Spend the day in Alameda

Alameda is a funny little wedge of timelessness in the midst of the bustling Bay Area. The city actually occupies an island just off the Oakland shore.  If you are thinking of coming to my Prop Shop Sale next week I thought I'd share some fun things to do while you're here!

We are well known for The Alameda Point Antiques & Collectibles Faire but did you know that The Pointe is also the location of St. George Spirits, an ingredient driven artisanal California distillery?

The building that houses St. George Spirits may look like a naval air hangar on the outside, but inside lies a vast warren of copper pot stills and casks filled with artisanal spirits.

St. George was founded in 1982 to make eau de vie fruit brandies, and the process of making handcrafted eau de vie continues to influence their development of other spirits. 

California cuisine is known for being ingredient driven and their Californian spirits follow suit.

The distillery is a kitchen of sorts and their spirits are made from the most extraordinary fruit, vegetables, herbs, grasses, and grains that they can find.

Though flavor is of the utmost concern, they source their ingredients conscientiously-locally and organically.  They take a "whole hog" approach to distillation-using source materials in their entirety, capturing all that is beautiful about raw ingredients in their natural state.




Eau de vie is all about capturing the essence of raw materials-it's the only way to make fruit live forever. The goal is to maximize flavor and aroma, not profitability. It's an artisanal process that results in a better tasting product.

They express themselves through craft distillation.
It's their art form, their passion, and their way of making the world just a little more beautiful.

 

The best place to taste and buy their spirits is right at the source: the distillery in Alameda.

When you visit the tasting room, you can sample everything they make, ask questions about spirits production, and make purchases onsite at their distillery store.

St George Spirits
Drinking Squadron
2601 Monarch Street  Alameda 
510.769.1601
www.stgeorgespirits.com

Next door to St. George Spirits is Rock Wall Wine Company. 

 
Rock Wall Wine Company represents a new chapter in the East Bay urban winemaking scene. Founded and operated by a small group of wine industry veterans, including consulting winemaker Kent Rosenblum and his daughter, winemaker Shauna Rosenblum, the winery offers wine lovers a unique wine tasting experience.

Rock Wall wines are founded on the philosophy of the right grape in the right place and are the result of many long-term relationships with acclaimed vineyards. Grapes are sourced from all over California, creating a diverse winemaking environment, complete with various grape varieties, styles, and regional flavor profiles.

 

Ideally situated in Alameda, the winery boasts spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline. More importantly, its locale is regionally centralized-ensuring that the winemaking team is able to handle the fruit soon after it is picked, whether it be Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Napa Valley, Zinfandel from Sonoma County, Petitie Sirah from Mendocino County or Chardonnay from the Santa Lucia Highlands.

"A family affair, Rock Wall is about having fun together while making the best wines from the best regions, and sharing the experience with others."

Rock Wall Wines are available to taste in their tasting room which is open Wednesday - Sunday from 12PM to 6PM

Rock Wall Wine Company

2301 Monarch Street

Suite 300, Building 24

(510) 522-5700   RockWallWines.com

If The Alameda Point Antiques & Collectibles Fair is the only thing that brings you to our fair city, now you have a few more things to discover!

I look forward to seeing many of you next week at my Prop Shop Sale beginning on Thursday Feb. 16th.  Email me for details and directions.

Have a great weekend!

I'll be busy getting things ready for you!

*Info and images found here, here, and here