(Aug. 14, 2024; Sonoma, Calif.)—Sonoma County’s Ram’s Gate Winery has launched a new menu for its signature Seasonal Wine & Food Experience, highlighting the freshest ingredients from local farms, paired specifically to the winery’s small-lot wines, for a one-of-a-kind winery culinary experience at the stunning tasting hall in Carneros. First launched in 2022, this two-hour, five-course wine-and-food pairing is curated by Ram’s Gate Winemaker Joe Nielsen and Executive Chef Ruby Oliveros, who closely collaborate to craft wine-first menus that express a seasonal point of view.
Offered Thursday through Monday at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. for $160/person, the Seasonal Wine & Food Experience begins with a tour of the Ram’s Gate property, highlighting the estate’s organic farming principles and the winemaking protocols in the cellar. Following the guided tour, guests are seated for a tasting of Nielsen’s wines paired with hyper-local, seasonal dishes prepared by Oliveros. Together, Nielsen and Oliveros show how food can enhance and showcase each wine’s nuances and elegance.
“For our late summer menu, Chef Ruby and I wanted to focus on refreshing, vibrant flavors to provide a respite from the warm weather we get here in Sonoma,” says Nielsen. “This season, we’ve seen hearty tomatoes, corn, squash and herbs from our nearby farmers. Together, we sat down and hand-selected five of Ram’s Gate’s wines that are showing beautifully right now and then brainstormed and tested delicious pairings using those ingredients to make an unforgettable wine pairing experience.”
The new menu features the best of Sonoma’s bountiful produce, including an heirloom tomato and lobster salad paired with the 2022 Ram’s Gate Pinot Blanc, Estate, a Ram’s Gate spin on traditional elote to complement the Ram’s Gate 2020 Chardonnay from the famed Hyde Vineyard and a coconut miso mushroom linguine paired with the 2020 Ram’s Gate Pinot Noir, Estate. The full menu for late-summer 2024 can be found here. Reservations can be made online via Tock for groups of up to six people. All dietary restrictions and preferences can be (deliciously) accommodated with advance notice.
In addition to the Seasonal Wine & Food Experience, Ram’s Gate Winery continues to offer an array of other tasting experiences, including its Wine & Bites tasting ($80/person), which is an abbreviated culinary experience for those looking for a more casual pairing; a Tsar Nicoulai caviar tasting ($120-$200/person), and classic seated wine tasting ($60/person). All experiences can be found here. Walk-ins are welcome for all tasting experiences, except for the Seasonal Wine & Food Experience, which requires an advance reservation. The winery is both family friendly and dog friendly, but dogs must always remain on a leash.
About Ram’s Gate Winery
Perched upon the rolling hills that define the landscape of the Carneros AVA, where the San Francisco Bay meets the edges of Napa and Sonoma counties, lies Ram’s Gate Winery. Founded in 2011, Ram’s Gate is entering a new era of winemaking excellence. Today, the winery’s portfolio showcases wines that are fresh, compelling and uncompromising in quality sourced from vineyards that encompass the breadth that Sonoma County has to offer. Rooted in a spirit of exploration, the Ram’s Gate Winery team brings a new perspective on refined elegance through thoughtful farming, intentional winemaking, genuine hospitality and sublime culinary experiences. The winery’s connection to the land is reflected in the breathtaking tasting room that overlooks the Ram’s Gate Estate Vineyard: 28-acres of organically farmed vines. The tasting room is currently open Thursday-Monday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Reservations can be made online, and walk-in guests are welcome.
