Wednesday, March 25th | 6:00–8:30 PM | Kitchen Conservatory
One Night. SEVEN Wines. A Table Worth Gathering Around. Seats are limited, and advance reservations are required.
*Tickets must be purchased through The Wine & Cheese Place NOT Kitchen Conservatory.*
Join us for an evening dedicated to one of Napa Valley’s most respected producers: Shafer Vineyards, at a special venue - Kitchen Conservatory! “Life is a Cabernet” brings together exceptional wines, thoughtful food, and the people behind the experience for a relaxed, engaging dinner.
Throughout the evening, guests will enjoy six wines from Shafer, each paired with a collaborative menu created by Chef Lydia Gwin and Louis Abruzzese of Shafer Vineyards. The evening is designed to highlight how carefully chosen dishes and well-made wines elevate each other. Louis will guide guests through the lineup, sharing insights into Shafer’s vineyards, winemaking approach, and the stories behind the bottles, while Chef Lydia presents a menu crafted specifically for these wines.
Date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026
Time: 6:00–8:30 PM
Location: Kitchen Conservatory, 9011 Manchester Rd, St. Louis, MO 63144
Price: $125 per person. All tickets must be purchased from The Wine & Cheese Place. Kitchen Conservatory is not taking reservations for this event.
Featured Wines:
- 2022 Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon - sourced from carefully selected blocks of Stags Leap District hillside vineyards...$379.99
- 2021 Shafer Hillside Select - JUST ADDED to taste (not for sale)
- 2023 Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay – rich, balanced, and age-worthy..$79.99
- 2019 Shafer Relentless – a powerful Syrah and Petite Sirah blend with serious structure...$94.99
- 2022 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five – classic Napa Cabernet with polish...$112.99
- 2022 Shafer TD-9 – plush, expressive, and incredibly drinkable...$84.99
- 2023 Shafer Merlot – a reminder of how compelling Napa Merlot can be...$92.99
Your Hosts: Louis Abruzzese — Shafer Vineyards
Louis spent years working in some of Northern California’s most demanding kitchens, including The French Laundry, Bouchon, and Glen Ellen Star. Those experiences shaped his view of hospitality: great service isn’t performance, it’s attention. As Private Client Manager at Shafer Vineyards, Louis brings that same care and precision to every glass he pours and every conversation he starts.
Chef Lydia Gwin — Gwin’s Tiny Kitchen
Chef Lydia Gwin is the founder of Gwin’s Tiny Kitchen, a culinary education platform that uses cooking to teach core subjects such as math, science, language, and world studies. She is also a cooking instructor at Kitchen Conservatory, where she is known for thoughtful, engaging classes and creative menus.
