“We wanted to go back to a family business that focused on great wines and having a good time,”
Just east of San Francisco, in the town of Alameda, is the Rock Wall Wine Company. The Rock Wall Wine Company is located in the historic Alameda Naval Air Base. Started by the Rosenblum Family, Kent Rosenblum was the founder and winemaker for Rosenblum Winery. With 35 years of winemaking experience, he grew the business from 400 cases to a 250,000 cases a year venture. In 2008, Kent sold the Rosenblum Winery and started the Rock Wall Wine Company with daughter, Shauna, as the winemaker. “We wanted to go back to a family business that focused on great wines and having a good time,” says Kent. Today, Shauna heads up the cellar at the 25,000-case family venture, with Kent as CEO.
Shauna & Kent Rosenblum
The Rock Wall Wine Company’s facility is in Building 24, a 40,000 square-foot hanger that was retrofitted with state of the art winemaking equipment. The company’s name, Rock Wall, refers to the walls surrounding the Naval Air Base which are visible throughout the waterfront of the facility. Rock walls were built during WWII in the San Francisco Bay to protect the base from the Japanese air to sea torpedoes.
The Rock Wall Wine Company’s ideal location allows Shauna and her team to be regionally centralized assuring that the fruits are soon handled and the process of making wine is started after they are picked from the vines. Rock Wall Wine Company sources their grapes from acclaimed vineyards throughout California. Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley, Zinfandel from Sonoma County, Petite Syrah from Contra Costa County and Chardonnay from the Santa Lucia Highlands. The different grape varietals allow Rock Wall Wine Company to produce award winning wines.
All photos are from www.rockwallwines.com
The Rock Wall Wine Company offers its visitors and members a unique urban winery experience. The winery boasts clear views of the San Francisco skyline. Visit the Rock Wall Wine Company tasting room at 2301 Monarch St #300, Alameda, CA 94501 and their website at rockwallwines.com.