Wine Outlook

Here at Rosenblum, we’re doing our best to help others during the holiday season. It’s all about giving, after all.

Therefore, we’ve got a couple of bins in the winery where you can bring in canned goods for those in need. Our friends over at the Food bank say what they could use the most are canned protein items, such as chili and tuna. In return, we’re giving our club members who donate a three-bottle reusable bag, with the Rosenblum logo. That way, we’re also saving some trees in the process.

Give to the needy while going green.
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Plus, we still have a few cases of wines that are $5 off regular price, but they won’t be around long….

Yes, indeed.

Out with the Old, In with the New Sale

Change is in the air for November, whether it be politics or the weather. And at Rosenblum Cellars, our Nov. 15 & 16 Open House means new wines will be released. While we are excited about the 2006 wines, in some cases, we still have a little of the 2005 vintage. Our lack of space and need to make room means sale prices for you. The following will be on sale at $5 off their regular price: 2005 Aparicio Zinfandel, 2005 Harris Kratka Zinfandel, 2005 St.Peter’s Church Reserve Zinfandel,and 2005 Maggie’s Reserve Zinfandel.

These wines won’t be around long at these prices, so don’t get lost in the shuffle!

2005 Aparicio Zinfandel, 2005 Harris Kratka Zinfandel, 2005 St.Peter’s Church Reserve Zinfandel, 2005 Maggie’s Reserve Zinfandel, wine sale, Rosenblum wines on sale

And we need help…

Check out this job description and see if you might be a good fit. And if you have trouble following the directed path, let me know.

East Bay wine job, wine club job, open position at Rosenblum, Rosenblum Cellars wine club

This weekend, come join us at Rosenblum Cellars for some wines you probably can’t find anywhere else. We’ve unearthed some treasures that are just waiting to relocate to your cellar or dinner table or backpack for a winehiking excursion.

They are available this Saturday and Sunday at the Alameda location, and if there are any left, you can order them by phone starting Monday. Though I wouldn’t risk it. Only 14 bottles of the 2004 Lyons Reserve Zinfandel. Need I say more?? Okay, a few cases of 2005 Rockpile Road Petite Sirah. That should do it….

2004 Lyons Reserve Zinfandel, 2005 Rockpile Road Petite Sirah

I’m quite happy to announce that I will be hosting the fourth edition of the Wine Book Club here at Behind the Vines, er, Wine Outlook. Dr. Debs came up with this idea back in December, as a way to help us keep our new year’s resolutions about reading more wine books, a kind of companion piece to Wine Blogging Wednesday created by Lenn Thompson. A dozen or so of us offered to host, and when I sent in my e-mail, I didn’t have to think twice about who my focused writer would be. Therefore, the book we’ll be reading for the next couple months—if you choose to participate—is Tasting Pleasure: Confessions of a Wine Lover by the imitable Jancis Robinson.

I read this book on the drive to/from and on free moments during an extended camping trip last summer, and can’t wait to revisit this easy, informative read. With all the Ruth Reichl I’ve been reading lately, I feel a bit as if I’ve been cheating on my Jancis. I have always enjoyed her work, whether as editor, writer, or instructor but haven’t spent any time with her in a while. Therefore, I’m holding out the Wine Book Club as my bouquet of flowers.

Join me in the journey and report your reactions Tuesday, August 26. You can either leave the link in the comments on this post or you can send it to me directly by clicking on the contact me box to the right, putting Wine Book Club in the subject line.

In the meantime, Michelle from My Wine Education will be our Spin the Bottle reviewer of Natalie MacLean’s Red, White, and Drunk All Over sometime late July/early August.

Happy reading!

Tomorrow, July 23, we will be on ABC’s View From the Bay. It comes on channel 7 at 3 pm, and we are part of the Urban Wine Road segment. You don’t have to drive to Napa to have wine fun!

Nick, Carlos, and Elvin were all very nice, and they promised me that my flub will not make an appearance. Though you might recognize some of the interesting characters who come into our tasting room on a regular basis.

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. (more…)

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.

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

Don’t forget: Rosenblum Cellars will be closed Easter Sunday, March 23. Back to normal operations Monday—daily from 11 to 6.

Weekend revisions: We will be featuring a different menu than that during the week. Instead of 5 complimentary pours, there will be 3 and instead of a reserve flight of 3 wines for $5, it will be 4 wines for $8. We want to encourage people to enjoy themselves but not too much. And since the weekends have been getting busier, we truly want to focus on the idea of tasting wine rather than drinking it. Responsible tasting is important to us, and we hope that our loyal customers see this as such. We want everyone happy and safe.

Shipping updates: upgrades are coming along nicely and we have several more states we can ship to, bringing the total to 16.
Here are the ones with a green light— California, Washington, Illinois, Florida, Minnesota, New Mexico, Iowa, Alaska, Michigan, Texas, Oregon, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Nebraska, North Dakota.
(more…)

Here’s an update on the hours in our tasting room.

Tomorrow: Thursday March 13— 11 to 3 PM (closing a few hours early)

Easter Sunday: March 23—closed

normal tasting room hours: 11-6 daily

If you don’t live in California, you may not be able to get wine shipped to you from Rosenblum Cellars for a short period of time. Though we’re operating as normal, we do have to wait while we upgrade our system in order to continue spreading wine love across the country. Sadly, some states require all sorts of hoops to be jumped through while their residents sit sadly with empty wine glasses.

We apologize for any inconvenience, as we really do want to be able to send whatever bottles float your boat. But as soon as we can, we will. And I’ll let you know when I know more details. Heck, things may have changed by the time I return tomorrow!

Which leads me to a mini-rant. (more…)

First, I want to aplogize for my recent lack of posting. In addition to being especially busy this week, the network has been having technical difficulties.

But I did want to get on quickly before going to work to say that we’re closing early today.

Superbowl Sunday hours: 11-3 (instead of 11-6)

While I don’t give a dang about football games and didn’t even know who was playing until just the other day, there are those of you out there who do. I guess in years past, the tasting room has been dead after 3, so there’s no real point in staying open. Plus, I think some of the staff cares as well. Me, I’ll be driving into the city to catch up on some L Word and share Rosenblum wine with my friends.

Great news, Rosenblum fans. The funny thing about retail and wholesale allocations is that sometimes cases of wine get set aside for national accounts but don’t get taken. What that means for you is that your favorite wine we sold out of a couple months ago may actually return once I get the green light to bring them over.

Such is the case with two Rosenblum Zinfandels.

The first is the 2005 San Francisco Bay Zinfandel, which we sold out of months ago. Someone told me on Wednesday that there was a shipment over at Building 25. We got them yesterday and now they are at the winery, waiting for you to take them home.

The other? Hold on to your seats for this one…. the 2005 Rosenblum Rockpile Road Zinfandel! This one got 92 points from Wine Spectator a while back, and we put it on a 3 bottle limit. That didn’t slow down its hasty exit, though. So don’t wait around this time; call or come see us to make sure you get yours.

San Francisco Bay Zinfandel, 2005 Rosenblum Rockpile Road Zinfandel

Great news! We got the Wine Spectator Insider yesterday, and it included a wonderful surprise on the first page. The 2005 Kick Ranch Reserve Syrah received 94 points from James Laube. Here’s what he said: This open-throttle Syrah is extremely dark, rich and extracted, with loads of flavor, honing in on crushed black pepper, wild berry, blackberry and baking spices, all folding together on the finish. Ends with a tight focus. Drink now through 2012.

We made less than 500 cases of this one, so don’t wait to buy it. Once the e-mail goes out today the phones will be off the hook, as they were with the Rominger.

2005 Kick Ranch Reserve Syrah