Tasting: American Wines, à la française !

Join us for our first wine tasting of the 2025/2026 season: American wines with a French connection!

Discover how French heritage, techniques, and terroir have influenced winemaking across the U.S. from California to the Midwest.

The evening will begin with a refreshing complimentary St-Germain gin & tonic cocktail, followed by a seated tasting experience guided by sommelière Cedar Stoltenow.

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

Doors at 6:00 p.m. for a welcome cocktail. Program at 6:30. Please enter via 54 W Chicago Ave.

About the Sommelière

Cedar Stoltenow

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 Française de Chicago is one block from the Chicago Ave CTA red line stop. Nearby bus stops are the 22 on Clark St and the 66 on Chicago Ave.

Parking Information

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