We’ve had to scythe through so much red tape in the approval and permitting for our new Westside Road tasting room that we just couldn’t wait any longer. We want you to have another unique place to imbibe in the Roshambo experience - like ASAP. And after much searching, we’ve found it at the absurdly unique Cornerstone Place. Located in the Carneros wine district, about five miles south of Sonoma, it’s nestled at the gateway between Napa and Sonoma wine country. (Here’s a map.)

If you’ve never been, Cornerstone is a rotating conceptual art garden created by some of the world’s most innovative and provocative landscape designers. (Listen to this NPR feature on Cornerstone!) NPR describes it as an “avant-garde outdoor museum” and “a place to cultivate ideas,” while the SF Chronicle “guarantees a rush of the imagination.” Sounds like a perfect fit for a funky winery like ours, huh? Cornerstone Gardens also features an art gallery, a select few retailers, and come (sometime in) August… ROSHAMBO WINERY!

A July 4th Press Democrat feature on new tasting rooms in the Sonoma-Carneros region spotlighted Cornerstone and our forthcoming opening. Here’s an excerpt…

Roshambo Winery, they of the Roshambus traveling RV, will be among those hosting a tasting room here, which is great news for folks who miss visiting them in Healdsburg. Roshambo sold that facility to Silver Oak earlier this year and are in the process of planning another winery, but that could be years away. “What we were really looking for was somebody who was going to do something unexpected and unusual here and be unique,” said Dave Aquilina, the general manager of Cornerstone place. “Roshambo is a really good example of that.”

Roshambo is equally excited about the venture.

“We’re looking forward to sharing our unique wine experience with the type of person that is enthusiastic about art,” said Dan Ricciato, Roshambo’s “lead vocalist.” To that end, Roshambo plans to work with local artists in designing the concept for their new space. Ricciato says they can’t wait for it to all come together, noting they want it to “stand out and feel fresh and design-forward while still

This morning Naomi woke up to a pleasant surprise when the Press Democrat landed on her lap. On the front page of the Food & Wine section was an incredibly well written and in depth feature about her plans for Roshambo 2.0. It wasn’t a surprise that the story came out, only that it was soooo overwhelmingly positive, that the writer got it right. “Reports of Roshambo’s death have been greatly exaggerated,” reads opening line. And as Naomi’s eyes scanned the rest of Virginie Boone’s piece, her face was lit with a smile that was bright enough to power all of Sonoma County. It’s one of the best stories she’s ever read about herself or the winery. And if you click here (and sign in, anoooooying) you can see why.

Muchos gracias to Marcia Simmons of The North Bay Business Journal for running a great page one feature about Roshambo 2.0. We thought the story was fair and accurate and we love how it turned out.

Come on down to Roshambo this weekend to take a peek at the Roshambus. It’s kind of like Steve Jobs’ unveiling of the new iPhone at MacWorld, only much cooler. In fact, we are holding a raffle this weekend for a chance to spend a day wine tasting on the bus with us. So as Bob Barker says, “Come on down!” Drop off your business card and we’ll announce the winner on the blog on Sunday night. (Well, maybe Monday depending on how Sunday night goes!)

UPDATE: Arianna Bennett has WON the raffle.  And so she and a few friends will go on a wine tasting tour this spring on the Roshambus.  However, for all you raffle losers out there, don’t worry because Arianna has yet to respond to my congratulatory letter.  “So you’re telling me there’s still a chance.”  - Lloyd Christmas, Dumb and Dumber

Today the Press Democrat ran a follow-up article in response to Naomi’s Open Letter on the Roshamblog. Please check it out and let us know what you think of all this!

We would like to thank Tom Wark of Wark Communications for his incredibly keen post about the evolution of Roshambo. He is a highly successful media relations expert and he understands where we are headed and why today’s news is so positive.

And… MUCHOS GRACIAS to our Nashville distributor, Tim Burke of Omni Beverage Company. We’ve only been working with him for a few months but he’s already sold the shit out of our wines in the fine city of Nashville. And upon reading Naomi’s Open Letter he had this to say…

Naomi

Hello to you from Nashville. Just read your letter about the goings on. I am writing to say I wish you all of the best during these changes. I am so impressed with your vision and irreverence. It is truly inspiring in the sea of blandness that can be the wine biz. Please know that I am completely loyal to Roshambo. We plan on becoming one of your biggest distributors. Let us know if we can be of any assistance. We are a team. Have a kick ass holiday.

Tim

I love the Roshambus and insist on driving it …………

Well Tim, we’d love to see you behind the wheel of the Roshambus. You deserve it. Not only because you have sold a lot of cases of our wine in such a short time, but because you really believe in what we are trying to do. So, a BIG “thank you” to Tim Burke and Tom Wark and all of our loyal fans and embassadors and distributors who have reached out today to lend their support. Please know that it means EVERYTHING to us. Hell, it’s why we are doing this in the first place! THANKS!

In 1970, my late grandfather, Frank Johnson retired to Healdsburg with dreams of the good life. He purchased apple and prune orchards and soon replanted those 55 acres with vines just off of Westside Road. His labor of love was well received and before long, he became one of the first vineyard-designated growers of California, most notably selling grapes to Chateau St. Jean. Most of my childhood summers were spent on the vineyard, running around playing hide and seek and riding four-wheelers with my cousins and younger brother, Morgan. I simply fell in love with the wine and vines. So after my grandparents both passed away, I felt an impulse to leave Portland, OR and my photography career behind to fulfill Frank Johnson’s dream of building a family winery on his land.

Of course, if I were going to pick up and go, to throw my heart and soul into this vast undertaking, I knew that the winery would have to reflect a certain playful and irreverent spirit. It had to be a living, breathing artistic endeavor. My goal was to cultivate a snob-free culture that would appeal to people like my friends who had always assumed wine was too esoteric and exclusive. I just wanted to demystify it - and I believe we succeeded. With our quirky events like our Pirate Proms and Drag Brunch and our annual Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament, we have always tried to be true to our mantra, “Fighting for Fun in a Winey World.”

Many of you may already know that Roshambo Winery is moving out of its current facility at 3000 Westside Road in mid-January. I assure you we are not gone forever. For a year or so, during the construction of our new tasting room, we will temporarily reside in a custom RV that reflects our creative, unconventional spirit. This Roshambus will be parked just down the road on the site of our future home - 2450 Westside Road. And yes, the new tasting room will be just as stylish and daring as the old one, in design as well as content. Among the art to be permanently on display will be “junk art” by Sebastopol artist Patrick Amiot and ceramic work by Todd Barricklow of Santa Rosa. The new incarnation of Roshambo will be the same in many ways, just smaller and more manageable.

I’ll be the first to admit that we were overzealous in the sheer scope of the last facility. It put immediate pressure on us to become a 50,000+ case winery. And to be quite honest, with the birth of my beautiful baby boy Justice four years ago, I’ve reconsidered my drive to build an immediate national brand. I’d much rather create a small, intimate and meaningful experience for the people who really appreciate our passionate and free spirited approach. It’s the difference between having to sell wine and wanting to share an experience. And unlike a certain political philosophy recently popularized, I knew I didn’t want to just “stay the course.”

I’m happy to report that Roshambo Winery is still very much alive and kicking. Despite a few swirling rumors, our brand has never been on the block or bankrupt. We will continue our commitment to making excellent wines and creating an accessible wine country atmosphere. And while we will surely face some challenges during this evolution, that same irreverent soul that won the hearts of our Party Army Wine Club members and many others, is coming along for the ride. After all, Roshambo was never about the facility itself. Roshambo is all about a brazen spirit, a sea change, a new wine culture, and most importantly… You!

Thanks for your continuing support of the brand throughout the transition. I promise it will be better than ever before.

Sincerely,

Naomi Brilliant

Wine Hero