New York City’s Four Seasons Restaurant Joins Top LI Chefs In Benefit for Culinary Scholarship at Peconic Bay Winery’s 2nd Annual Thanksgiving Barrel Tasting October 1, 2003, Cutchogue, NY -- The Four Seasons Restaurant has accepted an invitation to join some of Long Island’s top restaurants for Peconic Bay Winery’s 2nd Annual Thanksgiving Barrel Tasting to be held Sunday, November 23rd from 2-6pm on the Great Lawn just east of the winery. Proceeds from the event will once again generate $5,000 towards a scholarship for a student of NYIT Culinary Arts Center in Central Islip. Renowned cookbook author, food critic and Food TV host David
Rosengarten will Host the event.
Peconic Bay’s award-winning winemaker Greg Gove will draw and serve samples of the winery’s 2002 Merlot, 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2002 Cabernet Franc, straight from the barrel. The winery will also serve its entire line of award-winning bottled selections, each paired with dishes from the distinguished executive chef panel. This year’s participants include Christian Albin of the Four Seasons Restaurant, Steven De Bruyn of The Garden City Hotel’s Polo Restaurant, Deborah Rivera of La Cuvee Wine Bar & Bistro, Tierra Mar’s Todd Jacobs, Coolfish’s Tom Schaudel, The Bellport’s Taylor Alonso, Terrence Cave of Docks Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill, and Michael Meehan of The Seafood Barge, as well as selections from the students of the Culinary Arts Center at New York Institute of Technology. Fairway Market will provide an array of fine artisanal cheeses, breads and accompaniments for the event. Peconic Bay’s 2001 Merlot, featured at last year’s barrel tasting, will be available for purchase at the event. The winery will, for the first time this year, conduct sales on “futures” of the 2002 reds offered at the tasting.
“It is really terrific to have the enthusiastic participation of so many great chefs from Long Island, the Four Seasons, and our product sponsors,” said owner Paul Lowerre “Our wines are crafted to emphasize compatibility with food, so to present them matched with such exceptional dishes is really quite a privilege. The barrel tasting captures the warmth and fun of the post-harvest, pre-holiday season and provides a great platform to highlight the wonderful produce of the region.”
Last year’s inaugural event was organized with the help of Michael Meehan, executive chef of The Seafood Barge and winner of the 2003 East End Food & Wine Chef of the Year award. Mr. Meehan will build on his success by helping to organize the event again. This year, Four Seasons Co-Owner Julian Niccolini, representing partner Alex von Bidder as well, will present Ursula and Paul Lowerre’s $5000 NYIT Culinary Arts scholarship check to the 2003 winner, to be announced during the tasting.
Additional sponsors include Appliance World in Huntington and All Clad cookware.
Tickets are $75 in advance and can be purchased via phone (631) 734-7361 or on Peconic Bay Winery’s website
www.peconicbaywinery.com. Peconic Bay Winery, established in 1980 on Long Island’s North Fork in Cutchogue, produces 8,000 cases of wine annually, all estate grown. Between them, general manager Matt Gillies, winemaker Greg Gove and vineyard manager Charles Hargrave have 65 years of experience, exclusive to the Long Island wine region. The winery is open year-round for tastings, sales and events. For more information, call 631.734-7361 or visit Peconic Bay online atwww.peconicbaywinery.com Contact: Matt Gillies
General Manager, Peconic Bay Winery
Tel: (631) 734-7361
Fax: (631) 734-5867
info@peconicbaywinery.comEditor's note for those interested : Matt Gillies of Peconic Bay Winery kindly asked how he may appropriately enlighten our VC forum members of what looks to be a very interesting event at a great venue. I figure posting his Press Release is easy enough! Especially since proceeds of the event are going towards a scholarship fund.