Somm Series: Scarlett Carrasco-Polanco of Grand Café & Eastside + Let's Be Franc

The wine and food scene in Minneapolis/St. Paul is constantly changing and growing, and we’ve been spoiled by incredible restaurants and talented sommeliers who champion local food sources and small-production, character-driven wines. We invite you to get to know the faces behind the wine lists, and see what excites them most about their jobs and drives their passion for wine and food.

We’d like to present Somm Series classes at France 44, where once a month we feature a guest sommelier from a local restaurant and give them the stage to talk about whatever is making them “tick” at the moment.

Wine is a many-splendored thing, according to Scarlett Carrasco-Polanco, who officially earned her sommelier certification in 2017, but has been an avid student of wine for her 11 years in the industry. Wine, she claims, can be as cerebral as a crossword puzzle or as all-encompassing as a beanbag chair, and she enjoys bringing each guest to that place on their palate. Her wine journey began by sitting in on tastings with the wine buyer for Lucia’s Restaurant and Wine Bar, where she learned not only about wine’s lineage, but about sharing the wine experience with guests so they never feel intimidated or ill-advised. After spending 5 years under James Hirdler’s tutelage at Alma Restaurant, she took the helm of the wine ship at both Minneapolis’ Grand Café and Eastside Eat + Drink, where you can visit her most days of the week.

In this grape-centric edition of Somm Series, Scarlett digs into one of her favorite grape varieties: Cabernet Franc! The star of Chinon and the unsung hero of Bordeaux, this characterful grape shows up in a wide array of regions around the world—and has a different personality in each place. This is a grape that will tickle your intellect while it gives you a warm, comforting hug—just what Scarlett loves about wine, and Cabernet Franc in particular.

Participants must be 21 years old.

Tickets are non-refundable. If you cannot attend a class you have registered for, registration is transferable to another France 44 class through Dojour.

All classes are subject to minimum enrollment. If a class is cancelled, we'll notify you 48 hours in advance.

Please notify France 44 with any dietary restrictions or preferences.