Big Cedar Lodge’s Winter Wine Series is highlighting the contributions of women in the wine industry. This February, there is a range of events that will pique your palate and your curiosity about the industry.
The event is a great opportunity to highlight the “incredible women in the industry who are making gigantic strides and making incredible impacts for other women,” says Katixa Mercier, Western territory sales manager at Boutique Wine Collection. “The thing to understand about women and wine is that we’ve always been here.”
Find inspiration and tips for your next trip
Subscribe to the St. Louis Travel newsletter, covering big cities, small towns, and everywhere in between!
February 1: Oceano Wine Seminar & Dinner
On February 1, there will be an hour-long wine seminar with Rachel Martin, founder and CEO of Oceano Wines. At the event, Martin will discuss her vineyard’s history, specifically highlighting its commitment to sustainability. A four-course dinner will be held later that evening and feature expertly paired wines. Guests will have the option to enjoy traditional or zero-alcohol wines.
February 8: Boutique Wine Collection Wine Dinner
Mercier will host the dinner on February 8. She is looking forward to featuring a collection of Austro-Hungarian wines. She’ll share insights and stories about the wines, the vineyards, and the production techniques. “There are many women winemakers all over the world,” she says, “and we happen to work with quite a few in Hungary, so I get to shine a light on a country that has one of the oldest wine-making histories in the world.”
Mercier, a recent Midwest transplant from New Mexico, says she was impressed by the number of people who attended a past dinner during Dry January, which she’s dubbed Try January. “I was so grateful that guests were willing to try,” she says. “There was a couple that had worked all over the world but primarily spent time in Saudi Arabia and Indonesia and an Italian couple sitting next to me. I love that the wine connects me to people from all over the world here in southern Missouri. I was blown away by how global it was.”
February 15: Oakville Ranch Wine Dinner
The series concludes February 15 with a dinner hosted by Shelia Gentry, general manager of Oakville Ranch Winery. This three-hour event will feature four Oakville Ranch wines selected for pairing with the meal.
February 20–22: Celebration of Tastes
If you’re unable to attend one of the Winter Wine Series events, consider going to Celebration of Tastes, which kicks off February 20 with a Ferrari-Carano Wine Reception, in which winemaker Natalie West will host wines and hors d’oeuvres. From there, guests can choose between an evening of small bites, jazz music, and wine or a five-course dinner hosted by winemaker Rebecka Deike. The five selected Banshee wines have been carefully curated to accompany the night’s menu.
The weekend continues with an hour-long yoga class, which concludes with a sparkling cocktail. Or if you’d prefer to spend your day on the range, Putt and Pinot is certain to give you a memorable afternoon. Guests will sample a curated selection of Pinot wines from Ferrari-Carano.
For more information, visit Big Cedar Lodge’s website.
