• September 14, 2011

  • by Jim Merritt, Special to Newsday

September is harvest time in Long Island Wine Country – – and that’s cause for celebration, plus a little education.
“We’re all together celebrating the bounty of what we’re bringing in,” says Donnell Brown, executive director of the Long Island Merlot Alliance in Greenport.
To join the party and maybe learn something about the wine that will ultimately be made from the grapes, you can attend one of eight wine-tasting “salons” Saturday. Later on in the day, about 30 wineries will be getting together with 18 restaurants and hundreds of wine drinkers for a major tasting session. Both affairs are part of Harvest East End, a multifaceted celebration presented by Food & Wine magazine.
BYO PICNIC – WITH LIVE MUSIC

A number of vineyards host their own harvest festivals featuring live music, hayrides and tours on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. In most cases, patrons are invited to bring their own snacks and sit outdoors.
Castello di Borghese, the oldest vineyard on the East End, will host a concert by British singer-songwriter Rebecca Pidgeon, October 14 ($35, 631-734-5111, castellodiborghese.com).

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