The second-annual HARVEST: Wine Auction and Celebration of Long Island’s East End (www.harvesteastend.com), presented by FOOD & WINE, still has tickets available to all events on the weekend of September 16 and 17, 2011, following the full harvest moon. This wine-centric event features several events including: educational Wine Salon programs, exclusive 10-Mile Dinners at private locations, the Fall for Long Island Festival Tasting with food and wine of the East End, and a Harvest Moon Gala with dinner prepared by one of Long Island’s most notable chefs, Tom Schaudel of A Mano, Coolfish, A Lure and Jewel, and the only live auction of Long Island wine. Tickets may be purchased at www.harvesteastend.com/tickets.

Organizers of the event are the Long Island Merlot Alliance and Long Island Wine Council. Beneficiaries are regional charities East End Hospice, Group for the East End and Peconic Land Trust. The event chair is Wölffer Estate Vineyard winemaker Roman Roth, executive vice president of the Long Island Merlot Alliance, while the mistress of ceremonies is WNPR’s Faith Middleton.

Highlights of HARVEST:

Wine Salons
Saturdays, September 17 – 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Hour-long Wine Salon programs will offer a behind-the-scenes look at viticulture and vinification on Long Island. A few titles include: Pen and Palate: Wine and Food Writers from Long Island; Does the Glass Make a Difference? The Riedel Challenge; A Truly Blind Tasting; and From Sea to Shore: Pairing Shellfish and Wine.

10-Mile Dinners
Friday, September 16 – starting at sunset
These exclusive dinners for only 10-12 diners will offer an unforgettable, locally sourced meal, each hosted by a top East End winemaker and regional chef at private homes in the Hamptons, on the North Fork and Shelter Island. A sampling of dinners includes: Martha Clara Vineyards hosts a dinner prepared by Larry Kolar of Sole East at the home of Robert Entenmann; and Clovis Point hosts a dinner prepared by Lia Fallon of Amarelle at the home of Tim O’Brien in Shinnecock.

Saturday, September 17 – 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Fall for Long Island Festival Tasting, $125 per ticket
The Ludlow Farm: Home of Mecox Bay Dairy and Fairview Farm, Bridgehampton
Up to 30 local wineries will offer barrel samples of their not-yet-released wines from the phenomenal 2010 vintage—one of the best vintages on Long Island. The Festival Tasting also features the flavors of the region’s farms, fishermen, cheesemakers and other food artisans in dishes made and served by top local chefs. The event will also feature a silent auction of “labels” (small original paintings) by nationally and regionally known artists. Small original paintings, conceived as “labels,” will be commissioned for this event and lightly affixed to special magnum bottles of 2008 Merliance, the cooperative blend of 100% merlot made by the Long Island Merlot Alliance.

Saturday, September 17 – 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Harvest Moon Gala and Live Auction of Long Island Wine, $275 per ticket (includes Festival Tasting)
The Ludlow Farm: Home of Mecox Bay Dairy and Fairview Farm, Bridgehampton
The cornerstone of HARVEST will be the live auction of rare and unreleased vintages of Long Island wine in various formats. This is a not-to-be-missed auction for the collector who knows Long Island is one of the world’s most exciting emerging wine markets. A three-course farm-to-table dinner will be prepared by notable Long Island chefs William Holden (West End Café), Tom Schaudel (A Mano, CoolFish, A Lure and Jewel), and Noah Schwartz (Noah’s) served with wines from across the East End. Students from the International Culinary Center, home of the legendary French Culinary Institute and the School of Italian Studies, will assist. Live music from The Jerry Costanzo Orchestra promises to have the crowd dancing into the night.

For breaking updates, “like” the event’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/harvesteastend or follow HARVEST on Twitter @harvesteastend.