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Made in NJ: Garden State Line has a little something for everyone.

Since this year’s Jersey Fest is a celebration of all things Jersey, we couldn’t think of a better hometown band than Garden State Line to play.  Once the house band at the famous Stony Pony in Asbury Park, lead singer, Tam Garcia, gave us the scoop on what it was like to play the iconic venue and how the band embodies the diverse spirit of New Jersey.

OYC: How many of the Garden State Line members are natives of NJ?  How did that influence your music?

TG: We're all homegrown from The Garden State, and I think our music reflects it in the sense that it's a little something for everyone. We don't stick to one particular genre of music. We all have our own style of playing and influences that we bring to the table, some we all have in common and others we have a greater appreciation for now from playing together. Our style varies from song to song, and some songs are just a fusion of different genres.

OYC: What was the first show you ever saw at The Stone Pony?

TG: I honestly don't remember. I'd have to go back and check an old Xanga entry or something. Hahaha, oh man, remember xanga/livejournal/geocities? I digress, I think it may have been one of the early Warped Tours or Skate and Surf?

OYC: What did it mean to be playing the Stone Pony, was it always a dream?

TG: It's a huge honor! The Pony, and Asbury Park, has so much history in music. We all know Bruce Springsteen, Lance Larson, John Eddie, Bon Jovi, Gaslight Anthem and so many others that have had such an impact on the music and in Asbury Park, and for us to be included in that history (even if it's just a little part) is something we never really thought of, but are extremely honored, grateful and humbled by. It's crazy, to me, when you think about all the names and bands that have stood on that stage, heroes and peers alike. I have to pinch myself a lot of times because I still have a hard time wrapping my head around it.

OYC:  What was your favorite experience as the house band?

TG: I'd say the the most memorable experience would be playing with 311. I grew up listening to 311 so to play with them was like a childhood dream come true! It was a sold out show, so you could not move. The energy was through the roof, and I think it may be one of the best shows we've ever played. Opening for Primus was a great time for us as well because it was just kind of a crazy show. The crowd, and Primus is Primus ya know? Haha. Plus, we're big fans of Primus, too, so to play on the same bill was really cool! It's really hard to call a favorite because we always have a blast whenever we play there. But, I'd say those are some stand out moments.

OYC: What is the best part about living in NJ?

TG: The best part about living in NJ? We have it all! We have something for everyone. Some of the most famous beaches and boardwalks in the country, beautiful vineyards and farmlands, cool ghost stories/Weird NJ! (I'm in to that stuff) The Jersey Devil!, Atlantic City for anyone who wants to try their luck. We're close to the city and at the same time just far enough away from it, too. I love the Watchung Reservation. I spent a lot of time there as a kid and it holds a vey special place in my heart. And of course THE BEACH!

Catch Garden State Line and celebrate NJ at Jersey Fest July 8th. 

Purchase tickets here: https://www.oldyorkcellars.com/Events/Festivals

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Heading to an outdoor picnic or BBQ? Stop by our Bridgewater Mall location for this perfectly portable Picnic Pack! #picnic #wine #oldyorkcellars #bridgewatermall #newjersey #summerdrinking #portablewine #oldyorkcellars (at Bridgewater Commons)

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The Best of the Fest at Jersey Fest!

This year, at Old York Cellars’ Jersey Fest, the Garden State Film Festival - New Jersey’s Premier Independent Film Festival - is presenting "The Best of the Fest" featuring an array of award-winning short films from around the globe.

From humorous to heartfelt, these five feel-good films showcase unique stories from the USA, UK, and Italy. Focusing on life, love, family, and all around good fun, these films have the staff here at Old York Cellars eager to ease back and start watching movies.

Here's a list, complete with descriptions, of the films that we'll be screening this year at Jersey Fest:

Pigeon Impossible: 7 min (USA): The tale of Walter, a rookie secret agent faced with a problem seldom covered in basic training: what to do when a curious pigeon makes for a really bad day. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdNdW-BatwI La Ragazza e la Gondola (The Girl and The Gondola): 7 min (UK/Italy): 10-year-old Carla dreams of becoming a gondolier like her father. However, 900 years of Venetian tradition and the disapproval of her parents stand in her way.

Gli Zii (The Uncles): 21 min ( UK/Italy): Two dysfunctional Italian brothers have their lives transformed when their baby niece is abandoned on their doorstep. They're given only one instruction by their disgraced sister - preserve the girl's innocence. Seventeen years later the Uncles go to extremes to do just that. Trailer: https://vimeo.com/74119332 Kismet Diner: 9 min (UK/USA):A singing waitress in a diner finds the song that opens the heart of a disinterested customer. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk_ZDYCCTl0

Death Taxes & Apple Juice: 8 min (USA): A little girl ponders the meaning of life as her friend helps her file taxes. After reading through the descriptions and watching the trailers, I'm sure it's obvious why we're so excited about this screening. From the list, which films are you looking forward to watching? 

Let us know in the comments below. Coming out to Jersey Fest? Be sure to follow Old York Cellars on Twitter (@OldYorkCellars), Facebook (www.facebook.com/oldyorkcellars), and Instagram (@OldYorkCellars), and remember to tag us in your posts and pictures.

For more information about the Garden State Film Festival, please visit their website by clicking here: http://www.gsff.org/

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We know the vineyard is pretty spectacular, but its always nice to see its beauty through another's lens. Thanks for these beautiful pictures Jon Sklut Photography! #winery #oldyorkcellars #vineyard #jonsklutphotography #photography #newjersey #wine (at Old York Cellars Winery)

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Scott made sure our new adirondack chairs were ready for the weekend, and we let him take a much deserved break.... Alright, back to work, there's wine to be made! #oldyorkcellars #winery #winemaking #wine #adirondackchair #winetasting #vintner #winemaker (at Old York Cellars Winery)

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ONLY TWO MORE DAYS TO RESERVE! Don't get dad a gift, get him an experience! He probably has enough cheesy ties and sports paraphernalia, don't you think? Get your spots for Saturday or Sunday and enjoy a variety of wings - including Original Buffalo, Korean Sweet & Spicy, Thai Red Curry, and Latin Mole BBQ - expertly paired with an extended flight of wine. ---> http://bit.ly/2sqN0qA #fathersday #wings #wine #wineandwings #dad #oldyorkcellars #winery #vineyard #winetasting (at Old York Cellars Winery)

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Somm tested, Dad approved! We made sure to get our Sommelier Laurin's AND our CFO - and Dad- Chris's opinion on our Father's Day Wings Pairing. Reservations close THURSDAY, don't wait to get Dad the best Father's Day gift, EVER! Tastings Saturday 1, 3, 5pm. Sunday 1 & 3pm. http://bit.ly/2sqN0qA #fathersday #wine #somm #sommelier #winepairing #wineandwings #oldyorkcellars (at Old York Cellars Winery)

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A visit to the winery turned into a surprise proposal! We're so glad to be a part of this beautiful couple's happy beginning. Congratulations Dan and Katya! #oldyorkcellars #proposal #engagement #wine #vineyard #shesaidyes #engaged #newjersey (at Old York Cellars Winery)

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Tips for Pairing Wine & Wings

Pairing wine with food can be quite complicated, but thanks to some rules of thumb - like earthy wines go well with earthy foods and a spicy dish works best with wines low in alcohol - foodies and wine-lovers alike can sit down to eat and drink worry-free. While these rules are helpful, every now and then a curveball gets pitched.  When it does, it’s best to have some experience—some knowhow—prior to swinging. For example, we took on a ‘curveball’ of a dish this week: Wings.

Wings and wine can be difficult to pair on account of all of the sauce and flavor combinations, but we were up for the challenge.  Rather than surf the internet and sift through books, the staff here at Old York Cellars stepped up to the plate, ordered some wings, and poured some wine. 

Here are the wings we tried and the wines that we paired with them: 

Original Buffalo– Figuring that this flavor would be the most popular, we started our pairing journey with the Original Buffalo Wing.  After a vigorous period of trial and error, the general consensus was that our 2015 Chardonnay worked best. The Original Buffalo wings—especially after being dipped in some creamy, blue cheese sauce—accented the smooth, buttery character of the Chardonnay. Since these wings weren’t too spicy, the alcohol content of the Chardonnay didn’t have much of an impact on our palates. 

Korean Sweet and Spicy – Able to hold its own with even the boldest of flavors, we paired our 2016 Malbec with this unique wing sauce. The bright, red fruit-forward flavor of the Malbec brought out the sweetness of this wing's sweet and spicy sauce, and the long, silky-smooth finish of the Malbec lingered in the mouth long enough to allow our palate to recover between bites. 

Crispy Sticky Thai Red Curry – This wing turned up the heat a few degrees, so an obvious choice was our 2014 Sweet Riesling. The sweetness of the Riesling worked well to tame the heat, and the wine’s clean, citrus bouquet cleansed the palate between bites. Latin Mole – Okay, so this one was a bit tough for us at first, but we figured it out! This dark, flavorful wing-sauce paired well with our non-vintage Merlot’s richness and soft finish. With each bite and sip, the Merlot’s hints of licorice and cedar became more apparent.

The beauty of pairing food with wine is that there is no ‘perfect’ pairing per se and experimenting is what makes the process so fun.  We invite you to follow our lead and start experimenting with pairing on your own. 

Are you planning on pairing wine and wings at your next get together? Have you already done so? If so, be sure to tell us about your experience either in the comment section below or via Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to follow Old York Cellars on Twitter (@OldYorkCellars), Facebook (www.facebook.com/oldyorkcellars), and Instagram (@OldYorkCellars).

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Taste how perfectly we pair with @cabotcheese THIS WEEKEND with complimentary samples with your tasting. #Repost @cabotcheese (@get_repost) ・・・ Excited to be paring these lovely @oldyorkcellars wines with some of our favorite #cabotcheese and @vermontcreamery cheeses 🧀👌

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Another great weekend at the vineyard is coming up! Thursday: Extended Summer Hours Friday: Wine & Music Night w/ Let's Be Frank Saturday: Cheese, Chocolate & Wine Tastings 1 & 3pm Twilight Tasting & Tour 5pm Sunday: Cheese, Chocolate &a Wine Tastings 1 & 3pm Visit our website to book TODAY! http://bit.ly/2rLbKMy #weekendvibes #weekend #wine #winery #livemusic #oldyorkcellars #event #winetasting #twilighttour #cheese #chocolate (at Old York Cellars Winery)

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TGIF! We're SO excited for the weekend. Come visit us, the weather is GORGEOUS! #Repost @the_lauren_alexandra (@get_repost) ・・・ Classy like a fine glass of wine 🍷 . . #oldyorkcellers #daytrip #wiw #fall #keepinitclassy #njwine #njwineries #tgif #weekend #weekendvibes #wine #vineyard (at Old York Cellars Winery)

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Starting to get into that #weekend feeling! Enjoy our EXTENDED HOURS tonight! It's a hot summer day and we're open til 7pm. See you soon! #oldyorkcellars #summer #wine #winery #vineyard #newjersey #nj #jerseywine #jersey #Repost @metsfan726 (@get_repost) ・・・ Beautiful day for a wine tasting #oldyorkcellars #wine #winetasting #newjerseyisntboring #njwineries #njwine (at Old York Cellars Winery)

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We're so glad to be the backdrop for this beautiful couple's engagement photos! #Repost @tinaelizabethphotography (@get_repost) ・・・ Tonight's engagement session was the perfect kick off to the holiday weekend! Can't wait to share more of Marissa & Dave's engagement session at @oldyorkcellars soon! :) #tinaelizabethphotography #jersey #jerseywine #engagementphotos #photographer #photoshoot (at Old York Cellars Winery)

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Wine & Music Night continues THIS Friday w/ @theuptowngetdowns reincarnation of the funky, soulful, smooth and groovin' sounds. Reservations STRONGLY recommended! http://bit.ly/2rATcz9 #jersey #event #wine #oldyorkcellars #livemusic #theuptowndetgowns (at Old York Cellars Winery)

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Taste and sip amongst the vines! Twilight Tour and Tasting every Saturday at 5pm. Space is limited! http://bit.ly/2r7SsQE #jersey #jerseywine #oldyorkcellars #winery #winerytours #wine #winetasting #twilight #twilighttour (at Old York Cellars Winery)

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Can't think of a better way to spend Friday night! Wine & Music Under the Stars with a picnic of fruit, cheese, and cold wine. Tickets for next week with The Uptown Getdowns on sale NOW! http://bit.ly/2s1FeDo #oldyorkcellars #wine #music #wineandmusic #outdoor #winery #vineyard #livemusic #newjersey #jerseywine #jersey (at Old York Cellars Winery)