Thirty minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge, another notable gate now lies at the entrance to California's beautiful Carneros wine region in Sonoma Valley. Ram's Gate Winery is a tastefully conceptualized dream-scape designed by veteran noted architectural firm Backen, Gilliam, and Kroeger. In the last 15 years, the powerhouse team led by FAIA member, Howard Backen, has laid the groundwork for over 40 elite residences, 35 wineries, 18 restaurants, 6 major resorts, and a line of retail stores. Each of Backen's designs are extremely detail oriented, and with four years passing before the project's completion, Ram's Gate is no exception. The tattered farmsteads previously strewn about old Carneros inspired Backen's uniquely Californian design. The general layout consists of two rustic barns connected by a relaxing courtyard pavilion. Each portion was designed to provide unobstructed valley views in the forefront. In order to achieve close to 360 degrees of serenity, the property constantly ignores distinctions between indoor and outdoor with an array of seating areas and large doors that swing open to bring in fresh air and sunlight. To combat the crisp afternoon winds common to Carneros sunsets without sacrificing the placid visual experience, Backen encloses a seated terrace with all glass walls and includes fireplaces on the outdoor patios. The tasting room barn door, also made of glass, remains open to the vineyard horizon during the warm summer season.Orlando Diaz-Azcuy headed up the interior design end of the project, and pulled off his first winery majestically. The overall direction was a pure, luxurious simplicity that complements the pastoral exterior with a modern minimalism. The streamlined interior is full of open air, smooth surfaces, and straight lines. Hanging steel-frame candlelight fixtures draw attention to the barn's 30 foot ceilings, and a memorable wall made up of 1,500 bottles of wine squares around a window looking directly into the professional kitchen. Highlighting the tasting room are the enormous re-purposed French marble tasting bars. The furniture is bright and extremely comfortable, making the indoor/outdoor lounging spaces homely and inviting. Seating areas and tasting bars are scattered throughout the estate, encouraging visitors to wander around and take in the entire 21,000 square foot winery. The chic design is neither understated nor overstated, but rather provides a perfect sophistication that matches the elegant wines produced at Ram's Gate.Aside from the magnificent layout at Ram's Gate, guests will also enjoy an array of excellent wines. They feature a silky smooth Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, a powerful and structured Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and a bold Syrah made from Durell Vineyard fruit. In addition, they produce several Chardonnays, each from a distinct vineyard or region in Sonoma. The wine tasting experience here centers largely around food, and guests can enjoy seated tastings with carefully selected pairings of food, prepared fresh in their well-equipped kitchen.Next time you're planning a trip through Sonoma, be sure to include Ram's Gate on your itinerary. If you're looking for a quick spot to pop in and out though, you're better off heading down the road. This is the sort of spot where you can stay, relax in comfortable seats outside, buy a bottle and enjoy a few hours of Sonoma sunshine with friends.Ram's Gate Winery28700 Arnold Dr.Sonoma, CA 95476Visit their website
