Merikipe Mission
Merikipe empowers wine and travel enthusiasts with knowledge, know-how, and confidence to more deeply appreciate and enjoy life in day-to-day and travel experiences.
Ambyth Vineyard, Templeton, Central Coast CA
About Merikipe
Historically, the Merikipe is the one who pours the wine at the table. For us, it means keeping glasses full – of wine, knowledge, and an overflowing desire to Go Beyond. Our holistic approach to wine education encompasses the history of the region where the wine grows, special ways in which the wine is made, and how winemaking affects the local community and ecosystem. We also explore ways to incorporate wine into your healthy lifestyle. See the origins of the merikipe in the ancient winemaking of Georgia.
“If your travel has made a significant impact on you, how nice; but if your travel has made a significant impact on where you went, then how extraordinary.”
– Mehmet Murat Ildan
Rebecca Cedar, Founder
Always restless, persistently curious, Rebecca has lived abroad twice & visited 48 of the 50 states + dozens of countries. Because learning is living, along the way she picked up some language skills, a couple of degrees & is currently toiling cheerfully through the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Diploma Program. Wonderment & a path finding spirit come naturally to Rebecca, but she knows her discoveries are best when shared with kindred souls & those inspired to expand their horizons. She’s served as an educator in both classroom and non-conventional settings. Moments spent sharing her love of history, art, & wine with students of all ages have been some of her most treasured.
Health is Wealth
When she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease & advised a wheelchair would be her chariot by age 40, followed subsequently by the double Alzheimer’s diagnosis of her parents, Rebecca found herself galvanized to live the longest, best life possible. She discovered & began focusing on the cornerstones of the Blue Zone communities; gentle movement, deep community connections, daily purpose & a reverence for the best local food sources as catalysts for robust longevity.
Wine & Vineyards
Getting acquainted with the wine community throughout the Central Coast has been a deeply gratifying experience, including time at multiple wineries in the Paso Robles & San Luis Obispo AVAs: educating guests, marketing Club Memberships, & lending a hand in the vineyard from pruning to picking to bottling and a lot in between. With Mother Nature’s blessing & a whole lot of luck, Rebecca will be soon tending her own grapes.
Community Engagement
In the realm of gentle movement Rebecca discovered the discipline of equine assisted activities & therapies. After several years as a volunteer for a long-established therapeutic riding barn, she acquired the certification of Therapeutic Riding Instructor through PATH International & Equest working with children & adults with physical, intellectual & emotional challenges. Her belief that volunteerism is a hallmark of a strong community has also led her to lend her time & serve on the boards of multiple arts-based organizations.
Downtime
When she’s not discovering & promoting the glorious Central Coast of California & her favorite global travel spots, you’ll find Rebecca open water swimming, hiking across countries, “horsing” around, visiting art museums & galleries, perusing the best Farmers’ Market in the land, & hanging with her family.
The Grand Canal, Venice