Consumers flock to have a glass of wine “mysteriously” delivered by a gloved hand to their neighborhood window
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It’s always like this: those who visit the city of Florence, Italy, usually leave with a photo in a”Wine bottle“– are the small windows lost in the middle of a wall and which provide a glass of wine almost no contact with the consumer. A typical Tuscan custom that now arrives in Brazil, in a welcoming home in Bixiga.
Although it is a service that is only served on the street, in the quiet Doutor Nestor Esteves Natividade, it all started with the Café com Arquitetura bar, owned by the architect and businessman Murilo Grilo, a bar that, in fact , “lend” the wall to make the small window work.
“The idea was born from research on Italian cuisine and culture for the intimate and programmed immersive experience of the bar with the architecture that we serve inside the house”, Murilo tells Palate. “Analyzing the cultural context we are in, I saw a perfect scenario to open one here. We are in the Bixiga neighborhood, with a large concentration of Italian descendants, a listed house that was built by Italian builders. There was no best place to establish the first Buchette del Vino in Brazil”.
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According to Italian history, these small windows were made on the facades of houses and buildings as early as the 16th century, especially in the Florence area. There the winemakers passed glasses and glasses of wine directly to the consumer. It was a way for manufacturers to achieve greater profitability, as they skipped the middlemen and got rid of taxes. In Murilo’s case it was a way to combine the coffee business with that of wine. “It is a promotion of architecture and the occupation of the streets of Bixiga and the Center”, contextualizes Grilo.
On the menu at Buchette del Vino, they serve a glass of red wine, a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, for R$18. Two options of Italian wines are available in the bottle: the primitivo Puglia and the white wine Grillo Nadaría, from Sicily. The restaurant also serves espresso or brewed coffee, bruschetta, lemon desserts, and vegan brownies.
With this format, in place since August 18, they have already acquired an average of 200 customers per day, opening two days a week and offering four hours of service. “We are surprised and happy with the welcome from the inhabitants of the neighborhood and from the public of tourists, internet users and wine enthusiasts”, says Murilo. “It’s a mixed audience, with many neighborhood residents, artists, neighborhood theatergoers, architects, designers, journalists, bloggers and wine lovers of all ages.”
And for the future? Murilo says he wants to open the bar in the space daily, obviously also maintaining the immersive experience and wine showcase. And it goes further. “I am a resident of Bixiga and I believe that it is important to spread and consolidate not only the architectural heritage of the place, but also to keep the inhabitants here. Only in this way would history remain preserved and effectively alive”, he says. “If in 10 years we are still here, promoting culture, tourism and local trade, I would be very happy. All this with wine is even better. Evoé.”
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
