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Love Lane Sweet Shoppe owner Jackie Wilsberg paired up with Really Good Jams of Cutchogue at last year’s Taste North Fork festival. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

After the last tasting of wine was sipped and the final oyster was shucked, no one could deny that the first-ever Taste North Fork festival was a success. So successful, in fact, the North Fork Promotion Council is already working toward repeating the event in six months, NFPC president Joan Bischoff said.

The three-day Veterans Day festival brought thousands to the North Fork. A free shuttle ushered them to more than 50 participating local wineries, restaurants, hotels and shops offering a full range of activities celebrating local wines and foods across the region.

The event was funded by a portion of a $335,000 “I Love NY” grant aimed at promoting agritourism on the East End — money well spent, if you ask organizers. Business spiked 20 to 40 percent during a traditionally slow time of year, said Bryan DeLuca of the East End Tourism Alliance.

And there’s more to look forward to in 2014. Mr. Bischoff believes the event could return as soon as March, with even more participation.

Editor’s note: Check back every day until Dec. 28 to follow along with our top Northforker events of 2013.

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