Garden State Wine Growers Association's Jazz it Up Wine Festival Set to Strike the Right Chord
Farmingdale, NJ (PRWEB) August 12, 2014 -- Wine and jazz are a match made in auditory heaven. When you hold a wine festival in a pristine, densely wooded state park and invite half a dozen craft food producers, it becomes a complete delight to the senses. New Jersey’s largest wine festival will feature 18 Garden State Wine Growers Association (GSWGA) wineries, nearly 300 locally-produced wines to sample, live jazz music, kids’ activities, and craft and food vendors.
The festival also provides visitors with the opportunity to tour Allaire Village, a 19th century ironworking living history town located near the festival grounds within the park. Guests learn the daily life of early American manufacturing in the 1830s and 40s. If they’re lucky, they can help with the chores too.
Festival attendees will have the opportunity to sample wines from 12 to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, or set up a picnic on the lawn while listening to the jazz performances. On Saturday, the Eric Mintel Quartet will take to the stage. Mintel is a Yamaha Pianist, who appears regularly at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. The foursome will be followed by Craig Kastelnik & Friends on Sunday, featuring Bernard “Pretty” Purdie on the drum kit. Purdie is recognized as the world’s most recorded drummer, having been a set musician for what seems like half the blues & jazz world, including BB King and Steely Dan.
An assortment of delicious foods will be available all weekend to round out the festival attractions. Nomad Pizza of Hopewell will serve rustic wood-fired pizzas, while food truck favorites like the Surf & Turf and Empanada Guy will also be on hand. Waffle de Lys creates decadent Belgium Waffles, perfect for both the fantastic ice wines and ports that you can find at the winery tents. Craft vendors will offer an assortment of jams, jellies, sauces, pastas, vinegars, oils and more. The event is family friendly- after touring the historic village, kids can enjoy arts and crafts at a dedicated activities tent.
Tickets are $25 per person; non-tasters and those under 21 are free. Tickets can be purchased online at a $5 discount, which is available through Friday the 29th. Admission includes a souvenir wine glass that can be used to sample the wines. Allaire State Park is located in Farmingdale, NJ, and the Jazz it Up festival will run from noon to 5 p.m. each day. Ticket information, a festival guide, and the full list of winery participants can be found visit http://www.newjerseywines.com.
The GSWGA is a coalition of nearly 50 wineries and vineyards across New Jersey, dedicated to raising the quality and awareness of the New Jersey wine industry. For more information, please contact Executive Director John Cifelli at 908-866-6529 or John(at)newjerseywines(dot)com.
John Cifelli, GSWGA, +1 (908) 866-6529, [email protected]
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