Atop a hill at southern tip of Sonoma County, close enough for a date night from anywhere in the Bay Area, an elegant experience for the eyes, ears and taste buds awaits.
The artists of the Vienna Secession during the Art Nouveau period popularized the term Gesamtkunstwerk, German for “a complete work of art” They unified architecture, painting, sculpture, music, and the decorative arts, creating a complete artistic experience for the senses.
After the first few courses of the Seasonal Wine and Food Experience at Ram’s Gate Winery, preceded by an informative tour of the winery, this word immediately came back to me when I overheard the phrase “full food and wine experience.”
Director of Winemaking Joe Nielsen describes his process as a creative combination of science and art. The vineyard is planted on 27 acres of the 135-acre estate. Yields from the carefully chosen sections of Diablo clay soil are quantified and recorded for further research and study. I saw the joy in Neilsen’s face when he told us, “We believe in always being a student. We are students of our palate.”
The sustainable and regenerative farming process is also educational. “The work involved naturally brings you closer to the land and the process, and it is the preparation of the land for organic farming that helps make the wine good.”
It’s hard not to be inspired when you see sheep doing the hard weeding of the vineyard in place of herbicides. Mr. Nielsen’s love of winemaking shines through as he tells us stories of the barrel makers from whom they buy and the names they give to smaller batches of wine.
Moving through the tasting room, Howard Bracken’s rustic yet modern architecture gives one the feeling of being outside, part of the vineyard while under the towering, vaulted ceilings. The stunning agrarian structure is adorned with designs by Orlando Diaz-Azcuy, and they go together like peas and carrots.
In the dining room, we are greeted by Harry Belafonte singing “Day-O.” Executive Chef Ruby Oliveros curates a farm-fresh, locally sourced menu paired to complement the carefully selected wines. “Wine first, then food.” Chef Oliveros diligently accents her unique dishes with textures, making flavor an experience.
For example, her locally sourced carrot soup is enhanced with a pistachio gremolata to pair perfectly with the 2020 Chardonay, El Diablo Vineyard. Her intentional sprinkling of course salt, of the earth, delivers the perfect crunch.
Our taste buds danced with our first glass of 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, Ram’s Gate Estate paired with asparagus panna cotta with Dungeness crab, micro-herb salad, and lemon oil.
The creativity flowed with a 2020 Pinot Noir, El Diablo Vineyard paired with pork belly “musubi” with soy-cured yolk, togarashi tempura nori, star anise teriyaki glaze, pickled daikon. Oliveros gleefully stated, “I love playing with my food.”
Jeff O’Neill is humble in describing what he has created. He has assembled a team whose love for their art delivers an experience of elegance and taste for all the senses. Ram’s Gate Winery location is perfect because it should be your first stop on your way to wine country.