Winerave heads to Chinatown with #chinatownmixtape1

Maxwell Leer and Adam Vourvoulis are at it again. The two former sommeliers (Bestia and Trois Mec, respectively), together known as winerave, are planning what Leer calls a “standout TGIF” at Ling’s Wine & Beer Market in Chinatown on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m.

Never heard of Ling’s Wine & Beer Market? Neither had they, until walking all over Chinatown in search of a space to call their own, the two saw the sign and walked in. Actually, Ling’s used to be a gallery — and still is, of sorts — but when owner Mat Gleason acquired the space, unbeknownst to him, it came with a beer and wine license.

When Leer and Vourvoulis saw Ling’s unassuming wine and beer selection, they asked if they could help him curate some selections. One thing led to another and now the duo are putting on their first event at the store/gallery. They’re calling it #chinatownmixtape1 and it’s conceived as an extension of the wine rave culture they’ve been promoting over the last few months with late night raves at the bar Honeycut in downtown L.A.

For Friday’s rave, they’ll provide the wine — a choice of liter bottles of Grüner Veltliner or Zweigelt from northern Austrian producer Ecker, at $30 a bottle. That’s what buys participants entrance to the rave (a maximum of two people per bottle, please). However, since Ling’s is not allowed to serve wine, guests will be ushered into a secret nearby locale where the actual event takes place.

“You know how you go to these corny do-it-yourself ceramic places and you can paint unicorns on a bowl and do whatever and take them home?” says Leer. “We’re going to be giving people the opportunity to color their own wine. Basically, it’s like a bespoke wine.”

And if anybody wants to drink lighter, in Leer’s words, the wine can be “attenuated” with soda water or tonic water.

As for the music, KCRW DJ Aaron Byrd has created a special mixtape that will be playing. There will also be an avatar of Aaron’s mixtape, whatever that means. Yes, that’s what Leer said.

Ling’s Wine & Beer Market: 974 Chung King Road in Chinatown.

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