That's a Wrap for Winterfest

Long Island's only six-week jazz festival had its 2011 closing act on Sunday as singer Lauren Kinhan crooned for the closing ceremonies at Bedell Cellars.

The Long Island Winterfest "Jazz on the Vine" festival was put on jointly by the East End Arts Council and the Long Island Wine Council, running throughout a handful of East End wineries in February and March.

EEAC Executive Director Pat Snyder said the event attracted more than 6,000 concertgoers to participating wineries.

"Jazz on the Vine gave local residents as well as visitors to the area the chance to enjoy the delights of the area’s wineries, while also listening to award-winning jazz artists," Snyder said in a statement.

Steve Bate, executive director for the wine council, said the festival caused record sales.

"Driving economic solutions during the off-season, is one of our key roles," he said in a statement.

The 2011 festival was marked by a few key changes, some loved and some off-putting to local wineries.

For starters, wineries charged a $10 cover charge this year, which covered admission and one glass of wine for attendees. That money, organizers have said, was split between the LIWC, wineries and the artists.

Some wineries chose not to participate this year. For example, Peconic Bay Winery hosted its own concerts during the festival, choosing not to charge patrons for attending. Meanwhile, Roanoke Vineyards, which had hosted musicians in past Winterfests, decided not to have music at all.

Another big change for this year's Winterfest was the addition of Live at the Indigo, an after-hours jam session hosted by Riverhead's Hotel Indigo, the main sponsor for Jazz on the Vine. All of the sessions were packed.

Stay tuned for more updates.