Lifford Wine Agency and Calibrium International are representatives for seven of the sustainable wineries featured at the Green Evolution events this week in Toronto and Ottawa. The event will also feature Niagara's Southbrook Vineyards, Canada’s first certified biodynamic winery, complete with a LEED-Gold hospitality pavilion and that completely pointless yet super cool wall that juts out from it.

In addition to a walk-around tasting, there will be a local/sustainable based dinner with a whopping eight courses: get ready for a full night out. Now check out some of the other wineries that will be represented.

Domaine Weinbach of Alsace have several Grand Cru vineyards is known for its excellent reislings and gewurztraminers, among other wines. The winery has been biodynamic since 1998.
 
California's Benziger Winery is right near Jack "Call of the Wild" London's Sonoma ranch and produces a wide range of quality wines while maintaining a firm commitment to sustainability. I had a great visit to the beautiful property in 2007.

Telmo Rodriguez is not only Mr. Sustainable of Spain, he makes great wines in Rioja, Penedes, Toro, and Ribera del Duero. I visited Telmo in Rioja and chatted with him at the Lifford Grand Tasting a couple of years ago.
 
Chile's Sena Winery started as a partnership between Robert Mondavi and Eduardo Chadwick of Errazuriz Winery. When Mondavi died, Chadwick took over everything and remained committed to sustainability. Arboleda developed as a second winery to Sena, and is boutique, producing just 8,000 or so cases a year.

Yealands Estate is a new winery from the Marlborough Region of New Zealand. Peter Yealands has built the entire winery on a sustainable business model, and works to minimize environmental impacts. Yealands is apparently "carbon neutral from winery to port of delivery."
 
California's Paul Dolan got the organic religion back in the late 80s and has spent years encouraging California winemakers to go green - he now produces his own organic and biodynamic wines under the Paul Dolan label.
 
Pommery is a venerable Champagne house with miles of underground cellars filled with bottles. They are promoting "the world's first sustainable champagne," called POP EARTH.
 

Following a walk-around tasting will be an eight-course dinner prepared by chefs using local ingredients. The fancier the food, the more I like to outsource wine pairings and hand over the reins to those who know best. Each course will have a wine pairing and the eight winemakers will discuss their biodynamic or sustainable wine when it's served.

Event & Ticket Information:

Tickets cost $150 per person. To order tickets call 416-365-5767 or 1-800-266-4764.

Toronto

Date: Tuesday April 20, 2010, Walk Around Tasting 6:30pm to 7:30pm, Dinner 7:30pm

Location: Globe Earth, 1055 Yonge Street, Toronto ON.

Ottawa

Date: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 Walk Around Tasting 6:30pm to 7:30pm, Dinner 7:30pm

Location: ARC The.Hotel, 140 Slater Street, Ottawa ON.