R&B CELLARS BLUE NOTE NEWSLETTER
July 2010
R&B Cellars
is Alameda's largest family-owned winery. Since 1997, R&B Cellars
has grown from 230 to 12,000 cases produced annually across nine
varietals.
  
Winery: Alameda Point Vintners at Rock Wall Wine Company � 2301 Monarch St., Alameda, CA 94501
Office: 1835 San Jose Ave. Alameda, CA 94501 | 510-749-8477 office | 510-749-8481 fax
info@rbcellars.com
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R & B Cellars @
Uncorked Wine Festival Ghirardelli Square
This unique event included chef demonstrations and wine seminars in addition to wine tasting.
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R&B Cellars
Shareholder Meeting & Party
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From the Winemakers
We've had a busy spring, with visits to New York, Arizona,
Southern California, and Colorado - all to work the market and do wine tasting
events and wine maker dinners. We've been pouring our wine and sharing our jazz! We continue to spread the good word about
R&B and are happily being received with welcoming arms.
Inner Stave Program:
This spring we started experimenting with inner staves in some
of our older barrels. What this means is, instead of turning old barrels into
planters, we put inner staves of brand new French Oak inside the barrels,
making them virtually new again. This was done about 6 weeks ago to thirty of
our barrels. Last week we went through all these barrels to taste how the wine
was coming along and were extremely impressed with how the wine was tasting. When
you consider that brand new French Oak barrels cost about $1,000, and the inner
staves cost about $100, that makes us smile. We'll still buy brand new barrels,
(the cabernet program will continue to be 100% brand new barrels) but we can cut our costs significantly by adding the inner stave program to what
we do. We will keep you posted, and if you come visit, we invite you to do a
comparative tasting.
-Barbara Brown
Getting the barrels ready for the inserts
An oak insert before installation
Brand
new French Oak inserts installed. In actual fact, there is more
exposure for the wine to mingle with the wood using the oak inserts.
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East Bay Vintner's Alliance presents its 5th annual Urban Wine Experience (UWX 5)Saturday July 31st
2:00pm - 5:00pm
Come taste wine at the Jack London Pavilion (the old Barnes & Nobles) for UWX5!
* 21 wineries, all paired with their favorite restauarants. R&B Cellars is paired with Asena Restaurant from Alameda. * Live music sponsored by Yoshi's of Oakland. (Yoshi's will be providing food as well!) * Click here for $45 advance tickets $60 at the door
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R&B Cellars Wine now available at all performances!
We're always looking to expand our
refreshments with high-quality goodies from local businesses. Starting
with our 2010 production of Sylvia, we're adding organic, from-scratch
artisan cookies from Feel Good Bakery and wine from R&B Cellars! If you've attended our complimentary receptions after Opening Night
of every show, you've already had a sample of R&B's handcrafted
wines, which we've served alongside the creative hors d'oeuvres provided
by Mona's Table.
We're continuing to expand our refreshment offerings, so that the
best live theater experience in Alameda can be complemented by some of
the best food and wine in Alameda!
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New Offerings
R&B Cellars Fortissimo Port
(Available now!)
Meet the newest member of R&B's family of wines,
R&B Cellars Fortissimo Port.
Varietal Breakdown:
50% Tinta Madeira
50% Touriga Nacional
Produced with a blend of the 2005 and 2007
vintages of both grapes.
375 mL - $20
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R&B's Upcoming Events and Tastings
July
3 - Featured Winery @ the Tasting Room. Come & taste our family of our award-winning wines!
2301
Monarch St. in Alameda, 12:00pm - 6:00pm.
July 3 - Vino Modo Crush Barrel Wine Market - 30 wineries, super wines to taste & buy. $10 off
coupon with ticket purchase.
Fort Mason, Buiding D, San Francisco, 12:00pm - 5:00pm.
July 9 - Friday Night Flights at Angela's Bistro - Come taste our wines, listen to our jazz!
2301 Central
Avenue in Alameda,
5:30pm - 7:30pm
July 12th - Tune in to see Kevin & Barbara on View From the Bay! They will be cooking up a Boneless Chicken with a Port Reduction Sauce made with their very own Fortissimo Port.
July 18 - 14th Annual
Alameda Meals on Wheels Community Faire & Wine Tasting - Alameda
Point Vintners @ Rock Wall Wine company. 2301 Monarch St. in Alameda, 1:00pm - 5:00pm. July 24 - A Toast of Summer Open House
Alameda Point Vintners/Rock Wall Wine CompanyR&B Cellars plus all the other wonderful wineries in the collective
will be pouring wines in their fab urban winery facility. Live music, delicious
food catered by Bistro Zafari. The huge hanger doors will be open to
our incredible SF skyline view. 2301
Monarch Street in Alameda. 12:00pm - 5:00pm. Buy tickets here. July 31 - 5th Annual Urban Wine Experience (UWX) - sponsored by the East Bay Vintners Alliance. Jack London Pavilion, Oakland, 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Discounted advance tickets available here.
* 21 wineries, all paired with their favorite restauarants. R&B Cellars is paired with Asena Restaurant from Alameda.
* Live music sponsored by Yoshi's of Oakland. (Yoshi's food too!) * Located at the old Barnes & Nobles in Jack London Square. * Discounted advance tix available soon. On-going Events: Vino Modo Crush Barrel Wine Market at Fort Mason, Fleet Building D.
Over 30 wineries. Super wines to taste & buy. R&B will be there
in force! July 3rd, August 7th, September 4th, October 2nd, November
6th, and December 4th.
Concerts At The Cove, Crab Cove in Alameda. Free outdoor concerts presented by WABA and the East Bay Regional Parks. Friday's during the summer, from 5:30-7:30. You'll find R&B's super awared-winning wines there!!
Friday, July 9 - Fito Reinoso y Su Ritmo y Armonia (Cuban, Timba, Salsa)
Friday, August - Casino Royale - (hits from the 60s, 70s, and 80s)
*For additional information please email info@rbcellars.com or call (510) 749-8477.
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Alameda Point Vintners is right here in Alameda!
2301 Monarch Street
(@ Rock Wall Wine Co.
on the old Naval Air Base)
OUR TASTING ROOM IS OPEN
Thursday - Sunday, 12pm-6pm Come and enjoy the
Urban Wine Country Experience
Seven wineries and lots of different wines to taste.
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Just in! Our newest awards
R & B Cellars 2007 "Swingsville"
Zinfandel, Lodi
BEST OF CLASS, GOLD MEDAL
NextGen Wine Competition
R&B Cellars 2007 "Swingsville"
Zinfandel
GOLD MEDAL
(only 24 Gold Medals awarded!)
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A Toast of Summer
Open House
Alameda Point Vintners/
Rock Wall Wine Company
R&B
Cellars plus all the other wonderful wineries in the collective will be
pouring wines in their fab urban winery facility - 2301 Monarch Street,
on the old Naval Air Base.
Live music, delicious cuisine from Bistro
Zafari, and don't forget our incredible SF skyline view. The hangar
doors will be open! Click here for $35 advance tickets. $45 at the door (When you click on the link, don't worry, you're at the right place. Just scroll down to find all the wineries in the cooperative involved). Ssh! Come to our tasting room & get them for $25! Saturday, July 24th
12:00pm - 5:00pm
Looking out our hanger doors across the old landing strips to our gorgeous SF skyline view: Gritty urban meets di-vine!
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R & B Cellars received the 2010 CMUS Talk of the Town award for Excellence in Customer Satisfaction
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R&B Cellars In The Media
R&B Cellars was recently featured in Wine and Jazz Magazine
R&B Cellars: Music in the Barrels
By Bob Ecker
When visiting Northern
California, most people think, quite sensibly, about discovering
wineries in Napa, Sonoma or Mendocino. Fortunately, times are changing
and a short ferry ride from San Francisco takes you across the bay to
Alameda, with its own up and coming wine scene.
"Alameda is a small urban island
sticking out into San Francisco Bay just off the coast of Oakland. The
town itself has a quaint history but, most prominently, it was once
home to the Naval Air Station Alameda, which left town in the '90s. The
old airbase has plenty of room and old buildings available for rent.
Slowly but surely, businesses have moved in: a car company, Hangar One,
and now ... wineries.
Alameda Point Vintners is a
collective of eight small vintners producing and pouring wine from a
huge old airplane hangar at the now defunct Naval Air Station. R&B
Cellars..."
Article will be posted on R&B's website by next week.
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Featured Recipe
"Swingsville" Chipotle BBQ Sauce
This hearty, versatile BBQ sauce will pair well with any "hearty" grill item, chicken, tri tip steak, ribs, even shrimps on the 'barbie.
Pair with our 2007 Swingsville Zinfandel.
Swingsville Chipotle BBQ Sauce (Yield - Makes about 1 cup):
1 tablespoon olive oil 1 large garlic clove, minced 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle
chile pepper powder* 1/3 cup dry red wine (preferably our Swingsville Zinfandel)
1/2 cup ketchup 1 tablespoon apple cider
vinegar 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1/8 teaspoon liquid smoke**
*Available
in the spice section of most supermarkets.
**A
smoke-flavored liquid seasoning available at specialty foods stores and many
supermarkets.
Preparation:
1)
Heat
olive oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic, cumin, and
chipotle chile powder; stir 1 minute. Add wine and simmer 2 minutes. Stir in
ketchup, vinegar, soy sauce, and liquid smoke; simmer 2 minutes longer. (Can be
prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
3) This dish pairs well with garlic mashed
potatoes and grilled red peppers, and, of course, a glass of R&B
Swingsville Zinfandel.
Enjoy. Cheers!
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Just in! New awards for R&B wines!
Tasters Guild 2010 International Wine Judging
2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Gold Medal
Fortissimo "Port" Dessert Wine
Gold Medal
2007 Swingsville Zinfandel
Gold Medal
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R&B's 2010 Awards
Critic's Challenge International Wine Competition
2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - Critics Platinum
Fortissimo "Port" Dessert Wine - Critics Gold
2007 Swingsville Zinfadel - Critics Silver
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - TRIPLE Gold Medal "Best in Class" "Judges Choice"
Tasters Guild International Wine Competition
Fortissimo "Port" Dessert Wine - Gold Medal Award
2007 Swingsville Zinfandel - Gold Medal Award
2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - Gold Medal Award
2007 Zydeco Zinfandel - Silver Medal Award
Beverage Tasting Institute
2007 Swingsville Zinfndel - 91 pts - Gold Medal Award - "Best Buy"
AlaWine.com
2005 Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - Gold Medal Award - 94 points
Dallas Morning News Wine Competition
2007 Serenade in Blanc Sauvignon Blanc - Gold Medal Award
2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - Gold Medal Award
2007 Zydeco Zinfandel - Silver Medal Award
2005 Metronome Merlot - Silver Medal Award
Los Angeles International Wine Competition
2007 Swingsville Zinfandel - Gold Meda "Best of Class"
Fortissimo "Port" Dessert Wine - Silver Medal Award
BTI's World Wine Championships
2007 Napa Valley Zydeco Zinfandel - Silver Medal Award
2005 Bingham Ranch, Napa Valley, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - Gold Medal - 90 Points
2007 Swingsville Zinfandel - 89 pts "Cellar Selection" "Best Buy"
BevX
2007 Swingsville Zinfandel, 4 Stars "Exceptional"
2007 Serenade in Blanc Sauvignon Blanc, 3 Stars "Brilliant"
San Diego International Wine Competition
2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - Gold Medal Award
California State Fair Wine Competition
2007 Serenade in Blanc Sauvignon Blanc - Gold Medal Award "Best of Region, North Coast Appellation" "Best of Class"
One of California's top 11 white wines!
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CALL THE WINERY TODAY (510-749-8477), MENTION THE NEWSLETTER AND GET A 15% DISCOUNT ON ALL ORDERS.
OFFER ENDS JULY 15TH.
 R&B Cellars 2005 Reserve
Cabernet
Sauvignon
"BEST
OF CLASS"
"JUDGES' CHOICE"
Triple Gold Medal
San Francisco Chronicle
Wine CompetitionThis award validates R&B
Cellars' commitment to
a traditional, European Reserve Cabernet
Sauvignon program.
To
stand out amongst almost 5,000 wines tasted this year, is an incredible
proof point that using all brand new French Oak, ten different cooperages, an extended aging time (both barrel and bottle), the finest Napa Valley estate
grapes and the magic of an experienced wine-making team, allows us to
offer the finest Napa Cabernet available on the market.
 Photo Credit: Anne Kohler |
R&B Cellars, home of the wine that swings!
Keep on swingin'!
www.rbcellars.com
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