NEW YORK WINE & CULINARY CENTER
PARTNERS WITH

LONG ISLAND MERLOT ALLIANCE
FOR ‘MUSIC & MERLOT’ EVENT

CANANDAIGUA and CUTCHOGUE, N.Y. (November 10, 2009) – The New York Wine & Culinary Center (Center) and the Long Island Merlot Alliance proudly announce “Music & Merlot” December 4-5, 2009. The event will be hosted at the Center, and will feature wines from all seven members of the Merlot Alliance, as well as Merliance, its cooperative 100% Merlot blend. New York State food sampling and holiday choral music performances also will take place during the weekend.

“Merlot wines and Merlot-based blends—particularly those from Long Island—pair well with hearty winter fare, with which their lively acidity, lush texture, and fruit and herbal flavors make for a memorable meal,” said Donnell Brown, Executive Director of the Long Island Merlot Alliance. “It is a rare treat for the Merlot Alliance to demonstrate our wines at the beautiful New York Wine & Culinary Center and share the unique flavors of our region with our upstate New York neighbors.”

“A Celebration of Long Island Merlot” dinner will be held on Friday, December 4, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Wine Spectator Educational Theater. Over four courses, demonstrated by the Center’s Executive Chef Carlo Peretti, attendees will experience why Long Island wines, and especially Merlot, enjoy a reputation as exceedingly food-friendly. Each course will be paired with Long Island wines, including older vintages and other special selections, with commentary on each by winemaker John Leo of Clovis Point winery in Jamesport, N.Y. The seasonal menu will feature Long Island specialties including Peconic Bay scallops, duck and bison. Tickets are available at www.nywcc.com.

The celebration continues on Saturday, December 5, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Tasting Room with complimentary samples of Merlot from Long Island Merlot Alliance wineries and New York specialty foods. Holiday musical performances by local choral groups will take place throughout the afternoon.

“We are very excited to partner with the Long Island Merlot Alliance to educate consumers about the signature red wine of New York State,” said Chrys Baldwin, Director of Education at the Center. “At the same time, visitors can get into the spirit of the season while listening to holiday music, enjoying our beautifully decorated building, and sipping delicious Merlot.”

More information about the “Music and Merlot” weekend is available online at www.nywcc.com or by calling 585-394-7070. To learn more about the Long Island Merlot Alliance, visit www.longislandmerlot.com or phone 631-477-6207.

About the New York Wine & Culinary Center

The New York Wine & Culinary Center (Center) is a non-profit 501(c) 3, state-of-the-art facility designed to excite, engage and inspire New Yorkers and the world about New York State agriculture, food and wine. It serves as the educational link and gateway to tourism, hospitality and the agricultural resources here in New York State.

The Center features an exhibit room showcasing New York State agriculture, a gift boutique, hands-on culinary kitchen, demonstration theater, wine & beer tasting room, private dining room and restaurant. The outdoor garden highlights seasonal displays of native New York agriculture—grape vines, fruit trees and vegetables. To learn more about the New York Wine & Culinary Center, please call 585-394-7070 or visit www.nywcc.com.

About the Long Island Merlot Alliance

Founded in 2005, the Long Island Merlot Alliance (LIMA) joins premium wine estates committed to developing quality standards in the production of classically styled Merlot. The Alliance seeks recognition for Merlot as the premier grape of Long Island, whether as a single varietal or in blends, and for Long Island as the leading appellation for Merlot in the New World. Its members believe that, in the tradition of other great wine regions, emphasizing our excellence in one varietal does not diminish other wines from Long Island, but will help to gain attention for all varietals grown here. To learn more about the Long Island Merlot Alliance and about Merliance, its cooperative blend of Merlot, visit www.longislandmerlot.com.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact:

Chrys Baldwin, Director of Education

New York Wine & Culinary Center

chrys.baldwin@nywcc.com

585-394-7070

OR

Donnell Brown, Executive Director

Long Island Merlot Alliance

dbrown@longislandmerlot.com

631-477-6207