Long Island Food Critic

The 5th Annual Harvest East End was presented by Dan's Papers along with the Long Island Wine Council at the McCall Vineyard & Ranch in Cutchogue. This gracious gathering drew in more than 1,500 wine and food enthusiasts to the North Fork. Attendees toasted 40 years of winemaking while the evening benefitted the Peconic Land Trust, as well as the Long Island Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Foundation.

In attendance was Governor Andrew Cuomo and county executive Ed Mangano who support and believe in the wine and the tourism it generates to help stimulate the economy. Cuomo presented this year's award for the New York Wine & Food Classic Winery to the exquisite Macari Vineyards. Other Long Island wine winners included Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard's Cheval Bleu, Wolffer Estate 2013 Grandiose Rosé, Martha Clara 2012 Chardonnay, Sparkling Pointe 2005 Brut Selection and Macari 2010 Cabernet Franc.

Winemakers from 40 vineyards poured more than 2,000 bottles of current-release wines and barrel samples while 30 top regional chefs served seasonal tastes sourced from area farms and fishing boats. The delectable little servings of innovative cuisine were offered by Jedediah Hawkins, the Frisky Oyster, Northfork Chocolate, Sorbabes, Master Purveyors and Alure to name a few.

The variety of wine was a dream come true for any oenophilist as participating wineries included Anthony Nappa Wines, Baiting Hollow, Bedell Cellars, Brooklyn Oenology, Channing Daughters, Clovis Point, Scarola Vineyards, Diliberto Winery, Duck Walk Vineyards, Harbes Vineyard, Harmony Vineyards, Waters Crest Winery, Jamesport Vineyards, Jason's Vineyard, Kontokosta Winery, Lieb Cellar, Macari Vineyards & Winery, Martha Clara Vineyards, Mattebella Vineyards, McCall Vineyard and Ranch, Merliance, One Woman Wines & Vineyards, Osprey's Dominion, and Palmer Vineyards. There was also a silent auction that offered 36 wines in large-format jeroboam bottles, ideal for cellaring.

This year's Harvest East End was quite the success as everyone mingled and celebrated the collaborative efforts of the eateries and wineries of the North Fork. This event demonstrates for its 5th consecutive year the growth, love and care that goes into the wine industry and the hard work that will continue for years to come.