Tasting: Outside the Appellations

“Outside the Appellations” is an intermediate wine tasting which will focus on VDF and IGP—what do these mean, what types of wine are made there, are they worth drinking?

We tend to focus so much on teaching the appellation system, and sometimes we don’t talk about the producers who work outside of it, and why they would choose to do so. Let’s see what happens when winemakers go rogue!

This intermediate tasting is aimed at those with some knowledge of wine who are looking to improve their tasting skills.

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.

Get here

The Alliance Francaise de Chicago is one block from the CTA Red line stop at Chicago Avenue. Best bus routes are the 22 on Clark and the 66 on Chicago Avenue.

Parking Information

$12 for 12 hours at InterPark at 100 W Chestnut St. Validation is available at reception.