Long Island Food Critic

Harvest East End 2013, presented by Wine Enthusiast Magazine, celebrated its fourth year Saturday, August 24, at McCall Vineyard & Ranch in Cutchogue. Drawing more than 1,300 wine and food enthusiasts to the North Fork of Long Island who toasted 40 years of winemaking in Long Island Wine Country, the evening benefitted East End Hospice, Group for the East End and the Peconic Land Trust, as well as new beneficiary, the Long Island Farm Bureau Promotion & Education Foundation.

"All great wine regions have their signature events. Harvest East End is ours," said Ron Goerler, event chair for Harvest East End, president of the Long Island Wine Council, and winemaker and proprietor of Jamesport Vineyards. "We are proud to have been joined by Governor Andrew Cuomo to celebrate our 40th anniversary, to have had the support of two premiere national brands—Wine Enthusiast and Lincoln, to have attracted more than 1,300 people to Long Island Wine Country, and to have been able to raise a significant amount for four regional causes that are vital to the work we do here and to our quality of life. We look forward to many great Harvests ahead."

Organized by the Long Island Wine Council with support from Merliance, Harvest featured an appearance by Governor Andrew Cuomo who presented Russell McCall, proprietor of McCall Wines, with the coveted Winery of the Year award, the top prize of the 2013 New York Wine & Food Classic. With the Governor calling the Long Island wine region, and the North Fork in particular, "one of New York's hidden treasures," the event succeeded in raising the profile of the world-class wines made here.

"There is a reason why so many of Long Island's wines earn premium scores by our reviewers," said Adam Strum, Editor & Publisher of Wine Enthusiast Magazine. "In their 40-year history, the winemakers of the region have developed a style and signature of their own. As was in abundant evidence at Harvest East End, the wines of this region are distinct and delicious, elegant and eminently food-friendly. Long Island definitely is a wine region to watch."

Winemakers from 43 vineyards poured more than 2,000 bottles of current-release wines and barrel samples while 32 top regional chefs served seasonal tastes sourced from area farms and fishing boats. A silent auction offered 33 wines in large-format jeroboam bottles, ideal for cellaring, underscoring the age-ability of Long Island's wines.

In addition, the top prize in the event's raffle, was a EuroCave wine cellar, courtesy of Wine Enthusiast, stocked with top selections from Long Island vintners, each signed by the winemaker.

This year Harvest again featured the Vin-IP Experience, presented by Lincoln Motor Cars, allowing select ticket-holders early entry, reserved table seating and exclusive access to The Library Lounge, presented by Empire Merchants, where a sampling of Long Island vintners' older vintages and special selections were served.

Capping off the evening, Harvest honored Long Island wine pioneer, Louisa Hargrave, and founder of North Fork farm-to-table cuisine, John Ross. It was a special evening celebrating the evolution of a region increasingly recognized for its elegant, high-quality wines, exciting regional cuisine and stunning natural beauty.