is the dub version of the classic Soichi Terada house tune. The bassline, the drum, the hi-hats, the details, the flute, perfection.
Crazy to think that it was released in the early 90’s.
Obviously, it has this old house touch to it. Proper dance-floor murderer.
MF: You mentioned hearing The Clash as a monumental moment in your music history. Is there a song that takes you back to a similar moment in your wine career?
LB: To be honest, I’m not sure. I usually go to another bar to try bottles I don't have access to and I don't pay much attention to the music they’re playing.
For me, the music that I like is usually at home with my own experience. And it might be before my night shift, and I’ll be like, okay, we're going to play those five sets tonight.
Kind of like I did your set. And then you know what you're playing, you know, what type of one you go with on the table.
La Boheme (Patrick Bouju)’s
Super B 2021
Lucas’ Picks | Wine 10
La Bohême is the negoce project from Patrick Bouju. If you know, you know. Already quite the star in the scene, the cooking show F*ck That’s Delicious! with Action Bronson and Clovis Ochin probably made him skyrocket.
The Super B cuvée is a blend of Gamay from the Beaujolais and from Brouilly. Fresh, fruity, raw, and nutty, it’s a superb bottle to enjoy at a table with friends and food. The acidity is super well balanced with a nice minerality at the end. It’s large and you have an expression of the soil from how they made it in amphora, which gives a lovely texture to the wine. It’s not the lightest Gamay, and that’s why I like it so much.
I think I mentioned it earlier, but I could sip a good Gamay anytime. Timeless.
Pure deep house seasoned with a jazzy side, nothing more, nothing less.
HOT!
MF: Imagine an alien lands in Barcelona and you are tasked with introducing them to wine. As Earth's ambassador, which bottle of wine do you choose to introduce them to?
LB: Oh my god. That’s a tough one. I’m a bit stumped.
MF: Don't worry, just all of humanity is resting on you picking the right bottle here. No big deal.
LB: Okay, wait. I have the bottle right here with me. I’d go with this Riesling from Alsace produced by Yannick Maker called La Colline Au Chiste.
There are no more bottles either. 2020 was the last year he was making it. And because I'm from Alsace, this is me showing pride for where I come from.
Riesling is a difficult grape. You either love it or you hate it. I tried this bottle at a wine festival about a month ago, and it's the best Riesling I’ve ever had.
On the way back to Barcelona, I stopped by a little wine cellar in Auvergne. And they had one last bottle of it. So I grabbed it without even thinking about it. I was like, okay, that's for me.
And if an alien came to Earth today and they opened the door, I would give them this bottle of wine and be like, yeah, this is wine.
MF: That’s pretty generous of you to share. I thought you might want to keep that one all to yourself!
Jean Yves Péron’s
Les Barrieux 2021
Lucas’ Picks | Wine 11
I don’t think I know anyone who didn’t like at least one of Jean Yves Péron’s wines.
Les Barrieux, is a coupage of Roussane and Jacquère. The aroma is sublime, it really feels like you’re in an alpine forest. A complex and serious skin-contact wine. Some volatile here and there but really, not a problem at all, I swear. 2021 is a young vintage, give it a few years, and it’s gonna reach an upper level. A contemplation wine that gives you many emotions. Probably the best wine in that selection for me. Masterclass.
Mr. Ho is one of the hottest producers at the moment. He knows how to renew himself all the time. Each one of his releases is on point.
Break-beat, housy, obscure, dark, tech-isch, tribal, with a vocal and a little melody, Bail-e goes everywhere.
That being said, it’s so well done that it would make your head bang without you noticing.
“As for wine, when I get hooked, I dig it like a madman.”
MF: To wrap up, if you had to encapsulate your approach to wine and music pairing in just three words, what would they be?
LB: Passionate, open-minded, and not too serious!
Straight from the famous Loire in France, this sparkling Chenin Blanc from Jean-Pierre Robinot is a must. I like the take that he has on this bottle. Rich, delicate, gourmet, and a mineral finish touch.
Could be a nice fit for either starting or ending the night.
Domaine de l'Ange Vin’s
Fêtembulles 2022
Lucas’ Picks | Wine 12
Music has this power that makes you travel or live a moment/place you don’t or will never know.
With this italo-house/ambient-house, I imagine what Ibiza should have been like in the early 90’s. Summer, sunrise, the sea air, the sand, surrounded by friends and people dancing, and some sparkling drinks. That’s the vibe.
I might be wrong and glorify it tho haha
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Thanks for Reading
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