Once the holiday season trails behind us and the prospect of a snowbound winter lays ahead, the tides of east end tourism recede. Originally dubbed Jazz On the Vine, the six-week festival was conjured to coax Long Islanders back to the east end, giving our local wineries, restaurants, hotels and other businesses a profitable shot in the arm. Musicians perform while festival guests sip. The event has proven to be a resounding success, earning the 2012 National Destination Marketing Award by Americans for the Arts Destination Marketing International. The name of the Long Island Winterfest event was changed to Live On the Vine to accommodate the expansion of musical diversity, welcoming performers of soul, blues and country to join the jazz lineup.
A sizeable portion of our vineyards participates in the Winterfest, hosting live musical interludes in their tasting rooms. To wile away a few hours in front of a roaring fireplace while sipping locally produced wines and listening to the sultry melodies that waft from a saxophone is truly an agreeable experience and a relaxing escape for a wintery afternoon. Gazing out over acres of snow-covered vines offers a mesmerizing view. Performances take place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Some of the vineyard venues include the Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard, Bedell Cellars, Clovis Point, Macari Vineyards, Osprey’s Dominion Vineyard, Raphael, Sparkling Pointe and several others. Many venues charge no fee for admission, while others charge a reasonable cover fee that includes a glass of wine.
If you need a rescue remedy from the weekly snowstorms and bone-chilling temperatures of this blustery winter, take a ride east along Sound Avenue or Route 25 and revisit the wineries that you enjoyed last fall. The indulgence of fine wine and live musical talent is just as pleasurable now. Whether kicking off the weekend on a Friday evening or celebrating the fact that you have survived yet another blizzard and that spring’s long anticipated arrival is one week closer, support our east end commerce by attending this season’s Long Island Winterfest. For a complete schedule listing of Live On the Vine venues and performances, visit www.liwinterfest.com/liwinterfest/wineries