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interesting characters

Rosenblum Cellars Characters

Monday, March 31st, 2008

me and WalterIn 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!

Rubber Chickens Invaded Rosenblum

Wednesday, February 27th, 2008

rubber chicken at Rosenblum CellarsAnd one of them needs your vote! Twisted Oak Winery is holding a contest to see whose chicken reigns supreme. Please show your loyalty to the words and birds of this Rosenblum themed blog.

Go to this link to find the voting page. My rubber chicken is #2. That’s not the picture that was chosen, but I thought you should see another of his many sides. And you can jump over here to see his entire story unfold. (Warning: due to poultry violence, this pictorial may not be suitable for the weak of heart.)

As always, thank you for your support!

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Something Big This Way Came

Monday, January 28th, 2008

armadillo grill/smokerSometime Wednesday afternoon, an RV pulled into Rosenblum’s parking lot with a trailer behind it. And on that trailer was a giant armadillo. Now, I’m from Mississippi, and I have never seen an armadillo that big. Turns out, it’s from Texas (hence, the lone star on its tail) and as you’ve probably heard, everything is bigger in Texas…. This one is actually a grill and smoker, made by Ray—who drives up and over every year about this time. He barbeques ribs for the Good Eats portion of the ZAP extravaganza, and he’s well known around these parts. (Perhaps due, in part, to the armadillo’s giant cojones.) Good BBQ—and this is really good BBQ–and fruity Zinfandel is an amazing combination, you have to try.

armadillo up closeKent allows him to park his RV at the winery while he’s in town, and Ray returns the favor by cooking up some good eats for us lucky employees. I got a sneak preview on Wednesday when I took these pictures, which was fortunate, since it was pouring buckets all day Friday when we had the real shindig. Over the past few days, Ray and I had some quality chats about potato salad (find my recipe here), boiled peanuts (on which we don’t agree), and the lack of real BBQ here in California. And he might just be doing something about that if plans to open a place here pan out.

Hope to see you sooner than later, Ray. I’ll have the glasses ready.

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You Never Know Who You’ll Meet

Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008

fun people in the tasting room…in the Rosenblum Cellars tasting room. Last week we met the funniest little lady. When calling to find out how to get to the winery, she said to Samantha, who answered the phone, “Are you the one from Sex and the City?” And after getting the instructions, she said, “With all those directions this better be some damn good wine.” Luckily, she decided it was. What spunk, that one. And she and Kenny G became fast friends, sharing stories about New York. Sadly, I didn’t get her name. Or the gentleman next to her, who himself was a bit of a dancer. But when I told her quickly before they left that I might post the picture on my blog, she gave a little cackle and comment about adult sites.

Cheers to the lady from Florida by way of New York.

Best Christmas Gift: Vinturi Holster

Wednesday, December 26th, 2007

Kenny G and his ever-present VinturiWhile the Vinturi wine aerator has been flying out the door at Rosenblum Cellars, I had something else in mind for a Christmas gift for Kenny G. He’s actually the reason we even have the Vinturi for sale (at $45, 10% off for club members) as he brought one to work after getting it in at Domaine Carneros. After enough people asking if it was for sale, we started carrying the gadget that really does make a difference in young, tannic wines. Especially Cabernet, Syrah, Petite Sirah, and the like. It forces air into the wine, noticably softening the tannins.

If you’re not sure, we can do a side-by-side demonstration, though the best time to note the difference is when the bottle is just opened.

Many people have been buying them for presents or as stocking stuffers, and true, it’s a good idea. But for Kenny G, who loves the Vinturi more than anyone else I know, I had to get him a holster. Meg and I were thinking about getting him a tool belt, but we didn’t think he’d wear it often enough. Instead, from Pagano’s— the local hardware and more store— I picked up a four-pocket pouch that can either slide on a belt or clip on. Throw in some gold glitter spelling Kenny G style, and you’ve got one happy guy. He was showing customers all day, whipping the aerator out as if it were a pistol in a show-down.

I’m just glad that the gift went over so well.

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Tasting Room Holiday Party Pictorial

Saturday, December 15th, 2007

the guys starting slowlythe girls a little aheadMonday evening we had our holiday party at Foreign Cinema in San Francisco. Quite a charming place to which I’ll have to return and actually watch a film. A few of us girls took the ferry over and therefore got there a little early. That meant having to check out the bar downstairs, while waiting for our room to be ready. We had some tasty cocktails, though the wine list looked rather promising. Then it was onwards and upwards, in our balcony overlooking the rest of the dining area and bar. (more…)

Our House Was Open and Serving Wine

Wednesday, November 28th, 2007

Rosenblum Cellars Open HouseLast Saturday and Sunday we had our quarterly Rosenblum Cellars Open House. Even though I was working, I could see how much fun everyone was having. How could they not?? With about 50 wines to taste, good music, and tasty treats from Angela’s Restaurant, including a carving station with peppered tri-tip (a great companion to Zinfandel)….My favorite new release, though I didn’t taste them all, was the 2005 Holbrook Mitchell Syrah.

Rosenblum futures for tasting and saleAnother great thing is that in addition to new wines, we usually have 2 or 3 barrel samples available for tasting, which can be purchased as futures, at a discount. Then when the wine is bottled and released, those customers can pick them up. You only have to be a little imaginative, thinking ahead to what the wine will taste like. This time we sampled the 2006 Lyons Vineyard Reserve Zinfandel from Napa Valley and the 2006 Pato Vineyard Petite Sirah from Contra Costa County. Both growers–Cap Lyons and Richard Pato–have been into the tasting room in the past couple weeks to taste and buy wines, which is always fun. (more…)

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Happy (Belated) Halloween from Rosenblum

Thursday, November 1st, 2007

Rosenblum's ghostly crewThere were ghoulish decorations and bowls of candy everywhere– some of them talking. We poured good wine as usual, including the 2005 Rosenblum Rominger Syrah from Yolo County that recently got 91 points from Wine Spectator. It was from the Advance sneak peak, but I had already put it on this week’s tasting menu because I thought it was drinking quite well. Despite the wine’s new found attention, I think the most interesting thing about the day were the characters walking around. We had Harry Potter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and a corresponding vampire, Goth girls and a Geisha, and even “the juice of life” (Meg and her puns).

a real 'characte'rI’m not sure who or what Kenny G was, other than amusing, as he wore the wig and hat combo I got at Walgreen’s that morning. My plans to make him dress as the ‘real Kenny G’ didn’t exactly come to fruition. But we all laughed all day, and I think everyone who came in had an especially good time. And some people even got a secret pour (St. Peter’s Church Zinfandel, in honor of it being the eve of All Saints’ Day) if they could guess who I or Meg was. I was surprised at how many people figured out I was Buffy.

By the way, there’s none of that Rominger left, so don’t even ask….It’s not fun to be the bearer of bad news, as I was all day today.

Domaine Carneros:Kenny G in His Natural Habitat

Wednesday, October 24th, 2007

Kenny G at Domaine CarnerosWhen my best wine friend was in town, I knew I had to take her to Domaine Carneros. Not only do they make great sparkling wine (and KB and I love sparkling wine as much as the Rosenblum staff), but she would get to meet Kenny G. Now, you may know or may have read that Kenny G works four days at Rosenblum and the other three at Domaine Carneros. We went with two other friends, Trisha and Kelly, who also works with me. Of course, Kenny G treated us in style in the section he calls “Prime Time,” as it’s in the front of the beautiful Chateau on the terrace.

more Domaine Carneros: this time the girlsWines can be purchased by the taste, flight, glass, or bottle. We did the sampler, which included the brut, the brut rose’, and the ever-delicious Le Reve. They serve food, and as it’s not good to drink on an empty stomach, we shared a cheese plate and the smoked salmon plate (ok, if you insist….). Sitting in the sun, sipping bubbly, snacking on dried fruit and cheese. I could get used to that pretty easily.

Good thing I enjoyed it, since Kenny G finally did talk me into joining their wine club.

Read more Kenny G adventures here.

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“Chinese Style” Dinner with Kenny G

Monday, October 1st, 2007

Jacky and Kenny GKenny G always has lunch at the same place when he works at Rosenblum Cellars. It’s called Dragon Village and it’s a little place on Lincoln Avenue that you might just pass by if you weren’t looking too hard. He often brings those of us in the tasting room samples of their food. The funny thing is, he doesn’t even pay for it because he trades leftover wine for food. The funnier thing is that he’s become their marketing director of sorts, coming up with ideas for promoting business and even his own special dish: Kenny G Style tofu, white chicken, green beans, black bean sauce, and garlic. The owner, Jacky, took a bunch of pictures of the KG with his signature dish, putting them under the glass table tops and resulting in the sale of over 20 orders that first day to advertise it.

Kenny G Style Chinese food Chinese food isn’t just for lunch anymore. Kenny G has taken to going there some evenings, as they love him over there. The atmosphere improves dramatically when he’s roaming the restaurant, talking to customers, and sharing Rosenblum wine. If you see him, ask for the Kathy’s Cuvee Viognier which goes great with the spicy cuisine. (more…)

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This site is your go-to for answers about wine, courtesy of someone in the business. Firsthand knowledge and hours of research logged each week provide informed and impassioned suggestions for what wine to serve with meals (sometimes with recipes), places to go for education or fun, and what to buy or not buy. Wine Outlook is where you go when you’ve had too much to drink or not enough.

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