Cutchogue - The Long Island Merlot Alliance proudly welcomes Louisa Thomas Hargrave as an honorary member of the Alliance. She is the first wine professional to be admitted as an individual.

Hargrave is widely regarded as a pioneer of and authority on the Long Island wine region. She planted its first vineyard - Hargrave Vineyard - in 1973. Hargrave wines won numerous awards and accolades before she and her ex-husband Alex Hargrave sold the winery in 1999 (to Marco and Ann Marie Borghese of Castello di Borghese Vineyard and Winery), and Hargrave became a writer, columnist, wine judge and consultant. She also is a founder and member emeritus of the Long Island Wine Council, of which the Merlot Alliance is an Associate Member.

"Louisa has done so much for the Long Island wine region and for the merlot varietal in the United States. She has always been an advocate for improving the quality of and regard for the varietal, and currently leads our research efforts into the taste and aroma profile of Long Island merlot," said Rich Olsen-Harbich, winemaker at Raphael and a founding member of the Alliance. "We felt it was fitting to invite Louisa to join the Merlot Alliance, and we're thrilled that she will now be an official member of our group."

"The Merlot Alliance continues to make laudable efforts to identify, improve and celebrate the finest aspects of wine on Long Island," said Hargrave. "Including and beyond the group's focus on merlot as Long Island's most prominent red grape, their devotion to quality is important for the whole region. I am pleased to be part of the organization."

The Long Island Merlot Alliance includes seven quality wine producers: Castello di Borghese, Clovis Point, McCall Vineyard, Pellegrini, Raphael, Sherwood House and Wölffer Estate. Its cooperative merlot blend, Merliance, can be purchased through the tasting rooms, wine clubs and websites of each member winery; proceeds support the research, promotion and quality initiatives of the Alliance.

About The Long Island Merlot Alliance
Founded in 2005, the Long Island Merlot Alliance (LIMA) joins premium wine estates committed to developing quality standards in the production of classically styled merlot. The Alliance seeks recognition for merlot as the premiere grape of Long Island, whether as a single varietal or in blends, and for Long Island as the leading appellation for merlot in the New World. Its members believe that, in the tradition of other great wine regions, emphasizing our excellence in one varietal does not diminish other wines from Long Island, but will help to gain attention for all varietals grown here. To learn more about the Long Island Merlot Alliance and about Merliance, its cooperative blend of merlot.

For more information go to www.longislandmerlot.com.