Art of Wine | Special Lecture Series Presented by Barbara Baxter | Athenaeum Music & Arts Library | La Jolla

Join wine whiz Barbara Baxter, who trained at Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Napa and studied in Italy and France, on a delightful romp through cultural history paired with harmonious wines. The Art of Wine will focus on three iconic winemaking regions which also emerged as cultural epicenters throughout history: the city of Rome, pairing outstanding Italian wines with architecture from the classical epoch; wines of Provence paired with the Impressionist artists; and the arrival of both the wine world and art world in innovative postwar Southern California. An entertaining dive: culture and viniculture!

Light refreshments will be provided.

March 13: Art of Wine and Eternal Rome

Savor the Eternal City’s history and culture paired with Italian wines. We hear tales of good and evil set among Rome’s monuments, fountains, aqueducts, and sculpture—heroes and villains paired with vino Italiano.

March 20: Provence & Impressionism

Light and love are served up in the art and wines of Southern France. Rounded and golden, soft and opulent—are we talking about wines from Provence or Impressionist art? We will explore this rewarding land and its culture.

March 27: Southern California

Southern California’s outrageous and fun art scene exploded in the postwar years parallel with California’s wine-world arrival. Join us for a dive into the era when Southern California art and wine became oh so cool. 

About Barbara Baxter

Barbara Baxter studied wine academically at the Sorbonne in Paris and has continued her inquiry into the heritage of wine for more than a decade. She created visitor education programs for Francis Ford Coppolaʼs Rubicon Estate and has worked for Napa Valleyʼs most prestigious wineries: Sterling Vineyards and Opus One. She is the editor of Planet Wine and has also made wine in Napa Valley. Baxter has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, has lectured at major museums and universities in California, including the Getty Malibu, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Athenaeum Arts & Music Library, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center in Orange County, and The Huntington.

Series tickets: $170/185

Individual tickets: $60/65

The lectures will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for these events. Your name will be on an attendee list at the front door. Doors open at 7 p.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. Priority seating will be given to Donor level members and above.