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Alameda’s Rock Wall Wine Company and winemaker Shauna Rosenblum announced Wednesday that her father, legendary East Bay winemaker and “King of Zin” Kent Rosenblum died last night. He was 74.

Rosenblum was a veterinarian with a passion for winemaking, when he founded Rosenblum Cellars in West Oakland. It was 1978 and the concept of an urban winery was novel, but he wasn’t finding the idea of commuting between a winery in the country and his local veterinary practice particularly attractive. By 2008, when he sold what had become an Alameda winery to drinks company Diageo, production had reached 250,000 cases a year.

Like many winemakers, Rosenblum didn’t exactly retire. Instead, he opened a new winery, this time with his daughter Shauna. Rock Wall Wine Company sits in a cozy building next to an old aircraft hangar at the former Alameda Naval Air Station. ·

“We are deeply anguished and saddened to report that Kent Rosenblum passed away last night in his sleep,” Rock Wall announced on Facebook. “Kent was the inspiration behind Rosenblum Cellars, which produced premium wines under his guidance for over 30 years. His winemaking talents earned him the unofficial title King of Zin. Kent was the inspirational spark for the inception of Rock Wall Wine Company, where he and his daughter Shauna have continued the tradition of crafting great wines. His zest for life was absolutely contagious and anyone who ever spent time with Kent knew how much he loved his family, his friends, skiing, wine, animals and of course Sven and Ole jokes.”

“It is with the greatest sorrow that I say goodbye to my Dad: the best Dad ever, my mentor and the kindest man I’ve ever known,” Shauna posted. “Your wines, your spirit and your Joie de Vivre will live on through all of us who adored you.”

Fellow veteran winemakers in the East Bay and beyond spoke with open hearts about Kent Rosenblum’s legacy, and their shock at his sudden passing. “Kent was truly a pioneer in the field, and is an irreplaceable leader in the urban winery scene,” said Mike Dashe, co-owner and winemaker of Oakland’s Dashe Cellars, in an email Wednesday. “He was a mentor to a huge number of young winemakers, and his kindness and generosity of spirit helped many people make the leap to professional winemaking.

“Personally, he helped Anne and I when we first started Dashe Cellars 22 years ago, offering us the space next door to his facility and letting us rent space and share crushing and pressing facilities for the crucial first seven years of our business. We certainly would not be in the position we are in, or have thought to make wine in Alameda or Oakland, without his help and encouragement. He always was at the ready with a corny joke or story, and his warmth and wit will be sorely missed in this increasingly difficult business.”

Namesake winery Rosenblum Cellars, now owned by Diageo, posted this message on its Facebook page: “Kent was not only a gifted winemaker, he was an authentic soul, a gentle man without a trace of guile. He was a remarkable teacher and advocate of California wines.”

#RIP Kent Rosenblum, one of the true gentlemen in wine, a great vigneron and our brother in Zin. #Harvest2018 marks his final curtain. Our condolences to the Rosenblum family. — Joseph Swan Vineyard (@JosephSwanWines) September 6, 2018

According to Wine Spectator, Rosenblum underwent elective knee surgery in August, but complications followed. He returned home from a follow-up surgery last week and passed away in his sleep in the early hours morning. Rosenblum is survived by his wife, Kathy, daughters Shauna and Kristen, and granddaughter Skylar.

The family has asked that donations be made to the Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS) in Kent’s name.