Pretchi
The Wayne resident Darryl “DMC” McDaniels launched a new collection of DMC- labeled wines with Old York Cellars in Ringoes on Oct. 8.
McDaniels is one of the founding members of the hip-hop group Run-DMC, has been sober for 14 years – but there’s still a good reason.
Here’s what McDaniels said,
“There’s 50 billion people that love wine, 50 billion people that love rock-and-roll, and 50 billion people that love hip-hop, but they’re all divided. We said, ‘Let’s give them the things that they like and put them in the same place so that they can come together and we can advance each other.’ Collaboration brings about unity.”
McDaniels latest collection, “Darryl Mack Cellars,” has the stamp of approval of McDaniels, a self-proclaimed lover of all things sweet.
The new collection also includes chocolate and baked good pairings prepared by BAM Desserts in Somerset and The Fudge Shoppe in Flemington.
Darryl Mack Cellars’ wines at the new wine collection’s launch party at Old York Cellars on Oct. 7.
McDaniels said: “I want to add to this universe continually the things that make people happy. Cookies, candy, and chocolate make people happy. Music makes people happy. I wanted to utilize all of the beautiful, fun things – wine, chocolate — to make people smile again.”
Read more on this report from MyCentralJersey:
The collection, available for purchase at Old York Cellars and online at oldyorkcellars.com, includes red, wine, and blush blends for$24 per bottle. Three bottles can be packaged with chocolates and baked goods for $95.
Chocolates and baked goods by BAM Desserts and the Fudge Shoppe, which were made in collaboration with Darryl Mack Cellars’ wines.
The chocolate package includes two cake pops, two cookies, and two brownies by BAM Desserts, as well as six handmade truffles from the Fudge Shoppe. That includes two dark chocolate caramel sea salt truffles, two cinnamon bun truffles, and two milk chocolate buttercream truffles. (Milk chocolate is McDaniels’ favorite).
Shop, eat, celebrate: There’s a new marketplace in Metuchen
Ten percent of proceeds go to the Felix Organization, which helps to provide opportunities and enrichment to kids in foster care. McDaniels co-founded the organization 15 years ago after learning, at age 35, that he was adopted and had been in foster care.
Although McDaniels couldn’t have personal input on the wine itself due to his sobriety, he made up for it in his wine labels. They feature his comic book character – McDaniels, as a superhero instead of a rapper – from his comic book line, Darryl Makes Comics. Unlike on the pages of the comic book, the superhero is shown beside a wine barrel or in a vineyard on the labels..
Comics are what led McDaniels to Old York Cellars in the first place.
Darryl Makes Comics’ writer Amy Chu, who has written “Red Sonja” and “Poison Ivy,” is a club member at Old York Cellars (and served as a taster to help McDaniels determine the wines for his label.) She is the one who introduced McDaniels to the winery.
The partnership has been a beneficial collaboration for Old York Cellars, especially considering today’s conversation on diversity.
Hunterdon County’s population is 91% white, according to the 2019 census, which is the latest available.
“The wine industry historically is seen as very highbrow and reaching out to a very narrow community,” said David Wolin, Old York Cellars owner.
“To bring on a brand ambassador and influencer — Darryl in the African-American community – we are reaching out. Part of the challenge of the wine business is reaching out to different demographics,” he said, citing the need to attract wine drinkers of different age groups, ethnicities, and income levels. “We have been doing that at Old York Cellars, and this is to further that along.”
Inclusion is also something McDaniels has been working towards for decades, including the moment 35 years ago when Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler knocked down a physical wall separating Run-DMC from Tyler with his mic stand in the “Walk This Way” video.
“Everywhere I go in the world, people say, ‘That didn’t just happen in the video – that happened in the world,’” said McDaniels. “We showed people something – that the white kids can hang out with the Black kids. There are people from all different walks of life enjoying this wine. Go to a rock concert, it’s the same thing.”
How to buy: Get Darryl Mack Cellars wine and chocolate by visiting Old York Cellars at 80 Old York Rd., Ringoes or purchase online at oldyorkcellars.com/DMC.
Source: MyCentralJersey
