by Farley
Tuesday after work, we had a baby shower for Sean and his wife, Jolie. They are expecting their first baby May 23, though Jolie and the doctor think little Harper may come into the world a bit early. I attended, despite my unjust depiction as one who does not like children. We had wine (of course) and cheese while the two opened gifts, including preciously cute socks, onesie’s (not for their cat), and four months of diaper service from the tasting room staff. Way to go, being environmentally conscious you guys!
If you’re a club member or other Rosenblum customer reading this, be sure to wish Sean good luck when you see him next.
Other tasting room news. One of our most talkative hospitality representatives, Paul, is now a certified sommelier! He went back home to Texas (a fellow southerner— that warms my heart and thickens my drawl) to take the introductory level class test a little over a month ago. Then Sunday before last, he took the certification, which included a test, service, and blind tasting, and passed.
Congrats to both these guys. Cheers!
by Farley
For this week’s theme, we have famous people and their corresponding wines. You should hear folks asking to taste the “Peter Griffin” and me having to explain The Family Guy to many of them. One guy who was throwing back his tastes said Demi Moore should get a new job. (I asked him if it was his first time winetasting, and it was.)
Complimentary Tasting
2006 Roussanne, Fess Parker Vineyard, Santa Barbara $25
Davy Crockett would find this glass of fuji apples, pears, pineapples, and orange blossoms quite refreshing after his battles with a bear
2006 Mourvedre, Contra Costa County , Appellation Series $18
Demi Moore might enjoy an early morning walk along a cobblestone path after a fresh rain, then a hot cup of coffee, laced in vanilla
2005 Zinfandel, Eagle Point Vineyard, Mendocino $25
The Eagles might not give a fig about the Hotel California
but they’re singing about blackberries and chestnuts
Read the rest of this entry »
The Family Guy, Fess Parker Vineyard, The Eagles
by Farley
If you are a Zinfandel fan, then surely you are quite familiar with the name Rockpile…
Around six years ago, Rockpile was recognized as its own AVA. Before that it was grouped in with the other areas of Dry Creek Valley, but it became obvious that the nature of the geography and wines produced there deserved distinction. Mountain vineyards throughout the new AVA have differences but tend to make the most of the rocky soils, cooler days and warmer nights. Despite their variations, they have one thing in common: good, often monster, wines.
Rosenblum Cellars recognized the beauty of this region early on. Ten years ago, to be exact. Jack Florence, Sr., and his son, Jack Florence, Jr., grow lots of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Syrah for us. Each one wonderful, each one distinct. (Though it was the Rockpile Road Zinfandel that truly put the vineyard on the map when it reached #3 on the Wine Spectator Top 100, I have to admit it’s the Petite Sirah that blows me away!)
Whichever (or all) Rockpiles you like, I have the destination for you. Read the rest of this entry »
Zinfandel fan, Rosenblum Cellars, Jack Florence, Rockpile Road Zinfandel
by Farley
This week’s menu, available through Thursday… I promise I am going to start getting these up on time. They change every Friday morning. Don’t know where my head goes sometimes!
Complimentary Tasting
2005 Roussanne, Santa Barbara, Appellation Series $18
A romantic tryst between guava and pineapple, as they share
a butterscotch sundae and lock eyes over a vase of honeysuckle
2006 Zinfandel, Richard Sauret Vineyard, Paso Robles $25
Fresh bread toasted and slathered with raspberry and plum jam…
or maybe you’d rather pilfer a piece of strawberry shortcake
2005 Syrah, Abba Vineyard, Lodi $25
Vanilla plays second fiddle to the dark cherries, light smoke, and
minerality that work their mojo on your glass
*Reserve Flight - $8.00 * Read the rest of this entry »
by Farley
***This week’s theme: Dessert in your glass (but not dessert wine)*** Sometimes, I confuse people with my themes, as when I compared the wines to ice cream flavors. But if you use your imagination a little…I’ll take you to some crazy places!
Complimentary Tasting
2006 Cote du Bone Blanc, Chateau la Paws $14
Dive into peach trifle layered with lemon custard
and wash it down with a Hansen’s Orange Creme Soda
2005 Zinfandel, Planchon Vineyard, San Francisco Bay $25
Take your choice of plum crumble cake
or rum raisin cake sprinkled with pecans … and grab a fork
2006 Petite Sirah, Heritage Clones, Appellation Series $18
Oooo and ahhh over the display of a decadent
molten chocolate cake with vanilla-coated raspberries on the side
Read the rest of this entry »
by Farley
We love our wine club members. Whenever someone signs up, we (especially Kenny G and with great enthusiasm) welcome them to the family. And some truly become a part of ours. Maybe it’s Mark (who used to be a Friday regular but now keeps us guessing) and his wife Angela (Happy Birthday!) and their precious daughter Sophia. It might be Gail and her interesting work stories about an unrelenting boss. And Jim & Anne (who’s from Mississippi) and their treat-lovin’ dog Marbie. Or fun-loving Hilda… or Carl or Mike or Katherine or Andre. However, not all members come in regularly. We don’t know their names or get to enjoy their company that often. They’re not taking advantage of their complimentary reserve tastings. But what’s really affecting our ability to get stuff done is that we’re running out of room, as wine club packs start to stack up in the already crowded shipping area. See that picture? That’s only the tip of the iceberg.
So, we’re changing our pick-up policy, something we’re only doing out of dire need. Read the rest of this entry »
by Farley
Due to low interest and my co-instructor getting sick, we are cancelling the dessert wine pairing class that would have been held tomorrow.
Pick up again next month with Be Your Own Critic, details to follow.
by Farley
I’m a little late in posting this one. Sorry! It will change again on Friday.
Complimentary Tasting
2006 Roussanne, Fess Parker Vineyard, Santa Barbara $25
Take a sip of this tropical smoothie
with pineapples, lychees, mandarin oranges, and honeysuckle
2005 Zinfandel, Aparicio Vineyard, Amador County $25
A lone fig tree surrounded by an orchard of abundant cherries,
and further beyond — pines and peppercorns
2004 Syrah, Santa Barbara, Appellation Series $18
Vanilla beans dance with violets along a rocky stream
while a piles of plums look on with envy
Read the rest of this entry »
by Farley
At Rosenblum Cellars we make about 25 different Zinfandels, from all over the state, each one different. One of my absolute favorites is the one from the Planchon Vineyard. This bottling is classified under the San Francisco Bay appellation, as the fruit is from Contra Costa County (near Oakley). This wine is also one of the reasons Wine & Spirits pronounced us America’s best producer of wine from SF Bay. Most Saturday afternoons, we get a visit from Frank, who grows grapes for the vineyard designate, and his lovely girl Helen.
The Saturday crew has been trying to plan a dinner with the two of them for a while now, but schedules made it hard. Finally, this past Saturday, we all came together at Angela’s Restaurant for a vertical tasting of the Planchon wines. We had been working hard that day at a wine club event, so it was nice to relax among friends with really good food and an amzing line-up of wines. Frank even brought some wines from Franus, that also use the Planchon grapes, which enabled us to do one horizontal comparison.
Read the rest of this entry »
Planchon Vineyard, San Francisco Bay appellation, wine from SF Bay
by Farley
This Saturday the tasting room at the winery in Alameda will be closed due to a private event for wine club members. Regular (11-6) hours today and Friday and back to normal on Sunday.
Rosenblum Cellars tasting room hours
Rosenblum Cellars tasting room hours
by Farley
Rosenblum fans out there, dessert wine lovers, sweet tooth addicts, have I got a class for you. Our next wine seminar is coming up quickly, and there are still a few spots left.
EDIT: class cancelled!
So often, people fill up on dinner and neglect to save room for dessert. We think that’s a shame but realize that it does happen. However, don’t be scared to think outside the box. Have you ever thought about having dessert wine with dinner? One of the most classic pairings, and one that I adored when I finally got the chance to taste it, is foie gras with the decadently rich Sauternes. While we don’t have that kind of budget for this class (both are super expensive), we do have some pretty tasty dessert wines here at Rosenblum Cellars. And they’re quite affordable ($16-$18 per bottle). We’re going to show you how to pair them with both savory and sweet items. It’s a whole new world over here in Alameda, and we want you to help us explore!
When: Wednesday, April 16, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Where: the reserve room at Rosenblum Cellars (check in at the tasting room)
What: learn about dessert wines and what to pair with them, tasting your way through the lesson
How much: $40 per person, with a $5 discount for wine club members
Who: you… and a friend…or maybe even a date (I know I’d be impressed!)
How to reserve a spot: Call Samantha at 510-995-4100 before it’s too late
Hope to see you there.
dessert wine with dinner, wine classes in the East Bay, dessert wine pairing class, fun things to do in Alameda
by Farley
In addition to some good wine on Saturday, we also had a visit from a couple of regulars: Walter and Rita. Formerly investors, they’re now lined up to be club members, if I recall correctly. Anyway, Walter is very, er, enthusiastic and boisterous, and the whole room knows when he arrives. Usually because we call out “Walter alert!” This Saturday was no exception, as he came in wearing a crazier hat than normal (with all kinds of attachments such as balloons and flowers) and a shirt that read WILL WORK FOR WINE. Hmm. He never would dry any glasses like we asked and would often say “Honey, I don’t care what it is, just put it in my glass. We’re still trying to teach him how to taste.
But cheers to Walter and all the other crazy characters that come to Rosenblum!
by Farley
Saturday the tasting room staff had planned to go to dinner with one of our growers and to taste through several older vintages of the Planchon Vineyard Zinfandel, one of my favorites. Unfortunately, things changed last minute and we had to reschedule. Since we were all a little sad about missing out on the yummy wine, Kelley—who works with us every other Saturday—brought in a bottle of 2001 Rosenblum Annette’s Reserve Zinfandel from the Rhodes Vineyard in Redwood Valley. The 2005 is currently another favorite of mine for its raspberry, blueberry, and loads of Chinese 5 spice. The 2001 showed some of the same, just to a deeper degree. On the nose, I found raspberry jam, cocoa, clove, raisin, and then later coffee. Upon tasting, it was plum, raisin, rich chocolate, anise, and hint of pecans. Pam found chocolate and coconut, like a Mounds bar in her glass. And LaMont seemed to agree with me when he wrote “ripe raspberry with cocoa—followed by dark chocolate with an Asian spice finish.”
The wine had aged beautifully, becoming a richer version of what it tastes like in youth. And our least expensive reserve, it’s quite the deal at only $35.
2001 Rosenblum Annette’s Reserve Zinfandel
by Farley
***This week’s theme: Crayola crayon colors*** I have to say, this is one of my favorite tasting menus I’ve written so far. It was a lot of fun to do. Though when I told Kenny G about it, he told me I was “out to lunch.” Ah, well. You decide!
Complimentary Tasting
2005 Roussanne, Santa Barbara, Appellation Series $18
A cross between apricot and goldenrod— which sometimes yields a spicy honey—
this wine also shows guava and peach
2006 Grenache, Rhodes Vineyard, Redwood Valley $25
Though this wine is not carnation pink, it does give floral notes of violets and lavender, along with black cherries and cinnamon
Read the rest of this entry »
by Farley
Fun wine events in the near future
Don’t forget about the Passport to the East Bay Wine Trail event coming up Saturday, April 5 from noon to 5. This is your chance to sample some great wines from wineries across Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, and Emeryville. Food pairings to boot. Go here for cheaper, advance tickets.
More shipping news
We’ve gotten the go-ahead on a few more states. As of now, we can ship to the following— Read the rest of this entry »
