Tasting: Wines of la Francophonie with Cedar Stoltenow

As part of Festival de la Francophonie 2026, join us for a special wine tasting featuring bottles from around the French-speaking world!

Guests will enjoy a complimentary welcome cocktail followed by a seated tasting experience led by sommelière Cedar Stoltenow.

Doors at 6:00 p.m. for a welcome cocktail. Tasting at 6:30. Please enter via 54 W Chicago Ave. Please communicate any dietary restrictions to us at [email protected] by Wednesday, March 11.

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 Festival de la Francophonie

Festival de la Francophonie is the Alliance Française de Chicago’s annual flagship festival, featuring a vibrant lineup of free public programs over the course of the month of March—the official Mois de la Francophonie—celebrating the world’s French-speaking cultures. AF-Chicago is honored to partner with cultural organizations and government institutions across the city to offer high-quality cultural experiences and a forum where people of all ages and backgrounds can discover and connect with the cultures, customs, and language of the Francophone world, to promote lifelong learning and cultural understanding.

Getting Here

The Alliance Française 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. A Divvy station is located in front of the 54 W Chicago Ave entrance.

Parking Information

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

Photography Notice

Please be advised that students, members, and attendees at cultural events or programs may be photographed, and these images may be used for marketing purposes.