Yesterday was the Grand Re-Opening of their new tasting room / wine making facilities for Urbano Cellars in Berkeley, California.  The party started around 1pm and lasted well until after we departed.

The party featured free tasting of five of their wines: a Chenin Blanc, Rose, 5 Barrel (a red blend), Sangiovese and a Zinfandel.  The porchietta served was a great match for the reds and the Rose.  A live band provided some very danceable tunes.

I particularly liked the 2007 5 Barrel Red, a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Tempranillo which was exceptionally well balanced and very complex.  It offered something new with every mouthful.  I also really liked the 2007 Zinfandel which was full bodied, and packed with interesting flavors, including blackberry and mint.

All the wines were good; the blend and the Zin were the standouts.  I’ll want to go back on a weekend afternoon to taste again and take better notes.  It’s tough to write with a glass in one hand, a plate of pork in the other, a pen in the other, and my tasting journal in my forth.

Urbano Cellars is located in the Berkeley flats at 2323-B 4th Street near Dwight.  Their space can not be seen from the street.  You access it by walking up the drive way to the left of the building and turning right.  They are open for tasting and purchases on Saturday and Sunday Afternoons from 1pm to 5pm.  Urbano Cellars is worth seeking out.