Music & Merlot • December 4 & 5, 2009
Celebrate New York's signature red wine variety & the holidays!
Music & Merlot is a celebration of New York’s signature red wine variety and the holiday season. A collaboration between the New York Wine & Culinary Center, the Long Island Merlot Alliance, several New York food producers, and local music groups, the event offers something for everyone. It is the perfect time to see our spectacular facility decorated for the holidays.
Admission to the Center and many of the activities are free. Those requiring advance reservation and payment are noted below. During the event, the following activities will be offered:
Friday, December 4, 2009
• “A Celebration of Long Island Merlot” Dinner
Wine Spectator Educational Theater, 7-9pm, $75 per person.
With Clovis Point winemaker John Leo and NYWCC Executive Chef Carlo Peretti, presented by Long Island Merlot Alliance.
Please join us as we kick off our Music & Merlot weekend with this special Long Island-themed dinner. We will begin our evening with a glass of Long Island Sauvignon Blanc served with Peconic Bay Scallops. Then, Chef Carlo Peretti will demonstrate the second and third courses using Duck and Bison from Long Island farms while winemaker John Leo leads a tasting of specially-paired Merlots from some of Long Island’s premier wine producers. The fourth course will be a sumptuous chocolate dessert paired with Merlot dessert wine. Don’t miss this special regional dinner, sponsored by Long Island Merlot Alliance!
Advance registration is required. Space is limited. To see the complete menu and to register, click here.
• “Perfect with Merlot” Small Plates Menu
Taste of New York Restaurant bar area, 5-9pm.
Select from five small plates ($7-13) designed to pair with Merlot and three different New York Merlots by the glass and half glass. Enjoy live jazz standards from Four on the Floor, led by Glenn Morrel, from 7-10pm, no cover.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
• Tasting of Long Island Merlot and Food
Tasting Room, 12-5pm, free.
Eight Long Island Merlots will be available for tasting, poured by Winemaker John Leo of Clovis Point and Long Island Merlot Alliance Executive Director Donnell Brown. Complimentary samples of Gold Cup Farm’s River Rat Cheese and house-smoked pork will be offered to pair with the wines. All Long Island Merlots will be available for sale in the Tasting Room. In addition, guests can sample from the Tasting Room’s selection of wine, beer, and juice flights.
The following Merlot wines from the Long Island Merlot Alliance member wineries will be served: Castello di Borghese; Clovis Point; McCall Vineyard; Pellegrini Vineyards; Raphael; Sherwood House Vineyards; Wolffer Estate; Merliance, a blend of the Long Island Merlot Alliance member wineries Merlots
• Holiday Choral Music Performances
Tasting Room, 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm, free.
Enjoy 20-minute performances by local choral groups.
12pm: Finger Lakes Camerata
2pm: Penn Yan Community Chorus
4pm: to be announced
• New York Food Samples
Pride of New York Exhibit Room and Culinary Boutique, 12-5pm, free.
Allens Hill Farm Cookies; Red Jacket Orchards Cider, Juice and Apples; Intergrow Tomatoes.
• “Perfect with Merlot” Small Plates Menu
Taste of New York Restaurant bar area from 11:30am-9pm.
Select from five small plates ($7-13) designed to pair with Merlot and three different New York Merlots by the glass and half glass. Enjoy classic rock from The Acoustic Warrior Paul Killian, from 7-9pm, no cover.
• Wine & Food Pairing Taste Test Classes
Wine Spectator Educational Theater, 1 & 3pm.
Holiday Wine & Food Pairing featuring Long Island Merlot and winemaker John Leo of Clovis Point, 1-2pm, $25 per person, advance reservation recommended. Click here for full description and to register.
Holiday Wine & Chocolate Pairing featuring Long Island Merlot and winemaker John Leo of Clovis Point, 3-4pm, $20 per person, advance reservation is recommended. Click here for full description and to register.
For further information, please contact the Center at 585-394-7070.