Toronto, April 28, 2006 — Steven Campbell, President of Lifford Wine Agency, is extremely proud to announce that the 3rd Annual Lifford Grand Tasting has been certified by the Tree Canada Foundation as the first Carbon Neutral wine event to take place in Canada. "Lifford Wine Agency’s charitable mandate will be environmentally focused. With over 100 million barrels of crude oil burned every day, something needs to be done to address global warming for the sake of the planet and everyone on it. We join our global wine partners in giving back to the environment to ensure a healthy biosphere", he said.

Tree Canada determined that approximately 20.26 tonnes of carbon would be released through the necessary travel, accommodation and energy consumption surrounding the wine tasting. To offset these climate change causing emissions, Lifford, in association with Tree Canada, will plant 875 trees on the Oak Ridges Moraine, an environmentally sensitive area north of Toronto in the Spring of 2006.

"We are always proud when companies like Lifford step forward to accept the environmental challenges of running their business", said Michael Rosen, Vice-President of Tree Canada. "We respect the fact that Lifford will help offset the pollution attributed to the internationally-renown Grand Tasting event, which we are happy to announce, we will be attending", he said.

The Lifford Grand Tasting, which takes place on May 3, 2006 is one of the hottest tickets in town. At this year’s event, 37 winemakers and winery representatives will be in attendance from five continents to present some 250 wines that make up part of Lifford’s exclusive portfolio. The event is one-of -a kind in Canada with offerings such as Cakebread Cellars, Maison Louis Jadot, Ironstone and Joseph Phelps. Many of Lifford Wine Agency’s wineries practice sustainable agricultural farming and winemaking techniques.

Wine lovers eagerly anticipate this spectacular tasting with tickets always selling out weeks in advance. In addition to sampling some of the finest wines available in Canada, attendees will be treated to the culinary offerings of Crush, Barberian’s, Rodney’s Oyster House, Alex Farms Cheese and Ace Bakery.

Tree Canada Foundation is a charitable organization established to encourage Canadians to plant and care for trees in urban and rural environments. To date, the Foundation has engaged more than 60 Canadian companies and government agencies to support the planting of more than 75 million trees, the greening of more than 350 schoolyards, six national urban forestry conferences, over 40 carbon neutral events and other efforts to sensitize Canadians to the benefits of planting and maintaining trees.

For more information please contact: