Wine 101: Beginner-Level Wine Tasting with Cedar Stoltenow

Curious about the world of wine? Intimidated by a formal, sit-down tasting? Looking to mix and mingle with your fellow Chicagoland Francophiles and arts & culture enthusiasts?

Join us for this beginner-level tasting, where you’ll sample affordable (but delicieux!) French wines and learn a thing or two about tasting in a relaxed, social setting.

This accessible beginner tasting is aimed at those who are new to wine and are looking to begin their tasting journey.

The evening will begin with a complimentary welcome cocktail, followed by a brief presentation by sommelière Cedar Stoltenow on the featured wines with suggestions on how to taste them. Guests will then have the chance to visit different stations, where they’ll enjoy tasting pours of a variety of excellent—yet approchable—French wines, as well as beats by DJ Frankie French!

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. for a welcome drink. Tasting begins at 6:30. Please enter via 54 W Chicago Ave.

About the Sommelière

Cedar Stoltenow began her career in wine in 2017, after leaving the field of computational linguistics in search of a more balanced life. Cedar passed the WSET levels 2 and 3 within the year, and spent 2018 working harvests in both New Zealand and Napa Valley. She received her WSET Diploma in 2023.

Currently, Cedar works for the French Trade Commission, promoting French wine and spirits in the US market. In addition to her day job, Cedar also runs her own wine education and consulting business, Un Pot de Vin, which offers private wine education, event planning, and sommelier services, and she teaches WSET courses in Chicago with Fine Vintage. Working in wine offers Cedar a chance to share her love of wine, food, and travel with others, creating sensory experiences that make lasting memories.

My goal is to make wine more accessible, understandable, and above all, fun, for others. My passion is creating an experience around wine that brings people together, making the wine world more inclusive and approachable.

You can follow Cedar on Instagram @unpotdevin.

About the Music

Francois “DJ Frankie French” Bosseau is a Chicago-based artist who loves music, art, and fitness. He creates innovative beats and experiences for wide-ranging audiences.