Want Bordeaux with your B-52s?

Tonight, there are at least 1,000 people milling about in everything from spit-shined dress shoes to well-worn flip-flops, sampling more than 30 wines from 13 distributors at the swankiest downtown hotel. But when Hammond kicked this off three years ago, he did it with a handful of friends at his house, not at a pool that recently underwent a $30-million renovation.

After about 17 weeks, what began as a fun way for him to study for his sommelier exam -- by playing music while drinking wines from around the world -- evolved into a full-scale business his house could no longer contain. Now, Hammond and Barton estimate their smaller events attract about 600 people, while their larger ones see upward of 2,000.

Past locales have included Mandalay Bay hotel-casino's faux beach area and other venues that have a "sizzle," as Barton somewhat cryptically labels their criteria.

While the weather isn't sizzling, the crowd in front of the Golden Nugget's poolside stage could use some cooling down. Headlining act ForTwentyDaze hangs a lazy solo in the air, causing couples to grind up and down and sway back and forth, like ship sails about to sink into the horizon.

They're feeling what Barton calls the "happy buzz" only wine can deliver. It's one reason the diverse crowd -- college-age people in shorts, professionals in slacks -- doesn't split off into cliques, as in a high school cafeteria.

The folks standing on the third-floor terrace directly above the shark tank are a tad loopy on Aussie imports, and those below are taking generous swigs of vibrant flavors courtesy of Imperial wine. In other words, they're on the same level, even when they're not on the same level.

Standing ankle-deep in the neon blue pool are two older gals posing for a shutterbug. One of them nearly falls over, but the other catches her, laughing doubtlessly because her friend's a klutz, because they're both still dry, and because they're playing photo-queens in front of strangers.

Yeah, they've got a happy buzz.

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Uncorking the fun

NEXT TASTINGS

Flamingo Las Vegas hotel pool on May 18; 3555 Las Vegas S., Las Vegas NV 89109; (888) 902-9929.

Platinum Hotel on June 22, 211 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89169; (877) 211-9211. The events usually begin at 7 p.m. and end at 11 p.m. Must be 21 or older.

TICKETS

$33 in advance and $38 at the door. Includes entrance, music and wine.

TO LEARN MORE

www.rocknrollwine.com.