Harvest East End Celebrated Long Island Wine Country's 40th Anniversary

An event celebrating the 40th anniversary of Long Island Wine Country drew crowds of over 1300 and raised almost $50,000.

The fourth annual Harvest East End, presented by Wine Enthusiast Magazine in August, was attended by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, who presented McCall Wines, with the Winery of the Year award.

The event, which was hosted by McCall Vineyard & Ranch in Cutchogue, raised funds for 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, 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."

The Winery of the Year Award is considered the the top prize of the 2013 New York Wine & Food Classic.

Cuomo called the Long Island wine region and the North Fork “one of New York’s hidden treasures.”

"Long Island definitely is a wine region to watch," said Adam Strum, editor and  publisher of Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

The event featured winemakers from 43 vineyards, who poured more than 2000 bottles of current-release wines and barrel samples while 32 regional chefs served seasonal tastes sourced from area farms and fishing boats. A silent auction and raffle also took place. 

Honored at the event was local wine "pioneer" Louisa Hargrave, and founder of North Fork farm-to-table cuisineJohn Ross, organizers said.