Southampton - The Long Island Merlot Alliance and Long Island Wine Council, organizers of Harvest: Wine Auction and Celebration of Long Island's East End, proudly announce that the region's signature event is now presented by Food and Wine. Concurrently, event organizers also are in the process of establishing Harvest East End as a 501(c)(3) charity.

"Food and Wine is proud to present Harvest East End. With world-class wine nearly 40 years in the making, abundant farm produce, fish and fowl, and renowned chefs now calling the East End home, the Long Island wine region is emerging as a viticultural and culinary destination," said Publisher Christina Grdovic. "The event is a natural fit and is a celebration of food and wine. We look forward to helping to build Harvest East End into the kind of annual destination event other Food and Wine events have become."

Harvest East End benefits East End Hospice, Group for the East End and the Peconic Land Trust with its live auction of Long Island wines; 100 percent of the proceeds of the sale of up to 15 live auction lots will go to these important nonprofit organizations. As event organizers establish Harvest East End as its own charity, the event will continue to promote the causes its beneficiaries represent: the region's agricultural heritage and open space, environmental conservation and acknowledging the generational nature of winemaking and other largely family-owned businesses, dignity and quality of life at the end of life.

All who participate sponsors, advertisers, auction donors, auction bidders and ticket-holders may do so with the satisfaction of supporting these causes collectively, via the East End's newest charity.

"We are thrilled to have Food and Wine on board as our presenting sponsor," said Event Chair Roman Roth, winemaker at Wölffer Estate Vineyard, proprietor of The Grapes of Roth, executive vice president of the Long Island Merlot Alliance and board vice president of the Long Island Wine Council. "Food and Wine brings a vibrant energy and enthusiasm to its events, and will introduce the Long Island wine region to a national audience that knows that good wine and good food go hand-in-hand.

"By securing Food and Wine as presenting sponsor and establishing Harvest East End as a charity, we feel the event is well-positioned to reach great heights in years to come," Roth continued."Harvest East End is a trend-setting event that will generate much-needed funds for important regional causes, and elevate the wines of Long Island to wine-lovers across the U.S. and beyond."

Harvest East End takes place in September 2011, starting with the educational and intellectual Wine Salon programs on Saturday, September 3, September 10 and September 17, progressing through the exclusive 10-Mile Dinners in private homes on Friday, September 16, and culminating in the Fall for Long Island Festival Tasting and Harvest Moon Gala and Live Auction of Long Island Wines on Saturday, September 17, at the beautiful Ludlow Farm overlooking Mecox Bay. Tickets go on sale on July 1.