Summer of Love Barbecue on June 4 June 4, 2011

For Zinfandel fans, the official beginning of summer isn’t Memorial Day, it’s June 4, wine-tasting open house at Zin-specialist Rosenblum Cellars, Alameda’s dockside urban winery. At the afternoon’s Summer of Love Barbecue event, guests can celebrate peace, love and amazing wine as they explore the East Bay’s best in vino culture, wine-friendly barbecue, live music and the independent spirit that fueled the 1960s counterculture and continues to inspire Rosenblum Cellars. See how Grill Master Sid Stafford barbecues with spicy, herbal rubs that bring out the sweet, spicy best in Zinfandel wines.

Expand your wine consciousness with tastings of more than three dozen wines, many culled from the winery’s secret stash of short-production and reserve lists. Cure your munchies with a culinary tour of the best in barbecue styles, and hang out with the coolest folks in the wine world, Rosenblum Cellars’ winemaker John Kane and his loyal band of merry grape growers.

Just to keep things groovy, you can enter a rib-eating contest, see how Taylor’s Sausage of Oakland makes some of their legendary products, and enter a cook-off that pits your version of Grill Master Sid’s spice rub against those of your fellow seminar participants. Chill out between glasses in Rosenblum’s new pad, the remodeled Tasting Room.

Admission includes a complimentary keepsake glass. Advance tickets: Wine Club members-$25, Nonmembers-$35. At the door: Wine Club members-$40, Nonmembers-$50 Purchase tickets online at www.rosenblumcellars.com. Attendees MUST BE AT LEAST 21 years old to attend.

Official Website: http://www.rosenblumcellars.com