Looking for ideas, topics to discuss with Kent Rosenblum

WINE TALK
1

We are interviewing him on GrapeRadio April 14th. We could use your questions on the show.

Jay Selman
Producer - GrapeRadio

2

The obvious would be how things are different for him and the winery under the Diageo umbrella.

3

I’d like to know how difficult it is to work with the idiosyncrasies of all those vineyards.

4

How about asking him to tell us about the role of Alicante Bouschet in old vine Zinfandel?

5

I was going to ask a question then when I saw Bruce’s Avatar …my mind went Duh [suicide.gif]

6

Years ago at ZAP he wrote on his name tag

Kent Rosenblum
Debt Qualified

Always loved that. [highfive.gif]

Would like to know how his style has changed/evolved over the years, and why.

What he thinks the future of zinfandel is, and if it will ever get respect on American restaurant lists!

7

I think they do get some respect. And I don’t want them to get much more. Silver Oak gets respect, [foilhat.gif] and the pricing is silly.

8

Ok I am back…

question…at what point were you able to start to receive a return on your investment and not put in back into the business…?..

How often do you send your wine to the bulk market when a wine that is not 100% up to your labels reputation…?..

In you opinion what is the single defining element that made your winery stand out …?..

Do you feel that Old Vines over 50 years old should be registered as a National Treasure…?.. if not at what age …?.. [cheers.gif]

9

And as one of the first producers to do a “critter” label, how do you feel about the phenomenon? [dance2.gif]

10

Ask him how come my adoption papers never got signed.

11

How so - is there a gopher in there somewhere?

12

Eric - I’m sure this is what Mary is referring to - “Château La Paws”:

13

And yet…there’s no critter there either - just a bone. [shrug.gif]

14

Well, there are paw prints too. You’re a real stickler on this critter thing, Eric! :wink:

15

Along these lines, and I’m not sure if he could answer with complete candor, but I have heard through the “grapevine” hehe, that he is pretty disgusted with the direction Diageo is taking his brand. I would ask him what he thinks about what they are doing with his baby.

Btw, when I was at Fresno State, we had a winery tour class scheduled during spring break every year (yes, we got credit for it!). Rosenblum was the first winery scheduled for our tour the year I took it. It was in 2004 when Jeff Cohen was still there. They could not have been nicer. It was our first stop on Monday morning, but we stayed for quite a while, they cooked us lunch, and gave us a 50% discount on any wine purchases. Probably the best experience of the entire week.

16

Yeh, fer sure! His label and the story of the winery were featured in Dog & Kennel (May 2002), in their series on dog wine labels. I think that places Ch.lePaws officially in critterdom! He is, after all, a former veterinarian, right? Who better to have an opinion on the worthiness, dignity, and humor of critter labels?

17
  1. Why did he never buy vineyards to produce wine?
  2. Why so many different wines?
18

Jay,
I am really curious to here about his new winery project. It is apparently in an old 40,000 sq. ft. air craft hanger by the bay on the south end of Napa. What will he be focussing on? Which vineyards was he able to retain contracts for his new label? Which vineyards did he lose, that he really wanted?.

19

I’ve been out to the new location (it’s actually in Alameda, only about a mile from Rosenblum) and it is huge! Fantastic view across the Bay too. Kent’s new venture is called Rock Wall. Tasted a few things at an event there late last year, mostly Zin and Petite IIRC. I didn’t take any notes, though, and I can’t recall the current vineyards - that would indeed be a good question.

20

Along the lines of what Ken said, how could he make zins and petites so quickly after selling? Didn’t he have a non compete that would put him ‘out of the game’ for awhile?

Also, how does he think the growth of his winery would have been different had he not hired Jeff Cohn?

And did he even think to purchase any of his own zin vineyards, especially ones that may have ultimately been sold off for houses, etc?

Cheers!