Dec. 11 panel and wine tasting to address winemaking on a warming planet

09 December 2008

ATTENTION: Food and wine, agriculture, environment and business writers

WHAT

"Creating Fine Wines on a Warming Planet," a panel discussion and wine tasting hosted by ecologists at the University of California, Berkeley, and leading Northern California vintners. Panelists will discuss current practices in and research on traditional, organic and biodynamic agriculture. They will also assess vineyard responses to scarce water, fluctuating fuel costs, pests and changing weather patterns, all of which will have enormous impacts on California's wine industry as the climate warms.

WHEN

6-9 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 11. The panel discussion is scheduled from 6-7 p.m., and the wine tasting and reception from 7-9 p.m.

WHERE

International House, 2299 Piedmont Ave., Berkeley, at the east end of Bancroft Way. Visitor information is online at the I-House Visitor page.

WHO

Panelists will include:

• Miguel Altieri, professor of agroecology, UC Berkeley College of Natural Resources
• Kent Daane, UC cooperative extension specialist in biological control
• David Graves, co-founder of Saintsbury Vineyard
• Caleb Mosley, viticulturist, Ridge Vineyards

DETAILS

Members of the media are welcome to attend the event. The wine tasting and reception will feature wines from Charles Spinetta Winery, Icon Estates, Ridge Vineyards, Saintsbury Vineyard and Wellington Vineyards. Representatives from the news media wishing to attend should R.S.V.P. to Cyril Manning at the College of Natural Resources at (510) 643-1722 or cyril@berkeley.edu.