Long Island Wine Region’s First-Annual HARVEST A Success
Proceeds to Benefit East End Hospice and the Peconic Land Trust

October 19, 2010 - East End of Long Island, NY – Over a spectacularly sunny weekend on September 24 and 25, with the full harvest moon in the sky, 28 Long Island wineries and 20 of the region’s best restaurants came together for a landmark event: the first annual HARVEST: Wine Auction and Celebration of Long Island’s East End. Presented by The Wine Spectator and organized by the Long Island Merlot Alliance with support from the Long Island Wine Council, HARVEST generated $75,000 in the live auction of Long Island wine alone, an estimated $60,000 of which will benefit the East End Hospice and Peconic Land Trust.

“The East End has much to celebrate in 2010,” said Thomas Matthews, Executive Editor of Wine Spectator, presenting sponsor of HARVEST. “An extremely promising vintage has been capped by a very successful fund-raising event. We are proud to support two important regional causes, and applaud the continuing improvement of Long Island’s wines. We congratulate everyone whose hard work and generosity made it possible.”

Event Chair Roman Roth concurred: “HARVEST certainly was an event to remember. In addition to raising money for two well-deserving charities, it was our goal to create an event that would put Long Island on the world wine map. We achieved both. We’re already looking to build on the event’s success for next year.”

The live auction of Long Island wines included luxury lots such as sparkling wine “for the room” from Sparkling Pointe, a trip to the New World Wine Experience from Wine Spectator; wine-and-experience lots from Bedell Cellars, Grapes of Roth-Roanoke Vineyards, Peconic Bay Winery and Shinn Estate Vineyards; and eight half-barrels (12 cases) of merlot from the members of the Long Island Merlot Alliance, each paired with a barrel “designed” by a renowned local designer or artist (complete list at www.harvesteastend.com/auction).

The highest-earning lot, the half-barrel of Wölffer Estate Vineyard 2008 “Lambardo” Merlot, sold for $11,000. It was accompanied by a Wölffer wine barrel fashioned into an inventive chaise lounge by Sag Harbor-based furniture designer Maximilian Eicke. “It was no surprise to members of the Long Island Merlot Alliance that our region’s signature wine won the top bid. Also, it was gratifying to see the spirit of cooperation among all the wineries, sponsors and volunteers to make this first HARVEST such a success,” said Roth, winemaker at Wölffer Estate Vineyard and Grapes of Roth, and Board member of the Long Island Merlot Alliance (www.longislandmerlot.com) and Long Island Wine Council (www.liwines.com).

John v.H. Halsey, President of the Peconic Land Trust (www.peconiclandtrust.org), noted: “HARVEST was a beautiful celebration of the viticultural and agricultural uses of our land. We are honored to have partnered with the Long Island Merlot Alliance, Long Island Wine Council, and East End Hospice to put on an event so central to all our missions. Events like HARVEST that augment our annual fundraising are so important, especially since many mistakenly believe that the Trust receives the 2% real-estate monies that go to the Towns’ Community Preservation Funds.”

Said Priscilla Ruffin, President and CEO of HARVEST co-beneficiary East End Hospice (www.eeh.org): “We are proud to have been part of a milestone event that successfully achieved the goal of raising funds for our charities, East End Hospice and the Peconic Land Trust, and embraced the extraordinary talents of our community. We look forward to continuing to work together as part of HARVEST in years to come.”

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Donnell Brown
Event Director, HARVEST: Wine Auction and Celebration of Long Island’s East End
Executive Director, Long Island Merlot Alliance
Board Member, Long Island Wine Council
631-477-6207
Dbrown@longislandmerlot.com

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Photos:
http://gallery.me.com/johncame#100282
Please credit: John Cameron