Confirmed Wineries and Winemakers include:

BARDEN -- Winemaker Douglas Barden Margerum (Santa Rita Hills)

CROIX -- Winemaker Kirk Venge (Russian River)

DRY CREEK VINEYARD -- Winemkaer Tim Bell (Sonoma)

EHLERS ESTATE -- Winemaker Adam Casto (Napa Valley)

MORAGA ESTATE -- Winemaker Paul Warson (Bel Air)

OJAI MOUNTAIN -- Winemaker Erich Bradley (Ventura)

ONX Wines & Vineyards -- Winemaker Drew Nenow (Paso Robles)

OPOLO VINEYARDS -- Winemakers Rick Quinn and David Nichols (Paso Robles)

PIEDRASASSI -- Winemaker Sashi Moorman (Santa Barbara)

RED CAR -- Winemaker Tanner Scheer (Sonoma Coast)

ROBERT BIALE VINEYARDS -- Winemaker Bob Biale (Napa Valley)

ROBERT FOLEY VINEYARDS -- Winemaker Robert Foley (Napa Valley)

SANDHI -- Winemaker Rajat Parr (Santa Barbara)

SANGUIS VINEYARDS-- Winemaker Matthia Pippig (Santa Barbara)

SINGER BAKER LANE ESTATE -- Winemaker Greg Adams (Sonoma Coast)

SR TONELLA CELLARS -- Winemaker Steve Tonella (Napa Valley)

THE SETTING WINES -- Winemaker Jesse Katz (Alexander Valley Napa Valley and Sonoma)

THOMAS T THOMAS VINEYARDS --(Anderson Valley)

TURLEY -- Winemaker Christina Turley (Zin Icon)

TYLER -- Winemaker Justin Willet (Santa Barbara)

For more information about the event or to purchase tickets:  CLICK HERE!

Or visit www.learnaboutwine.com or www.STARSofCalifornia.com 

République, located in Miracle Mile, is owned by Chefs Walter and Margarita Manzke. Centered in the heart of Los Angeles, the historic building in which it resides was originally erected in 1929 by Charlie Chaplin, and later transformed into the iconic La Brea Bakery and Campanile Restaurant. République builds on this storied past, offering a gastronomic environment imbued with history and grandeur. The space features a casual bakery, café, and bar in the front with a more formal dining area located in the rear, serving a French-inspired menu created daily by our chefs.

In 2023, Chef Margarita Manzke won a James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker for her work at République.

THE BUILDING at 624 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

The building that houses République is both timeless and unique. Built in 1928 by Charlie Chaplin and designed by architect Roy Seldon Price, it was initially conceived as a mixed-use space—with shops on the ground floor and office space above—surrounding an idyllic tiled courtyard. It first became a restaurant in 1989, when Chefs Mark Peel & Nancy Silverton updated the space to opened the seminal La Brea Bakery and, six months, later Campanile.

Campanile closed in 2012, and the building was updated yet again to make way for République. This time, the primary aim of the design was to strip the layers away—down to the original brick, tile and ironwork—and return the space to the airy, open feel of the original construction.

A Southern California native, Walter Manzke began his fine dining career in Los Angeles working alongside esteemed Chef Joachin Splichal of Patina. From there, he traveled around the world working with renowned chefs Ferran Adrià and Alain Ducasse. After a few years in the Bay area opening successful Relais & Chateaux properties, he returned to Los Angeles to make his mark on the city as Chef of Bastide, then moved on to take over the kitchen at Church & State. Chef Walter has several restaurants to his name. Domestically, he and his team have opened a string of critically -acclaimed Los Angeles concepts, including the ever-thriving République. Working alongside his wife and business partner Margarita Manzke, they have opened sixteen Wildflour Bakeries in the Philippines. Regarded as an “unassailable cornerstone of Los Angeles dining” by Los Angeles Times Restaurant Critic Bill Addison, Chef Walter’s restaurants have pushed him to the forefront of contemporary French cuisine, earning him recognition from the Michelin Guide, The James Beard Foundation, The Los Angeles Times, and journalists from across the globe. Born and raised in the Philippines, Margarita Manzke entered the Los Angeles scene working at some of the city’s most celebrated restaurants, including Patina, Spago, and Mélisse. In the early 2000s, she and her husband Walter moved to Carmel, opening critically acclaimed dining concepts Bouchée, Cantinetta Luca and l’Auberge Carmel, which is where her signature French baguette was mastered. Manzke eventually returned to Los Angeles as Pastry Chef of Bastide Restaurant, and, in the years to come, opened several award-winning concepts in Los Angeles, including République. Manzke pushed the boundaries of her craft at République, introducing her own distinctive techniques and flavors into her creations. 

As a result of her inspired work at République, Chef Margarita Manzke has been nominated for the James Beard Awards Outstanding Pastry Chef category for eight consecutive years running, with a win for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker in 2023. République has continued to make its mark on the culinary landscape of Los Angeles as a frequent entry on the Los Angeles Times “101 Best” List and one of Restaurant Critic Bill Addison’s most recommended LA restaurants to both friends and readers.

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I discovered the wine industry while working with Chef’s Thomas Keller and Joachim Splichal in the top dining rooms of Los Angeles. My passion redirected my career from restaurants/hotels to vineyards and wine-education. Now with over 25-years of experience hosting events; leading trips around the wine world; I published a wine book; produced my own wine called Beekeeper Cellars and sat for the difficult Master of Wine Exam! Today, I am considered one of the region's best wine educators and work for my 20,000 followers (follow me), visiting vineyards and wine regions and produce over 100 wine classes and events a year for my businesses and my team.

IAN BLACKBURN, CSW - Society of Wine Educators

Founder of Learn About Wine
Professional Sommelier - Click Here to See LinkedIn
2nd Year - Master of Wine Student (2014) | JWE - Junior Wine Executive

Timeline

1995 Learnaboutwine.com was created

2003-2005 TASTE on Two Rodeo – weekly tastings on Rodeo Drive

2005 LASupportsLA donated $250K to Hurricane Katrina Charities

2007 My wine class was featured on ABC’s The Bachelor

2010 Sold 5000 Groupons in one day to survive the great recession

2016 Appeared in the Movie “Sour Grapes” – Yes, Rudi was originally a student

2019 Surpassed 1 million dollars in Charity donations through our various events

2020 Pivoted to our own retail store called Merchantofwine.com & we still deliver!

2022 Appeared in the Movie “A Perfect Vintage”

Websites:

ZoomIntoWine.com - virtual tastings and education

MerchantofWine.com - procured wines and my wine of the month club

LearnAboutWine.com - wine education and events

Social Media (110,000 Followers):

Personal Instagram - @ianblackburnpresents

LearnAboutWine Instagram - @learnaboutwine

Facebook - @Learnaboutwine

Youtube - @LearnAboutWine