East End winemakers and chefs came together Saturday night at McCall’s Vineyard and Ranch in Cutchogue for 2014: HARVEST East End: The Food + WIne Classic. The fifth annual event, organized by Dan’s Papers and the Long Island Wine Council, was held to benefit the Long Island Farm Bureau and Peconic Land Trust.
The annual event brought together more than 40 Long Island winemakers and more than 30 top regional chefs and food artisans to celebrate the wines and agricultural bounty of the region.
Before the event, New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today hosted the 2014 Long Island Wine and Craft Beverage Tour, organized to promote New York State’s beverage industry and boost tourism to the state’s growing number of wineries, breweries, distilleries and cideries.
The tour included stops at Long Island Spirits, Kontokosta Winery, Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. and McCall Wines.
On Saturday, Cuomo also unveiled a new advertisement that will begin running on Labor Day to promote the region’s wine and craft beverage industries, and announced a state allocation of $300,000 to launch a new promotional effort to include a targeted advertising campaign and events designed to garner attention from international travelers and the media.
The campaign, which will kick off in 2015, will also include expanded partnerships with a variety of transportation companies to increase air, car, rail and bus travel options from New York City and beyond and aims to attract visitors from across the nation and around the world.
“New York’s agricultural industry produces some of the best craft beverages in the world, and its small businesses support jobs and tourism revenue in communities across the state,” Cuomo said. “Today, we’re taking another step to raise the profile of these local vendors by highlighting some of Long Island’s best venues. I am proud to congratulate the winners of the Governor’s Cup, as well as the many other awardees and businesses for their participation in this year’s competition.”
After the tour, Cuomo presented Macari Vineyard & Winery in Mattituck with the “Winery of the Year” award at the McCall’s Harvest event.
This year’s competition included 835 wines, 20 hard ciders and eight spirits from across the state. The awards were based on blind tastings by 22 judges, including wine writers, restaurateurs, retailers and wine educators.
The Governor also announced the following winners from the 2014 New York Wine & Food Classic competition for the “Best Long Island” wines in several categories:
Best Dessert Wine: Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard’s Cheval Bleu
Best Rose Wine: Wolffer Estate 2013 Grandiose Rose
Best White Wine: Martha Clara 2012 Chardonnay
Best Sparkling Wine: Sparkling Pointe 2005 Brut Selection—which was also the Best Sparkling Wine of New York
Best Red Wine: Macari 2010 Cabernet Franc—which was also the Best Red Wine of New York.
“Today was really an opportunity to showcase the drivers behind the wine industry’s growth in New York, which has received unparalleled support from Albany by way of open ears and real regulatory reform. But what makes New York excel in this arena is the care and talent of vineyards who bottle the best wines in the world season after season. The fact is, there is simply nothing in the world like a New York wine,” said Jim Trezise, president of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation.
Sal Diliberto, president of the Long Island Wine Council, added, “Where we are with wine production in New York was literally a dream just a few years ago. All hands are on deck to move the industry forward in this state, and the results are real; more wine is being bought, boosting tourism and ultimately creating more jobs throughout our communities across New York.”
“These wines, hand in hand with the absolute beauty of Long Island, present newcomers and fans with a perfect platform for what makes New York wine so unique. Jamesport Vineyards is proud to be part what vineyards across New York provide – a distinct talent to create and share with the entire world some of the most amazing wines,” said Ron Goerler, Chair of Harvest Fest and owner of Jamesport Vineyards.
Harvest Fest also honored Florence Fabricant, a New York Times wine and food writer and author, and Tom Schaudel, a master chef with several restaurants on Long Island.
“There are so many great things to celebrate on the East End,” said chef Lia Fallon, well known on the North Fork. “The awesome wine and food and great people who care about where we live. I am proud to be apart of such a good fundraiser that symbolizes what Long Island’s all about.”
