There has been a very long tradition in the wine industry of helping those less fortunate. One of the oldest and  most well known is the Hospices de Beaune established in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin and his wife, then chancellor to the Duke of Burgundy (Phillipe le Bon). The elderly, disabled, the sick, and orphans were given refuge following 100 years of war.  The giving continues to this day when each November there is a charity wine auction held in the great hall.

There are countless other efforts by individual wineries such as Humanitas Winery, B.R. Cohn, Charity Wines, Tolosa Winery, Clos La Chance, Gargiulo Vineyards, DeLoach Vineyards, to name only a few. There are dozens more out there helping the less fortunate every day. The recipient charities are often local or national efforts supported by sales and events of one or multiple wineries.

I applaud all of these efforts, but today I wanted to focus on a new global effort soon underway to help children in Laos (Lao Rehabilitation Foundation, Inc.).  So what is the WorldWine Tour 2010?

Two people (George Janssens, from Merced, California and Anja Cheriakova, living in Utrecht, The Netherlands) will travel to 17 countries and over 300 wineries starting in January 2010  asking them to donate a small number of their top bottlings, which subsequently will be shipped and auctioned off at the Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa Valley with 100% of the proceeds going to the Lao Rehabilitation Foundation to help rebuild after the devastation of massive flooding of the Mekong River in 2008.

This actually is a continuation of an idea conceived in 2003 called ‘Vignes sans Frontieres’ (Vines without Borders) by a young French couple who completed their tour in 2004.

In each subsequent year a different traveling pair interpreted the concept in a way that incorporated their own views on life.

In 2010 Georges and Anja have set an objective to raise $150,000 for the Lao Rehabilitation Foundation, Inc. , an organization dedicated to providing medical services to Laotian citizens, such as the building of health care clinics,  the diagnosing and treating of hundreds of patients, and general  improvement of sanitation conditions, all with a strong emphasis on children.

To follow their wine journey in 2010, become a sponsor (see current sponsors to the left), or donate a bottling,  visit the World Wine Tour 2010 website or simply contact Georges or Anja (contact details below). 

I wish Anja and Georges a safe and successful journey and over the course of the next several months,  I will update this blog as that  journey unfolds.

Anja Cheriakova : anja.cheriakova@worldwinetour2010.com

Georges Janssens : georges.janssens@worldwinetour2010.com