Ram's Gate Winery — Attraction in Sonoma

We were really excited to have our first tasting experience at Ram's Gate. We live only 20 minutes away in San Rafael, and were looking for a place to recommend tasting experiences to our many out of town guests who love wine and our Bay Area wine country and who like joining wine clubs when they have a great experience at a winery.

We came in Dec. 26th for our very first tasting and brought a guest, and asked if we could either be seated with a view of vineyards on the other side of the big bar in the first room from the entrance which had available tables, or at a table next to or near the roaring fireplace which was also free, or in the next room over, with a fireplace and great view. We were denied all options, and instead seated at the first table after you enter the tasting room, without a view or fire and where it's most cold.

The hostess said that other people were coming and we couldn't sit at the free table closest to the fire, or the white chairs in front of the fire because someone might be coming ... we came at 2pm, and left at 4 and no one ever showed up. We were told by the server that the other large beautiful room you walk through on the way to the downstairs restrooms was for people who ordered food. We checked out that room a couple times, and no one ordered anything beyond a charcuterie board which is what we also ordered. There were also parties from 2 people and up. Not just large parties.

We ordered a charcuterrie board and a few $50 tastings, which were excellent, however, our server, although very nice, wasn't experienced. He said he had started labor day weekend, yet he didn't give us any details on any of the wines we were tasting beyond where the vineyard was located (on a few of the wines).

He said he would send the wine maker over to talk to us, but that never happened. We did really enjoy the wine selections and the board, however, for $50 per tasting of 5 wines, we were hoping for an experience with at least a story of the winery, or a few details on the specific wines and either a view of vineyards or closer to the fire or something special... literally anything, or at least some info on the wines. We didn't get any of the above. We decided not to purchase any wines or join the club because of this... and are hesitant to refer our guests to your winery because of this.

We completely understand that people or short staffed due to covid and holidays, however, it was not crowded when we arrived, and there were plenty of tables in the more desirable areas. I used to live in St. Helena and work at Duckhorn, so I am familiar with the mid to higher end wine tasting experiences.

Hopefully this feedback helps. Maybe we will try again the spring or summer, but for now, we hope this feedback...

Wow! Of course there's a Karen everywhere and anywhere you go. I came on a Monday, December 19th to enjoy some wine and time away from work. We were serviced by wonderful people and I hate leaving this review because Rachael, Mark, and Mercedes have been amazing and the most wonderful people you will experience there.

Listen, I just became a member in October and it was due to their great customer service. To me customer service matters, but relationships is what keeps me going to a place over and over.

While we were ordering our Uber/Lyft that was taking longer than usual, the team decided for us to wait in the members area with Rachael.

There was a random woman who apparently works in Merchandise. She came in with a weird demeanor inside the members office and asked direct questions to Rachael about closing up shop. The way she said it was with an intent to notify us we were not welcomed there and we had to go.

Yes, we understand the winery is closing, but you treat your members with respect or politely ask questions. Mind you it is 35 degrees outside and we are experiencing one of the coldest winters. She decided to make snarky comments for us to start leaving and it made not only the worker waiting there with us but myself and my friend super uncomfortable.

The individual's name was Meredith because we knew to ask to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else. She had no compassion, was extremely selfish, and on top of it all --rude.

She basically made us leave in the cold and kept the door in the members area open to signal for us to leave. Eventually we got an Uber and decided to say our goodbyes to Rachael because we knew this random person was trying to exert her power. I am still so bothered that this is still happening in the bay.

Outside we asked her who she was and we told her how rude she was and she made a snarky comment about our Lyft being here already.

So if you come here I hope you don't experience this and try to order your Lyft or Uber sooner before...

IG: eatgosee This winery is well worth the journey out of San Francisco as a destination place to visit not only for the selection of wines available but also because of the impressive venue. depending on traffic, this is about an hour and a half outside of the city. If you come for the winetasting then I would highly recommend the pinot blanc which is light, fresh tasting without being sharp or overly dry and very drinkable. It is the kind of wine that you would easily serve to people at a garden party or as an aperitif before dinner. The Pinot Noir is also very light, smooth and balanced. You could easily keep this as an every day wine or serve it as a drink with barbecues or lighter dinners. But really the reason to come here is that the venue is beautiful with a open air and slight hunting Lodge feel to the place. It is very reminiscent of some English manor houses in the way that it is decorated in certain rooms. There is a panoramic view across the valley is looking through the vineyards and to the distance the gently undulating hills. My recommendation is to come here just before sunset and aiming to get here by 4:30 - 5pm as it would allow you to get something to drink, find a great place to perch and watch the Sun go down over the surroundings. The food here is impressive to with the predictably but enjoyable light Californian style of food including slow roasted squash or pumpkin, grilled chicken and bavette steak as well as some light salad is available.

#winery...