The founders of what is considered to be the world’s only “out” winery are rolling into town on Pride weekend to pour two of their popular varietals at the only outlet in San Diego County that carries them.

While one might assume that Rainbow Ridge wines deck the shelves of local GLBT-owned bars and restaurants, the label has been ignored by such retailers except for Wine Steals on University Avenue, where Tom Beatty Jr. and Dennis Costa will conduct the tasting from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., July 31.

The Palm Springs couple, who produce the wines in Lodi, will bring to the event their 2002 Chardonnay and coveted Alicante Bouschet, a red varietal termed by wine connoisseurs as “the king of color.” The latter recently earned a Silver Medal in the San Francisco International Wine Competition and was given a score of 91 points by Wine Enthusiasts.

And though both wines have enjoyed market success in 29 states since the men launched the company two years ago, Costa admits, “We haven’t pushed yet for better distribution in southern California.”

According to Mike Bartley, co-owner and general manager of Wine Steals, “The Rainbow Ridge distributor who came around last year told me he thought it would be easy to place the wines in bars throughout Hillcrest. But nobody picked them up except us. The distributor suspected it was because he is straight.”

Bartley explains, however, that even though Wine Steals attracts a partly gay patronage, the decision to carry Rainbow Ridge’s inky-red Alicante was based solely on the merits of the wine itself – a philosophy that has been strongly upheld by the establishment since it opened last year. “Alicante is not an easy wine to find. And we thought this was a unique type. We’ve already gone through 35 cases of it,” he adds.

Rainbow Ridge’s logo is a telling clue that the product originates from gay producers. The bottles are each marked with a cluster of rainbow-colored grapes, a design that happens to appear on the owners’ armband tattoos as well. “Interestingly, the grapes go through all of those colors during the winemaking process,” says Costa. The company has also immersed itself in countless GLBT charities and events around the country, and doesn’t hide the fact it is gay owned and operated.

“The wine world is a very good-ole-boy mentality,” Costa adds. “Nobody in the industry has ever identified the gay market like us, which is why a lot of other wineries have begun taking an interest in what we’re doing. Even our critics agree that we’re doing something right.”

Costa brings to the business a background in growing grapes for Sutter Home and then working later with the Mondavi family. His partner, on the other hand, still works as a flight attendant for a major airline and “has been exposed to wines from all over the world,” says Costa.

Despite limited distribution in southern California, the couple is enjoying measurable success in states such as Georgia, Alabama, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Nevada. As a result, they will expand their line later this year with wines named Flaming Red, Diva White and Butch Blush. Costa refers to those upcoming varietals as “the girls.”

The July wine tasting will feature Rainbow Ridge’s Alicate and Chardonnay, plus various “nibbles” provided by Wine Steals, located at 1243 University Ave. The cost is $5 per person. For more information, call (619) 295-1188.