Lieb Family Cellars, a winery on the North Fork, is contributing to efforts honoring the memory of those lost in the World Trade Center tragedy. The Mattituck winery will donate a percentage of the proceeds from a special commemorative wine to September's Mission Foundation, a non-profit organization established to support the development of a memorial park on the former World Trade Center site. This is the second year that Lieb Cellars has produced the September's Mission Merlot. Last year, public response was tremendous and the commemorative wine sold out.

In honor of the fourth anniversary of 9/11, Lieb Cellars has produced another 6,480 bottles of the special 2003 Merlot, which it will sell at the winery and offer for resale to restaurants and wine shops in New York State. Winery owners Mark and Kathy Lieb expect to raise about $6,000 for the foundation. Like most Americans, they were deeply affected by the tragedy. They had both worked on Wall Street for many years prior to 9/11, and, sadly, lost friends and former colleagues in the WTC attacks.

"We wanted to contribute in our own way to ensure that the tragic events of 9/11 are never forgotten," said Mr. Lieb. "The commemorative wine gives our winery, as well as restaurants and individuals, the opportunity to participate in the annual observance and to support September's Mission Foundation. Through the ages, wine has had religious and ceremonial significance, so it is fitting that it play a role in the annual remembrance of 9/11," he added. "We hope wine shops, restaurants and consumers will join us, as so many did last year, in honoring the memory of those who lost their lives and help support September's Mission."

Monica Iken, who founded September's Mission Foundation after losing her husband Michael in the 9/11 tragedy, said she deeply appreciates the donation. "Whoever purchases this special wine will not only be remembering the heroes and innocent victims of that terrible tragedy, but will be supporting our efforts to develop programs at the future memorial site, as well as the 9/11 'Living Memorial,' an internet-based web portal project that will be accessible to everyone."

The commemorative wine is a 2003 Merlot made of grapes grown on the North Fork. The young, clean Merlot, blended with a hint of Cabernet Sauvignon and aged in French oak barrels, has aromas of blackberry, plum and black currant. The wine can be purchased for $9.11 at the Lieb Cellars tasting room located at 35 Cox Neck Road in Mattituck, via e-mail or by calling the winery at 631.734.1100. For more information, visit www.liebcellars.com and www.septembersmission.org.