LI Winterfest: Jazz on the Vine Begins

Jazz on the Vine returns as the theme for the 2013 Long Island Winterfest. Now in its sixth consecutive year, this winter’s exciting program runs from February 9 to March 17 when you can visit the East End of Long Island to enjoy six great weekends of truly exceptional jazz performances in winery tasting rooms.

This year’s program includes over 70 performances at 19 participating wineries. Admission at each concert ($20 per person) includes a glass of wine* and a chance to win a FREE hotel night on the East End with a gift basket of Long Island wines.

The Winterfest: Jazz on the Vine series features a full line up of top level performers, including many Grammy recipients and Grammy-nominated artists. Multiple musical performances are scheduled each day of the six weekends at different times so visitors can plan to visit multiple winery concerts each day.

“The East End of Long Island is a great place to hear world class music,” said Pat Snyder, Executive Director of East End Arts, “The talent scheduled for this year is amazing; our musicians are from the East End, across the country and abroad. We are thrilled to be welcoming back many of our favorites and introducing exciting new artists to the line up.”

Visitors to the Jazz on the Vine concerts can also combine their love of great jazz music with a mini getaway. Local vineyards, hotels, B&Bs, restaurants, cultural venues and attractions join with the outstanding jazz performances to create an array of special events and offers designed to lift the mid-winter doldrums. So grab some of your friends, your family, work mates or your significant other and come out and have some fun.

“Book a limo at a discounted rate; reserve a hotel room at an east end inn; find special offers at restaurants and more,” said Kristen Matejka, director of marketing at the Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Nearly 100 offers, special promotions, discounts, and events will tempt visitors to make a weekend out of Long Island Winterfest.”

Last year over 7,000 tickets were sold to the Winterfest: Jazz on the Vine concerts, contributing toward the economic development of the region during what is traditionally the slowest time of the year. In addition to the performances, the program invites visitors to come out and explore, dine, shop and stay in Suffolk County.

“Suffolk County is proud of our wine region and proud to support Jazz on the Vine. In fact, Wine Enthusiast magazine recently named our wine region one of the top 10 best wine travel destinations… one of only two places in the U.S. to make the list. Fine wines coupled with some of the finest jazz you’ll find anywhere, means whether you’re looking for a weekend getaway or simply a night out, our East End wineries have something special in store for you this winter,” said Steven Bellone, Suffolk’s County Executive.

2013 Winterfest: Jazz on the Vine events are being organized by East End Arts, the Long Island Wine Council, the Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, with support from Suffolk County, under the auspices of the Office of Film & Cultural Affairs, as well as assistance from East End Getaways, Teatro Experimental Yerbabruja and Peconic Public Broadcasting.

“Our sixth annual Long Island Winterfest: Jazz on the Vine program will be the best yet, with an outstanding line-up of musicians performing in winery tasting rooms. The past five years have clearly demonstrated that great music and fine wine combine to make the East End a wonderful winter weekend destination,” said Steve Bate, Executive Director of the Long Island Wine Council.

Conceived in 2006, the program is well on its way to becoming a regional and even national attraction. Winterfest Jazz on the Vine was awarded the 2012 National Destination Marketing Award by Americans for the Arts and Destination Marketing International.

A Winterfest Kick Off is scheduled for Friday January 25^th, 7-9PM at the Hotel Indigo in Riverhead, where guests can get a sampling of the music, wine and light fare. Tickets are $20 in advance (purchase at eastendarts.org) and $25 at the door for the kick off.

Check out liwinterfest.com for more info.