Big disappointment. I was really expecting a high class experience especially because of the prices, but I was fooled and I'm actually mad about it. The wines are overpriced for the quality, just mediocre, not special in any way. The property is unremarkable and sits across from the raceway, thank goodness there weren't any races or it would have been absurdly loud with unbearable traffic. They really PUSH membership (basically harass). Some membership guy came to our table and annoyed us for several minutes. The pace was hurried after we said "no". The music shut off at 4:00, closing time, and we were basically chased out by 4:15. Go somewhere else, your money will be better spent at another winery. read more

I enjoyed the wine tasting and Alex provided a complimentary experience with his personal knowledge of the different types of wine. read more

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Aaron is a godsend. It's hard to explain but he made a bad day good and we look forward to coming back. He gave us what we liked in addition to a tasting. He is super attentive and awesome 100% ~party of six read more

Ram's Gate Winery - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

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Five stars for the open air outdoor room inspired by Restoration Hardware look. Convenient location and friendly service also a plus. When driving to wine country from San Francisco, Ram's Gate is the first winery you come across. If I was going to build a dream home, it would probably look a lot like this winery. It's like a really cozy living room with a fireplace and rustic furniture. Also in my dream home is awesome food and world class wine. Ram's Gate has both. It's really a stimulation of all five senses that was well thought out and thoughtfully designed. read more

Maggie was THE SWEETEST and most elaborate/informative guide to our lovely wine tasting experience- will definitely return again.

While the property is beautiful, I can not recommend visiting this winery. I enjoyed the wines, but when you pay $40 a person to taste 4 wines (2 Chardonnay and 2 Pino Noir) you should get Amazing service. This is where Rams Gate failed. 3 of us cost me $120 to receive tiny pours, slow service and limited knowledge and communication from our pourer. Frustrating, as a local from Tiburon, I get great service in Sonoma all the time, but not at Rams Gate. Sorry, I recommend skipping Rams Gate when you tour the area wineries. read more

Ram's Gate Winery - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

Did you know this is the first winery you see once you turn onto Hwy 121 from 37 after the Sonoma Raceway? That was the Sears Point Raceway back in the day. Anyhow, it's quite a nice setting up on a hill with a view that overlooks the wetlands that roll into San Pablo Bay. The building itself was completely renovated in 2012 now looking very much like the lobby of a high-end resort hotel in Aspen or Telluride. The first thing you see as you walk from the parking lot is a vintage red Audi MG roadster in the main courtyard, which gives you in a nutshell the type of upscale vibe they're going for here (photo: http://bit.ly/1ONHEvC). There are at least three separate areas for tasting starting with a grand hall with a big white marble bar (photo: http://bit.ly/1G073zH). We landed our derrieres in the expansive lounge area lit by a large fireplace (photo: http://bit.ly/1CzZ4qr). There is more of a bistro dining area that engulfs the verandas which face the views (photo: http://bit.ly/1yqeGrf). Once again I was depending on the kindness of friends who already secured a membership here which allowed me entry into this more exclusive area. We were quite relaxed on the couches and ordered the $40 Pinot Noir flight which provided full-bodied, fruity tastes from their Glass House and Silver Eagle vineyards (photo: http://bit.ly/1G5TzRn). Food pairings turned out to be satisfying bar bites nicely executed, for example, the $9 Wagon Wheel Arancini with Black Truffle and Mushroom Puree (photo: http://bit.ly/1HVNglq) and the $14 Prawn with Coconut Foam, Madras Curry, Hazelnut and Curry Vinaigrette (photo: http://bit.ly/1a7THEc). We ended our sojourn here with an effervescent $15 flute of the 2010 Sparkling Brut Rosé (photo: http://bit.ly/1xMNmsC). Service was attentive without being overly intrusive. My oh my, I'm gettin' high-falutin'. read more

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Had an amazing wine tasting + lunch pairing here. I don't have enough good things to say about the experience! read more

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I never realized that there was such a picturesque winery so close to San Francisco. In fact I didn't know it was right next to a great race track. It's probably not a great idea to get loaded and head over to Infineon, but the opposite might be excellent. Track day then a slew of great wines? Sign me up! Unfortunately I missed the track day but I did get the slew of wines. One of my all time favorite restaurants, Benu, had a GM named Marc Hartenfels. He recently made the the transition to wine country and ended up at Ram's Gate. So in being part of his fan club. I made the trek up here to attend the soft opening. From afar it looks like there's a barn like structure on top of a small hill. As it's the end of summer (though it reached 92F regardless) said hill is still a bit brown but you can see the greens of the vines surrounding. You drive u pa small road and pull into a dusty parking lot that seems to have development ongoing and as I got out I found a wine glass with its own parking spot. Picking it up and bringing in we're greeted by a friendly staff member. As we start chatting Marc comes out to say hi. It is good to see his familiar face. We negotiate one how to proceed. It's late and we've not had lunch. It was time to take both of the wine and food pairing, trying to taste everything they have to offer. We look at the menu and it's structured in a manner to associate food pairings under each wine, giving you a few choices with each. Since we wanted to try a bit of everything, we ordered both flight offerings and the dessert wine which gave us a handful of both 2008/2009 vintages of: -Sparkling Bruy -Moscato -Chardonnay -Pinot Noir -Syyrah -Late harvest Zinfandel and with the food we got: -Trio of oysters -Nicoise salad -Charcuterie platter -Sea bass -Foie gras -Short ribs -Albodigas with mole -Chocolate olive oil cake They are really serious about their wine and food here. Chef Jason Rose who comes from the Delfina and Tyler Florence restaurant groups has created a menu that certainly matches the wine offerings. Im still thinking about how their Syrah goes with their Mexican mole and the late harvest Zin and olive oil cake. After finishing our excellent spread we got a quick tour of the grounds. The main dining room is quite magnificent. There are glass wall formal dining tables, Tiled patio like tables, plenty of couch and oversized seat lounges and a huge firepit in the middle. There's the tasting bar and demonstration kitchen where we met chef Rose which in itself is also magnificently large. They have these eight feet tall chandeliers that hang from above. You can then move south outside where there's cabana esque seating with a path to a grassy area with a pond and picnic area. Back in the front there is a mirrored concierge and host/wine pickup coves. You can then take the bat cave door behind the concierge the more hidden parts of the winery. The fermentation and storage tanks lie in very cool air conditioned rooms. Moving downstairs puts you directly into the cellar, where the oak barrel magic happens. There's also a sixteen seat communal table that allows for tastings and perhaps private parties. Finally back upstairs the members salon is probably the most beautifully appointed of the rooms. Think of an elegant den or library where one goes to lose themselves. Ram's Gate is quite remarkable. The minute I sat down I felt relaxed it after a few hours it was very hard to leave to go back to my reality. The space alone brings some sort of zen, and since it hasn't been widely discovered yet. I'm not sure how long that will last. However the great food, wine and hospitality certainly helped in the relaxation cause. A great debut of a temple to the pleasures of life. Marc and the rest of the Ram's Gate family, congratulations on your opening! read more

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we did the featured tasting as a special occasion for a birthday and had a delightful time! we really enjoyed the wines as well as the experience with the tasting expert who was very friendly and taught us a lot about the wines. they encouraged us to take a look around the property at the end of our visit with a glass of wine and it was so gorgeous! highly recommend read more

Ram's Gate Winery - interior tasting room - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

**************************** REVIEW 891 ******************************** 3.5 stars Nice place, they spent millions for the tasting room! But service was so scripted, no soul, no heart to this Winery! Now do you want a good wine or you want the ambiance? Overly commercialized! Ram's Gate Winery is definitely not my choice of wine. Although it's such a great spot to take out of town guests to visit. There's so many smaller producers around here that produce amazing wines with less scripted attitude from wine servers! I feel as they try to force you to join their wine clubs! Come on, I don't need your attitude with me, I got my own! read more

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Thank you Maggie! Great experience and fantastic wines. Beautiful setting. Overall great time.

Ram's Gate was the first stop on a recent (very brief) trip to Sonoma, and we were so taken aback by how beautiful the space is! The building -- situated on a hilltop with amazing views -- is a contemporary-yet-rustic open air design, and there is a lovely outdoor seating area with comfy couches and chairs and a fireplace (it was unlit at the time of my visit, but I imagine that having a glass of wine there -- on the couch, outside, in front of the fire --would be amazing). Service was polite, and the wine (a 2010 cabernet) was fabulous. We sat outside on the couches for what felt like ages -- it wasn't crowded, and we didn't want to leave! I can't wait to come back and take a tour or do a more thorough tasting. read more

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One of the prettiest wineries I've been to! The wine is exquisite and scenery is to die for! Not only do they have amazing wines, but great food to pair with as well! Been here many times and the experience with the staff was beyond expectations. Definitely a must go to winery when in Sonoma. read more

Ram's Gate Winery - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

The building was stunning, enjoyed most of the wine, and the service was great. It was our first tasting in Sonoma and set the bar high.

This place is incredible. I made my first trip here from Sacramento last week, and will definitely be returning sooner rather than later! I had the pleasure of partaking in a five course wine pairing meal with some family friends, and I enjoyed every second of it. Each wine was amazing, and expertly paired with dishes that were almost as beautiful as they were delicious. The grounds were quite impressive as well. We were treated to a delightful tour of the property by Tobias, who did a great job of showing off the land and providing some history for how the winery came to be. If you have a moment to explore the inside of the facility, indulge yourself. The interior décor is awe-inspiring. In short, I had a phenomenal time and would recommend this winery to anyone. All the staff were very friendly and professional, ensuring that we were taken care of at every turn. I cannot wait to return with family and friends. read more

Zach, Been a member since ramsgate just open but just need to let everyone know out there how nice and a good manager you are! I brought my sister straight from her work and forgot her ID but definitely she looks more than 21 but i understand the rules she didn't Drink the whole time just to be respectful but zach is so gracious enough for letting her in. Thank you zach. From billy and asia :) read more

(See pics) Review #1102. Lovely winery-- delicious dishes that are bigger than tapas but smaller than stuffed full-on plates, great wines and an incredible view! And its closer proximity to the city makes it a quick get away without a long drive nor traffic. The winery itself feels more like an open restaurant with good comfortable sofas in 1 area, higher back chairs on the other, and dining style in another. The wines here are solid and as many of us always wonder why there aren't more wineries like this, as when you can actually pair the food with the wines would bring out the best of the wines. This definitely helps build your palate and even dinner party menus! Big thanks to Julie K for bringing us to such a gem! read more

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This was tasting location #1. My buddy suggested this cozy room as I enjoy Pinot Noir...they didn't disappoint. Our server was knowledgeable, polite, & patient (I ask tons of questions). This platter in particular was ordered as I was starving not just to pair with taste. Based on the assortment & my situation: the variety was just as varied as my taste buds & as tasty as the wines. Those brownie bits were amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed myself. read more

Ram's Gate Winery - You cannot see the whole assortment: brownies, meats, & other treats. - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

This was our first stop on our Sonoma wine tasting trip. I read about this place in Food & Wine magazine and it was recommended by a colleague so we made an appointment online and made the visit. It was after Christmas, but they still had the outside decorated with wreaths, Christmas decor and the fireplace was lit so it felt very warm, cozy, and welcoming. The friendly hostess greeted us and took us inside to the tasting room once our table was ready. I loved the tasting room, which was like a barn with all wood interior and high ceilings. Felt very rustic with Pottery Barn style decor. People were standing at the tasting bar, but it was nice that we had a seat at the table. Felt like we were at a restaurant once the menu came. The menu consisted of various flights ($10-15) with some suggested food pairing ($25-30 with food) as well as glasses of wines with suggested food pairings. I started off with a glass of their Sparkling Brut. It was simple and refined, but didn't give me any burps. Then I tried the Flight #3: - 2010 Chardonnay Sangiacomo Vineyards - really buttery and tasted like caramel. Really good so I left with a bottle. - 2010 Pinot Noir - not exciting - 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon - good, not great My husband had the Flight #2 with food pairing: - 2011 Sauvignon Blanc with Spanish Octopus - 2010 Chardonnay with Cauliflower Panna Cotta - 2010 Pinot Noir with Crispy Arancini The Sauvignon Blanc was light and refreshing. Great for the summer. Overall, loved the tasting room, the ambiance, and the service, but their wines were just so-so for me. I enjoyed their whites more than their reds. read more

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Classy + rustic open-space design creates a relaxing environment. High ceilings, sofas near fire places, lounge chairs to overlook amazing views. I came with a winery member, so we got a complimentary wine flight tastings. Paired with a charcuterie board, it was memorable times. I won't pretend to be a wine connoisseur and give my evaluation of the wines. (Umm, taste likes grapes, haaa) So, I'll say I love the environment. There's a nearby pond to walk to and relax by. Also, if you're a member, there's a member's only area in a nicely lit space with tables/ couches. I will come back here. I also like how it's closer to the Bay Area and not as deep into the heart of Napa Valley. read more

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Not sure what happened to Ram's Gate Winery. This place used to have a fun atmosphere and friendly environment. Recently the management's attitude and customer service has been very negative and hostile to the guests whether you are a member or not. We have not felt welcome the last few visits to the winery. There are too many rules and too many times they say, "No," you cannot have that, or cannot do that, etc. They need to rethink their hospitality and customer service as it is lacking. With high wine prices, they need to step it up as they are trying to be upscale, but not offering upscale service. Too bad because it is a nice property with great views, but not fun to visit. read more

Absolutely gorgeous, and amazing wine to boot! I nerd out a bit on the architecture but it definitely takes second to the wines! These wines are no jokes. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to make your dreams come true. I would opt for the tasting that includes the tour to get a more in depth experience (and hopefully see the barrel room which is heavenly). Don't miss this spot. read more

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What an extraordinary experience. We live in Napa, and have driven by countless times. On our way home from errands we stopped in and were blown away. We were met in the parking lot by Manager, Tobais, who whisked us inside as if he had been waiting for us all day. We were blown away be the views from every angle. This winery has great energy and a lively vibe - contemporary with a touch of traditional Most of the tasting spaces are open-air and VERY Covid-safe. Every seat in the house has an amazing view. Tobias invited us to walk through the Chardonnay vineyard down to the pond while they prepared our table. Seriously? Who does that? Once seated we were well taken care of by our awesome Wine Guide, Emir, assisted by Sergio, because, after all, two Guides are better that one. We tasted everything from Pinot Blanc, to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and finished up with a surprising Red Blend. We've been to hundreds of wineries in Napa and Sonoma and Ram's Gate wins the trifecta - Fantastic facility with amazing views, exceptional service and delicious wines. Next time you are driving in from SFO, stop here first. You will be SO glad you did. read more

We stopped by here on a Saturday around 1 PM and it was relatively quiet compared to usual. We were celebrating a friends engagement and they gave us the private room along with a private patio. The space was incredible and we had a bottle of most of their wines. My favorite was the Rosé and we even considered getting a bottle, but it's a bit pricey for what it is (although that's the norm for Sonoma / Napa). Once it got later in the day, we went to the lake and hung out there for a bit. They've got cornhole down there as well. I think this place is excellent and I'll definitely be heading back. read more

Ram's Gate Winery - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

We LOVED this winery. The place has a great vibe and a gorgeous view. And the wine was good too! This is a fabulous first stop on your way into the valley. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. read more

Ram's Gate Winery - Wineries Near Me - Sonoma, California

Clayton in the front greeted me and my mother so nicely upon arrival. I was so happy to see his smile before my eyes .

Went into Ram's Gate for the first time this past weekend. The gentleman in the front, Clay, was awesome!

We were heading out of town and stumbled across this gem! Hidden wonder and beautiful setting. We enjoyed the Gateway Tasting and bought 2 bottles of 2016 Pinot Noir read more

Dj is awesome. I've been been a member of ram's gate for over a year and he has been the best service I've had since becoming a member. cant wait for my next trip to the winery read more

Really delicious food and friendly employees. I visited Ram's Gate with my mom and a friend for the summer Palate Play, which is a five-course tasting meal with wine pairings. I'm a bit of a cheap date so I only had a sip or two of each wine, but all were superb (particularly the pinots). The food was *excellent* and creative. It was difficult not to lick the plate. The chilled lobster with peaches and fermented tea leaf vinaigrette was the winner at our table. It's a beautiful, serene property, and guests can wander around as they please. We walked down to the pond, bought some bags of their beef jerky for friends, and then spent some time exploring the library. The employees all seem to be enjoying themselves and are knowledgeable about the food and wines. I'll definitely be back to take my husband here, though I'd love to be able to take our two-year-old as well since he would enjoy the lawn. Perhaps RG can consider scheduling a periodic families' day? :-) read more

We had Maggie as our waiter and she was perfect! She took us on an experience before every wine tasting describing every wine! We loved our Eastern TN girl!! She was so friendly and knowledgeable. Love from TN!! read more

Very nice wines, our server Maggie was very expressive and informative, made our experience amazing! Beautiful grounds and facility.

Maggie was great, expressive and passionate about the experience and livelihood of wine!

Have been coming to the winery pretty much since its opening (we have a soft spot for the little winery that was there before) Positives: - Wines are solid. Every year there is a a Chardonnay we like (grateful for the consistency) - Views are amazing, and the entire setting is lovely. - Geo location - closes to the city - Food is delicious and also consistently good - Food and wine paring is thoughtful and well done - Service is personable, people are well train and care for wines Things we wish were a little different: - Prices. They likely have enough demand to charge what they do, but prices feel high. - They are busy - walking in will likely not work. Book in advance read more

Mercedes was wonderful! extra tastings more than we paid for. phenomenal experience!

We had a wonderful pairing experience. Our hostess Mercedes was great. Very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and entertaining.

Came here with family for a "Spring Pairing," where we sampled five varietals of wine each paired with a "tapa" sized food - what a pleasure it was! The winery nestles on a hill across from Sears Point Raceway (Infineon, or whatever!), and the road leading up to it does not let onto the surprise you feel when you crest the hill and break into a large, tree filled parking area - or areas, actually! The building itself, hard to discern from the road, is an architectural delight. The building is actually buildings, created from warm woods, tall ceilings, lots of glass and enormous garage style doors that open to various areas. The tables are varied, and scattered into clusters to meet the needs of all sizes of groups. In between, you'll find fireplaces, greenery, sitting areas of sofas and easy chairs all well placed to make you feel like you're in your own living area, instead of a winery which seemingly could seat well north of one hundred people or more. You enter and are greeted, and shown to your table, passing a wine market where you can pick up some wines to take home with you. The pairings require advance reservations, and the winery itself is not open to drop-in tastings. There are membership levels you join, and each offer various perks. We were seated in a section facing the raceway hill, with a large tree to the left balancing out views of the raceway and grape vines visible through a wall of glass. We could even see motorcycles running the track that day! Our "server" that day was Luis, a pleasant and attentive young man only three days into this role. He came from another winery, and was quite knowledgeable already about the wines and characteristics of Ram's Gate's offerings. The tasting started with the first of five dishes, a Kanpachi Crudo (Cara Cara oranges, Tokyo turnip, green almonds and pink peppercorn). It was paired with a 2017 Pinot Blanc. The oranges were blackened and very sweet, offset by the bitterness of the green (read: not ripe!) almond slivers. Not sure where they found those, but a nice taste in total. The almonds were small slivers, and added another taste and texture. For a vegetarian option, they subbed out sliced cucumber, which was very nice in this setting. The second dish, Assa and pickled beets (Rhubarb, Fava leaves, sunflower seeds, tahini, citrus and lavash) was paired with a 2015 Chardonnay. Now, in all transparency, I am not much of a wine drinker, but THIS was my favorite! It was - buttery - as I described it. I could buy a bottle of this and be happy. The food was well presented (as were all - see photos!) and almost a shame to eat! But we did, and it was delicious. The tahini sauce was particularly nice in this setting, adding a balance to the pickled beets. The third dish was a leek and watercress pelmeni (morels, English peas, dashi butter and vegetable jus), paried with a 2016 Pinot Noir. The dish was perhaps my favorite, or at least top two placed. The English peas were larger and tastier than what I am used to having, and they were pureed to form a base layer upon which the dish was built. The pelmeni (Russian, look like a cross between dumplings and large tortellini) was amazingly good. Just a couple or morel slices were the perfect finish. I ate everything, including the puree, a rather thick pea soup but with much deeper taste. I will have to look for the English peas in markets. The fourth dish was a Bavette steak (red pearl onions, cherry tomatoes, yogurt, red mustard, roja demi, pecans and smoked salt), paired with a 2014 Syrah. For a vegetarian option, the steak was subbed with a thick slice of grilled eggplant. The steak (or eggplant) was the main item in this dish, resting on an ice pond of yogurt, with halved tomatoes, onions and pecan crumbles as the skaters. The fifth, and final, dish was a pistachio cake (with pomegranate molasses, billionaire's bacon, 5 spice cream and milk sand), paired with a 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon. This would be in the running for my favorite, as my sweet tooth and love of pistachio ran head on into each other, and there were no survivors! The three cakes were small but packed with flavor, and the drizzle was better than any sauce on an ice cream I've come across. The spice cream was also full of taste, and balanced nicely with the slight tartness of the pomegranate. Wow. So, we worked through these dishes and wines at a leisurely pace (about 2 and a 1/2 hours), with dishes and utensils cleared after each tasting. In between the dishes we talked, enjoyed the wine and anticipated the next experience. Afterwards we settled at the wine bar, in a separate area, and tried some more wine, a very nice way to settle and let the time here last a little longer. A short walk into the vineyard allowed a nice view of the eastern part of the property, which includes an inviting pond as a place to grab some wine and food from the bar and sit under some trees to enjoy. The day was relaxed (the wines helped!), and the food was amazing! read more

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Edited based on their decent and professional response. ...They didn't allow my gay friend from Jamaica to come in with his children. My friend did call in advance and was told it was ok but when he got there the person who received them refused to allow them even in the parking lot. My friend, his family and myself have been in the wine country many times and this is the first time my friend was not allowed to come in with his family. I'm giving 3 stars because their wine is good. But I'm very disappointed with them and don't anticipate visiting again. With a little more customer service this situation could have been avoided. read more

I was put off by the winery from the start as I was greeted and was told they offered two tastings at two ridiculous prices. One was 4 tastings for $40 and one was I think 5 tastings for $65. I asked if the tastings were larger pours and the lady at the front said no. Then I asked if we each buy a bottle of wine can we get our tastings waived. She said for every two bottles of wine bought you get one tasting waived. Keep in mind the bottles are not cheap. I asked if they sold wine by the glass and the lady said no. The entire time I'm thinking this is crazy! In the end we decided not to get the tasting and shared a bottle of wine between the four of us. Our bottle cost $76..$83 and some change with tax. The wine was good and I enjoyed it, but I've had better wine at a cheaper price. The grounds are nice and the people were nice, but I felt that the tastings were ridiculously high and I felt that they should have at least a bottle or two that you can purchase a glass of wine. I eat out a lot and I go to wineries as well, so it's not like I'm not aware of what places charge. I just felt like we were taken advantage of. I don't know if other people feel this way too that go. It felt like they were trying to cater to a certain clientele. I was put off by all of it. I enjoyed the grounds and my friends company, but I will not be trying to rush there again any time soon. There are so many other wineries that don't give off a pretentious feeling and the wine/tastings are reasonably priced as well. Plus most you can purchase a glass and many waive the tastings when you buy a bottle. Especially in that price range! read more