Wine Outlook

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

Looking for a last-minute Valentine’s gift? Well, we’ve got the bottle for you. The Rosenblum Cellars Desiree dessert wine will fill your glass with chocolatey goodness and your loved one’s eyes with glee. The smell alone will make you swoon….chocolate, vanilla, coconut, and cigar box. We say it’s like liquid Mounds bar. And at $18 a bottle, you can buy two and the gift box, and make quite the presentation.

And rest assured, your love will be returned.

last-minute Valentine’s gift, Desiree, dessert wine

Last Saturday, I followed through on my promise to make something sweet for the tasting room (which I planned to get double use out of by tripling the recipe and taking one third to a dinner party that night). Waking up early that morning, I got out the ingredients for these cranberry cupcakes with maple cream cheese icing. I followed the insrtuctions, except for adding more cranberries and more maple syrup. Once they were cool and frosted, I loaded them up on plates– with extras in tupperware– and headed over to work. Because they were more like muffins and the only sweetness came from the syrup, I decided to go with the dessert wine with lowest residual sugar: the 2004 Rosenblum Syrah Port from the Castanho Vineyard in San Francisco Bay. The wine showed light spice, smoke, and cherries and cranberries that went quite nicely with the cupcakes. Yum.

cranberry cupcakes with maple cream cheese icing, 2004 Rosenblum Syrah Port, Castanho Vineyard

This past Saturday morning found me in the kitchen before going in to work. Blueberries were ‘buy one, get one’ at the grocery store two nights prior and I saw muffins in my near future. As I got to thinking about it, I knew two things: A) I would have way too many muffins B) they would probably go tastily with the 2004 Rosenblum Gallagher Reserve Black Muscat and its creamy notes of blueberry. I hauled out the pan I usually reserve for mini quiches and doused it with non stick spray. Then I whipped together butter, sugar, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc. and folded in the fresh berries. Twenty minutes later, I had cute little muffins on a snowman plate that did indeed go with the Black Muscat–a special pour. People who got there earlier in the day really seemed to enjoy them. I always get a kick out of sharing my culinary creations with others.

I also cut up fudge that Katherine, a considerate wine club member, had brought to Meg, Kenny G, and myself. We decided it was too much temptation to take the containers home and instead thought it better to share. The Saturday crew served customers those bites with the 2004 Rosie Rabbit Late Harvest Zinfandel, itself jammy and full of rich blackberry. Those lasted a little longer and also seemed to go over very well.

I really loved how festive the tasting room felt all day! This following week looks to be quite busy, both at work and after it, but I plan on trying to get something special together for next Saturday as well. Any suggestions?

2004 Rosenblum Gallagher Reserve Black Muscat, 2004 Rosie Rabbit Late Harvest Zinfandel, food and dessert wine pairing

Here’s another place to go to feel more festive.