Happy Earth Day!

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I think wine is one of the best ways for people to come to care about climate and the planet. As global warming effects become more and more apparent around the globe, it starts to impact vineyards–what grows where and when is going to change.

This may mean that some regions will no longer be able to grow grapes or make wine. And that other areas previously too cold or lacking in one way or another may become the next century’s great grape growing region.

As people discover the magic of terroir –how a particular place is expressed in a wine– they will see how climate has an impact on the wine production in the region.

One of the best ways to get to know the wines of a region, short of traveling there personally, is to attend a tasting where you can bombard your taste buds with wine grown in a particular place and with a specific style.

For Los Angelenos, two such opportunities are coming up on the next two consecutive Thursdays in April: the first, tomorrow April 23, features wine from Bordeaux while the second, April 30, specializes in wine from Loire Valley.

Tomorrow, Thursday April 23, from 7-9:30pm at the Peninsula Beverly Hills, 40 winemakers of the most prestigious châteaux of Le Grand Cercle des Vins de Bordeaux, from the Right Bank and the Left Bank of Bordeaux, will pour 100 ore more wines for a tasting of past vintages. The Grand Cercle des Vins de Bordeaux showcases  Bordeaux wines selected for their high quality and to prove that Bordeaux has superb, top-of-the-range and reasonably priced wines. Enjoy tray passed appetizers selected to pair with the wines as well as a pasta station. The event also includes the opportunity to bid on rare to find magnums of prestigious Bordeaux wines in a silent auction with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the TJ Martell Foundation & Children’s Cancer Research.

Tickets are available today April 22 until 5pm for $90; while previously advertised that tickets will be available at the door, this is no longer the case.

As a member of the media, I get to attend the trade portion of events like this which are often held in the afternoon before the consumer event. I went to this event last year –so many amazing wines! I plan on attending the Bordeaux trade tasting which will be held from 1-4pm as well as one the following Thursday April 30 for the Loire Valley.