Wine First

Wine Classes & Guest Lectures

Michele is a member of the elite Association of Wine Educators which touts Jancis Robinson as one of their influential members of only 100.

Michele has taught wine appreciation classes since 2004. She has started wine education programs, held wine training programs, hosted large forum classes & intimate private events. She was a guest lecturer at the University of Haute Alsace, UNM Medical School Annual Fundraisers, the AWS National Conferences, and the NM Wine Annual Conference to name a few. She hosts multilevel sensory tastings and has paired wine with art, artist's life stories and even historical icons.

VIP Events in Strasbourg, France

On behalf of the American Consul-General, Michele hosted exclusive tasting experiences & presentations in the Consul-General's historic home in 2022 & 2023

Michele Padberg

History, trivia, winery details, pairings & more make her events fun & engaging

Formal Presentation

Rieslings of Western USA

Individual Pairings

Each wine & matching pairing served by courses

Wine Notes Presented

Wines & winery details shared with info about each state & its culinary aspects

Chef Patricia & Consul-Genera

Partners for the event, Celebrity Chef Patricia Catenne & American Consul-General Darragh Paradiso

Guest Lecturing

Among the many exciting opportunities Michele has had lecturing around the world, the partnership that has developed with the University of Haute Alsace is one of her favorite.

Michele was invited to guest lecture at the esteemed University of Haute Alsace, in Colmar, France in 2023. She will return in 2025 to host a seminar featuring 3 classes: 1st year students, masters students, and PhDs. The University of Haute Alsace is the only viticulture research center in France.

Colmar Train Station

located in the heart of Alsace

Michele Lecturing

University of Haute Alsace

Lectured on High Altitude Viticulture & Wine

How different it is at 6,000ft

1st Year Students

A packed lecture hall of eager to learn viticulture & oenology students.

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AWS National Conference

Michele was a guest lecturer for the American Wine Society National Conference in

Bellevue, WA in 2022

She presented 2 Master Classes:

Chocolate & Wine, Need We Say More?

A deep dive into the chemistry behind great pairings

This Wine's Bouquet is a Bouquet!

Discovering florality in wine

Atlantic City, NJ in 2021. She presented 2 Master Classes:

New Mexico: The Heart of the American Southwest

Sharing the wines of New Mexico & its 400 year wine history

Rose All Day From Places That Make You Say No way

Find out why Rose has become SO popular while tasting some of the coolest wines the world has to offer.

These conferences were also hosting classes taught by Kevin Zraly, Robert Mondavi Jr and other esteemed professionals.

Contact Michele to teach a class to your group or at your next event!

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Millicent Rodgers Museum

Considered the Best Museum in Taos, New Mexico, The Millicent Rodgers Museum hosted an exciting Wine Class & Tasting in which Michele not only introduced a dazzling array of wines, but paired them to the fascinating life of Millicent Rodgers. What wine mirrors Millicent's love for turquoise jewelry? Rose! She wore tons of turquoise with everything, and like the flamboyant jewelry she expressed herself with, Rose goes with everything and no one can ever get enough!