Vintners Focus: A Wine Tasting Series

Vintners Focus is an immersive eight-evening wine series hosted by Chris Stemler at The Beacon in Topeka, designed for wine lovers who want to go beyond casual tasting and truly understand what makes great wines distinctive. Each evening takes a deep dive into a single renowned producer, guiding guests through five thoughtfully selected wines that reveal how grape variety, terroir, winemaking choices, and aging shape the final expression in the glass. The word vintner refers to the person or family responsible for producing wine—from growing or sourcing the grapes to crafting the wine itself. In this series, each event highlights a celebrated vintner whose philosophy, vineyards, and techniques define the wines they create. By tasting several wines from the same producer in one evening, guests can clearly see how a vintner’s decisions influence everything from style and structure to flavor and aging potential. Throughout the series, guests will travel across the wine world—from the Loire Valley and Piedmont to Rioja, Santorini, California, and the high vineyards of Argentina—experiencing wines side-by-side while learning the stories behind the people who make them. Whether you attend a single evening or follow the entire journey, Vintners Focus offers a rare opportunity to taste exceptional wines, deepen your knowledge, and discover how great vintners shape the character of every bottle. April 10, 2026: Domaine Huet $100.00 Event 01  ·  FRANCE  ·  Friday, April 10, 2026  ·  7–10 PM Domaine Huet · Loire Valley · Vouvray "One Grape. Infinite Expression." Five glasses. One grape variety. A range that stretches from bone-dry to lusciously sweet — and every one of them unforgettable. Add to cart May 8, 2026: Vietti $65.00 Event 02  ·  ITALY  ·  Friday, May 8, 2026  ·  7–10 PM Vietti · Piedmont · Castiglione Falletto "One House. Many Grapes. Clear Steps Up." Start with a crisp white. End with one of Italy's most collectible reds. Everything in between will make sense of the journey. Add to cart June 12, 2026: CVNE (Cune) $65.00 Event 03  · SPAIN  ·  Friday, June 12, 2026  ·  7–10 PM CVNE (Cune) · Rioja · Founded 1879 "The Art of Oak & Time." Same grape, same region, same producer — but radically different wines. The only variable? How long they spent in oak and bottle. Add to cart August 14, 2026: Dr. Loosen $65.00 Event 04  · GERMANY ·  Friday, August 14, 2026  ·  7–10 PM Dr. Loosen · Mosel · Blue Slate Slopes "Balance, Not Sugar." German Riesling's reputation for sweetness is a myth. Tonight we're going to prove it — one glass at a time. Add to cart September 11, 2026: Estate Argyros $65.00 Event 05  ·  GREECE ·  Friday, September 11, 2026  ·  7–10 PM Estate Argyros · Santorini · Volcanic Pumice "Minerality Born from Volcanic Rock." Two-hundred-year-old vines. Basket-trained against Aegean winds. Ancient volcanic soil. There is nowhere else on earth quite like this. Add to cart October 9, 2026: Ri...