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54 reviews for Ruby Hill Winery
54 reviews in English
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Review from Steve G.
Benicia, CA
1/23/2012
This was really a pleasant surprise. We arrived late on the 3rd day of a holiday weekend and were greeted like they'd just opened. Instead of fighting, scratching and elbowing our way to a tiny spot at the tasting bar, we were escorted to an adequate tasting area, and assigned one server to take care of us.
The number and variety of wines were impressive, and the prices commensurate with the quality.
Given the number of "tastes," it would be nice if they had some crackers or other palate cleansers. But that's a small issue.
Great customer service and wine. What more can you ask for? We even joined the club, so we'll be back! -
Review from Fannie S.
12/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wine = fabulous. Granted, I'm partial to their reds. Zins and blends are their forte.
Service = friendly. Super nice too.
Prices = moderate. If you join their gem club, it's a bit of a deal...
Decor = this place is pretty huge. And they have a small seating area too, for those with children and/or not imbibing.
Overall, we'll be back for more wine tasting and nibbles. (They actually put out a tray of crackers and cheese for the members, which is awesome, and helpful...haha) -
Review from Chris W.
Fremont, CA
12/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for a wedding, and it was awesome.
Open Bar is a must have if you are having an event here.
Very nice view on the outside with nice decor on the inside. -
Review from Rochelle R.
Martinez, CA
11/14/2011
As a Gem Society Member we were welcomed by a private attendant to our group of 10. We were told that we could pick some select wines to taste as not all were available on the list (??) Ok, this was fine as this was our last stop in our LIMO and we let them know that we were truly only interested in the reds as our group are Red fans.
Close to the end of our tasting a woman behind the counter (who had not been serving us) instructed myself and another person of my party in a snooty and unprofessional manner that "Due to ABC laws we could not purchase wine."
I work in an industry where I am TIPS certified and I understand what the ABC laws are.
"If a person is drunk but will not be driving, why can't we continue to serve them alcohol?" (Ok so we had a LIMO and we weren't being asked to have another tasting, in fact we were getting ready to leave and wanted to purchase what we had tasted)
"Unfortunately driving under the influence isn't the only danger associated with being drunk. Fights, walking into traffic, etc. can often times be a result and tragedy of intoxication.
By law, an employee may not allow a drunk patron to consume alcohol on the premises. " -ABC
Even if the premises felt that someone in our party was intoxicated this was not verbalized to us, instead the harsh, rude woman didn't want to sell us the bottles of wine.
I personally had already requested 4 bottles of the Cab Reserve in which I did not purchase, along with myself and another person have cancelled our Membership.
10 people went into this facility with the intention of enjoying some tastings and purchasing wine and all of us came out empty handed and a sour taste in our mouths on the rudeness of how we were treated at this Winery.
I've told everyone that I work with, my friends and family that this facility has lost business due to the woman to was unprofessional and rude. -
Review from Amanda S.
Tracy, CA
2/2/2012
I LOVE this winery. I have been a diamond level club member for over 1.5 years and could not be happier. I usually visit the tasting room at least every other month if not more. Each time I visit the customer service is excellent, even when they are super busy. I do try to go during the off times, so it's not so crowded and hectic. I love all of their red wines and especially their ruby port. Their chardonnay port (Amabile) is what initially sold me on becoming a member. I am also a huge fan of their sparkling wine. I frequently bring friends and family here and have turned many of them into fans as well. Recently some friends loved their wines so much, they even purchased a case of futures! I love the decor and merchandise that they sell, it's always great to walk around and see what's new each time. They also have a great little deli where we sometimes get some meats and cheeses to enjoy out on the patio when the weather is nice. The prices on the wines go from extremely reasonable to slightly pricey, but definitely worth it for a good red. This winery is a must see if you are visiting the Livermore wine country!
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Review from Kat S.
Walnut Creek, CA
11/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
The wines were so-so, I honestly can't remember any of the wines catching my taste buds except one of the red estate wines which I couldn't buy because I wasn't a wine member.
But for the most part a good deal on the tastings $5 for PLENTY of tastings... plenty of room at the bar
Extra star for great customer service. Bill was an awesome with his pouring and information about wines and Craig honored my friend a free glass of wine for her birthday (I had emailed prior to arriving to see if they do anything special for birthday celebrations, while I got a quick response from Ruby Hill I recieved no response from Mitchell-Katz, please see that review).
Definitely a place to stop by on your livermore wine tasting run! -
Review from Jenny S.
San Francisco, CA
1/26/2012
You accommodated a last minute private tasting in your barrel room before our Company Team Building party. Sarah and Sudsy were great and very knowledgeable. It was a great kick off to our Team Building evening. I'd strongly recommend them for any small party or business event in the east bay. Thank you! - The Method360, Inc. Team.
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Review from barkingdog s.
Berkeley, CA
12/22/2011
Expected to buy a couple of bottles of Ruby Hill wines, but ended up buying four cases of various wines! And, wonder if I should have bought more. Seriously, it was Craig, was our knowledgeable and friendly, fun-loving host at the wine bar, who introduced us to some spectacular wines. We had a blast. (Thanks, Craig!). Gorgeous setting. Perfect place for that special event, like a wedding.
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Review from Earlene C.
East Bay, CA
6/6/2011
Lovely winery, yummy wine!
My friends and I had brunch at Campo di Bocce. Directly across the street is Ruby Hill Winery. A five minute walk away, perfect!
Sanda was helpful and super friendly. After her recommends, my friends and I opted to have the Reserve Wine tasting. Sandra was really accommodating to our large party. We had a great time relaxing on the patio while tasting award winning wines. My favorite was the Peacock Zinfandel.
Toward the last few tastings we were getting a little hungry and conveniently enough, Ruby Hill has a little deli on site! You can purchase 3 deli items for $25. Good deal! They have this amazing Champagne Cheese!
This place was busy on a Sunday afternoon and I can see (and taste) why! -
Review from Alena M.
4/3/2011
I am finally a member of a wine club!
My hubby and I decided to join up with Ruby Hill for many reasons:
-The winery is a 10-minute bike ride from our house!
-The wines are great and well-priced.
-The building is beautiful.
-The people are friendly.
-I get free tasting for myself and three guests!
-Free admittance to several parties.
-I can buy a glass of wine, sit outside and enjoy the scenery.
Every quarter we will receive two bottles of wine at an average total of $50.
I'm excited to get some mileage out of this membership. Look for me in the tasting room! -
Review from Joel L.
Mountain House, CA
6/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best winery in the bay . If u plan to get some very good wine come here .
Don't plan on buying any wine at a safeway or anywhere else . At least you get to try the wine before u buy it . Everyone likes going to napa but ruby hill area is one of the best in Cali . -
Review from Emily J.
2/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
I claim to not like the "corporate feeling" wineries and yet this was one of my favorite stops of the day. Well played, Ruby Hill.
Livermore was hopping on Saturday and this winery handled the rush with ease. Our group of six was greeted warmly and helped quickly and I never felt a lull in the service.
They have two tasting options for $5 each. Our group opted to split up the lists so we could try everything. They remember exactly where everyone was in the list, even when I got distracted with looking at all the wine themed gifties and got behind.
I enjoyed most of the wines, even the chardonnay which I'm not usually a huge fan of. The mini pretzels with dipping sauces were a nice addition. Bacon chipotle marinade, blueberry chipotle and one other I can't remember...
Ruby Hill is a keeper.Listed in: Wine Tasting in Livermore
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Review from Joe F.
Livermore, CA
10/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wife loves the wine from here. People are great, always freindly, always happy to see you!
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Review from michelle t.
Westwood, CA
3/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
For me, living in the south bay, this was a fantastic alternative from driving all the way to Napa.
It is definitely much much more affordable and equally as fun as Napa with the right company.
$5 and I felt like I tried everything possible there. They gave very generous "tastings" as well. I could have pretty much gotten drunk had I not told the girl to give me very minimal portions.
The staff alone was nice and entertaining!
DEFINITELY recommend! -
Review from Ruby T.
Mountain House, CA
8/17/2011
This place is always packed full of people! The staff is the bomb as they treat you like you are the only group in the building among all the other fish... Great wine selections, and I love that they had special mustards and jams to taste along with the wine. Its always a treat to try something unique while you taste. The wine is good and reasonably priced. There is also a little patio to take your group and sip the bottle you just purchased as well as pick up some meats and cheeses from the deli located within the winery. A very relaxed way to enjoy your afternoon.
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Review from crystal h.
Milpitas, CA
11/15/2010
Awesome staffs. When they see that your glass is empty, they come right over to fill it up with the next tasting. $5 only for like 10 tastings?! Wow...Busy around 4-5:00. I thought they closed at 5, but it was still open till 5:30 when we left.
Wines were good. I liked the sparkling wine the best. The chardonnay was nice too.
They even sell cheese here. I gotta come back to try the cheeses.
Bigger place compared to Mitchell Katz. There are tables and chairs outside for you to sit and relax. I wonder if you can picnic out there or not.Listed in: Livermore Wineries
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Review from Nikki C.
Updated - 7/13/2010 7 photos
My friends and I planned to have our next "Couples Date Night" at Ruby Hill Winery. We had such a pleasant experience the 1st time around and invited another couple to join in on the fun!
If you're a member, you can bring up to 3 friends (at anytime) and you all have free tastings of their entire menu which consists of over 20 wines. (1 champagne, whites, and mostly reds)
There were 6 of us total so only 4 were covered as free tastings. My fiancé & I planned to sign up for membership anyway so problem solved. Everyone was free AND we got to bring home the latest shipment. We picked a perfect time to join because Ruby Hill is hosting a private event for members on July 15th. I love win-win situations.
On Thursday nights they're open until 8:30pm and you can order antipasti & sit at the bistro tables. They even do table service - great for couples or a group of friends. We decided to stay indoors, however, to enjoy their entire tasting menu. They also brought out a tray of cheese & crackers for our party only.
Our evening ended with over a case of wine purchased, smiles on our faces, and a very nice buzz. Fun times!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/4/2010
1st time @ Ruby Hill Winery and had an absolute blast!!
My friend is a member so none of us had to… Read more »
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Review from Gil A.
8/21/2010
I love the tastings @ Ruby Hill. Their staff is always friendly & accomodating, reasonably priced unlike Napa, phenominal wine, and a great outdoor area for sharing a bottle of vino with friends.
Doesn't hurt that I'm getting married at Casa Real either, so the wine served will be from Ruby Hill! -
Review from Shelly V.
Oakland, CA
3/29/2009 2 photos
This was our first stop on our wine tour as they opened the earliest on a Saturday. The staff was friendly and welcoming. The tasting room was bright and large but not as welcoming as other places I've been to. However, if you like modern tasting rooms, this is your place.
Forget about the tasting room, I come for the wine. The wine I tell you, bring it on. Nothing really stood out for me, not enough to buy anything. The Cabs were decent. The $5 tasting fee was worth it.
They do have a meat and cheese counter which would be really nice for a lunch at the vineyard. It was a bit too early for us but I was interested.Listed in: East Bay Wine Tour #3 --…
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Review from Janette W.
San Jose, CA
4/20/2011
Ruby Hill is really a little taste of the grandeur of Napa deposited right in the middle of the Livermore Valley. I finally decided to stop here because a friend nearby recommended it, and I'm glad I did. At first it seems like the facility is so big that you would get a tasting experience that isn't personalized. But that was exactly the opposite. The staff was warm and knowledgeable, plus there was live music too! The tasting area for wine club members was pretty big and looked like a fun group to be a part of.
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Review from Veronica S.
Fremont, CA
6/30/2010
Ruby Hill Winery is excellent ! For $5 for either the Silver or Gold flight (that includes either between 8-11 tastings) this is an extremely great value for tastings!
The location is gorgeous and located right off 84.
The people working here are also friendly and knowledgeable in their wines.
Ruby Hill also sells a variety of goods including sauces, dips, and various wine fan clothes/shirts.
Not much more to ask for in a winery: Nice estate, nice people, good wine tasting for a great price! -
Review from Sage g.
Alameda, CA
12/18/2010
The staff was friendly...But for the wine, i wasn't crazy for it. I just tried the white wines, im not much for red wines.
~They have a gift shop here thats cute
~~The BEST thing here, and will go back for this is: Daddy Cook's Savory Blends spicy cider Bourbon Glaze, and Gourmet Temptations South of the Border Honey Lime. These marinades & grilling sauce are great. A must try. -
Review from Jodi B.
Livermore, CA
4/30/2008
Finally made the trip literally around the corner to check this place out. It's awesome! So great to have a beautiful winery within walking distance of my house. OK Let's not kid each other. I will probably never walk here but at least I know I can walk home!;-)
The building and tasting room is gorgeous- reminiscent of some of the more commercial wineries in Sonoma/Napa. This will also be my new go-to place for gifts-they have italian pottery, various wine gadgets(I collect these...ok... well I go winetasting and then have to buy everything in the tasting room so I have alot of these)
The winemaker is Chris Graves (formerly of Wente and then Tamas Estates) and his specialty is italian style wines. I like the Ruby Hill wines better than Tamas Estates but obviously Chris is working with different grapes, most of which are not grown locally.
All of the wines here were extremely easy to drink. Smooth with no major tannins to be found. I'm not a Merlot fan but I bought boat loads because it is so smooth ( like a meritage or red table wine) that it should have wide appeal for fam and friends-and the price makes it perfect for summer bbqs.
My favorites were the Cab and the Pinot Noir for my private drinkable stash. I got to do a barrel tasting of the Petite Syrah- it was good but was a little too sweet for me. I enjoyed the Port with the wine infused chocolate bits. It didn't have that heavy raisin taste-was pretty light.
They have a wine club (The Gem Society) and, besides getting wine shipped quarterly, members get to taste in the private tasting area (a big perk on those busy weekends!) ...I am doing some shuffling around of my wine clubs (I seem to collect these too) so that I can join.
PS Their website is up! http://www.rubyhill.net They don't sell through the site (yet) but you get background on Ruby Hill Winery and Chris Graves the winemaker.
Salute'! -
Review from Steve N.
4/22/2009
EBWT3 make history! Not really. Just wanted to say that.
There's plenty of reviews about the tasting room. It was nice. Would you believe that tasting the sauces was the part I remember? This was the first stop, mind you. The wine here really reminded me of Hannah Nicole. It's good, not great. On the verge but not there. Don't get me wrong, it's not a $3 wine maker, but $15 or more? There's too many great wines for less. Sorry. 3 start for you.Listed in: The Wine List, Bay Area Wineries
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Review from Bruce P.
Livermore, CA
6/17/2011
Ruby Hills wine is my new favorite Livermore Wine. We were introduced to the winery 2 months ago when a friend invited us to Ruby Fridays. Ruby Fridays is the last Friday of the month and for $15 per person (or $10 if a member) you can enjoy, a glass of wine, 2 barrel tastings, a slice of pizza, snacks and smores. We became a member the first night after I tasted their cabernet. The staff was very nice, the buildings and the grounds were great and the of course the wine was awesome.
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Review from Victoria M.
Walnut Creek, CA
2/10/2008
Oh Man! Somebody beat me to the first review of this place!
Very upscale, very tasteful, but NOT SNOOTY in the slightest.
I met the winemaker! Who'da thunk that lil ole' me bellying up to the huge dark wood bar would come face to face with the winemaker serving wine! A relatively young, handsome, and personable man, almost made me want to be single again! (almost)
You can have fun debating the Anderson Valley Chard to the Livermore Valley Chard. I did. Two very distinctively different tastes, yet both very reasonably priced so if you can't decide take them both.
They also have a small deli counter in the tasting room with packaged meats, cheeses, sodas, and crackers. If you forget the picnic they have it covered.
Across the street is Bocce de Campo - you can make it a whole day just at this corner!Listed in: Worth the Gas Money
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Review from Shari S.
Livermore, CA
6/2/2009
Wines are good, but I THINK NOT.
I've come to this winery numerous times in the past and have had positive experiences (both with large groups and small). Last Saturday I went with a group of 12 ladies for a 25th birthday. I had made plans ahead of time with the tasting room manager for this event.
While we were there another large group of young women and men started harassing us. They were asking us if we were single, making inappropriate gestures on the tasting room couches, and also trying to pretend that they were part of our group to get extra tastes. Because of this, our tasting room attendant told us we had been cut off by the manager. He said he told her we were NOT with or associated with this other group, but that she wouldn't budge. This leaves a really horrible taste in my mouth...ESPECIALLY since I work for a winery, in a tasting room, and have sent people to Ruby Hill before. Never again. It's ridiculous that not only were we mistreated by other patrons, but what a slap in the face by the business as well.
Being someone who pours at a winery I can't imagine doing this to a group of people. It's unfortunate because many people in our group wanted to purchase wine but couldn't because we were cut off and asked to leave. I will not be returning to this winery! -
Review from Philly B.
Los Angeles, CA
6/27/2008
Very impressive, especially for a newer winery.
Ruby Hill definitely has more of a Napa feel to it in comparison to some of the other wineries in Livermore; the grounds and the building itself are absolutely beautiful, and the tasting room is gorgeous -- very spacious and classy. But like Tori B. commented, Ruby Hill is upscale, tasteful, but not snooty at all. The staff were lovely and enthusiastic to tell us about their wines and upcoming plans and releases, and I enjoyed several of the selections I tasted (for the very reasonable price of $5). A very promising addition to Livermore wine country! -
Review from Andrew K.
San Francisco, CA
2/13/2011
A little taste of real wine country (i.e. Sonoma and Napa) in the East Bay. This place was reminiscent of Seghesio, Jacuzzi and other wine country tasting rooms. The $5 price for a 10 varietal flight was outstanding. The olive oil tastings weren't too shabby either! Some of course were better than others. If you're in the area - it's a good spot.
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Review from Rob H.
Walnut Creek, CA
6/10/2009
Ruby Hill is a great addition to the Livermore wine scene! Their quality is not fantastic, but is fairly in line with price. My favorites are the Sangio which runs about $15 and the reserve Zin ~$24. The rest of the line-up is totally forgettable for me. I've been there three or four times as it is just down the street from my parents house and lubrication is always helpful before large family gatherings. The tasting room is very spacious and it's rare to have a problem finding a spot to fit in. The tasting room staff is a bit hit and miss in terms of both friendliness and knowing what they're talking about.
All told, I think Ruby Hill fits in mid-pack in Livermore, but their facilities and location are what make it for me.Listed in: California Wineries
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Review from Christine H.
Danville, CA
6/29/2010
This is a great place to go for happy hour. No seriously! The winery is open until 5pm on Fridays and, let's face it, a flight for $5.00! And you get more than enough to start the night with.
It's a beautiful spot too, makes me feel like I'm in Italy. -
Review from Gina N.
We had some downtime before meeting up with the Fam for dinner. Been meaning to come back here to check out the winery after we held our wedding reception at Ruby Hill nearly 2 years ago! I love this area. We weren't sure if they would still be serving considering they close at 5:30 and we arrived at around 4:45, but Bill was happy to accommodate us. He had a great sense of humor and chit chatted with us while we were tasting the wines. $5 for 11 tastings is not bad at all! We didn't come in thinking we were going to purchase any bottles but ended up really enjoying the wines offered. We narrowed it down to one white & one red bottle to purchase (the champagne and the cabernet sauvignon). Prices are very reasonable too. They even waived the tasting fee bc we purchased the bottles! Would definitely include this winery the next time i go wine tasting in livermore! (My other favorites are Concannon & Wente).
Listed in: Wine & Dine
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Review from Candy C.
Fremont, CA
8/19/2009
I recently attended a Cookie Lee Jewelry launch here and had a good experience. We were in the Barrel Room which made for a cozy and intimate setting for showcasing the bling because it was dimly lit, but comfortable. The whole setup was adorable with pink balloons and small standing tables. Unfortunately, being thirteen weeks pregnant inhibited me from wine tasting and I loveloveLOVE wine! Oh well. The place itself is nice and the grounds were clean. I did not like the gravelled parking lot though. I was wearing four inch heels and the gravel made it a little tricky to walk. Well, I guess I had no business wearing four inch heels anyway being prego and all =.)
The staff was friendly and directed me to the right direction of our party upon arrival. It's a nice place to host a party, but I heard the price can put an easy dent in your wallet. Can't wait to return to actually do some real wine tasting. -
Review from Angela W.
Saratoga, CA
10/29/2009
I recently attended a very classy, glam wedding at this lovely little spot. We started off in the tasting room for samples of various champagnes, merlots, cabs, you get the idea. It was very cozy and quaint in both the main tasting room and the barrel room.
We moved into the main foyer for the ceremony which I though was absolutely perfect. The bride made this amazingly grand entrance through the back doors. It was also the perfect place for the nuptials because, although B and I were in the very back row, we could hear the couple share their vows. B also told me later that he'd attended a ceremony months before which was held outside and the sun was right in everyone's eyes!
The reception was held in one of the large adjoining rooms and was fabulous. As we were served the main course the most amazing pink and orange sunset blazed just outside the floor to ceiling windows.
The bride has impeccable taste to begin with but I think that the ambiance of Ruby Hill def made it even more special. -
Review from T V.
San Ramon, CA
3/22/2010
Wonderful staff. Great Wine!! What more can you ask for???
$5 for a tasting-Gold or Silver Flight
They also have doggy merchandise. So cute!!! -
Review from Michele M.
Pleasanton, CA
6/3/2008
Very nice. Really tall bar tho? Very spacious with pub tables around for the busy days. Really enjoyed the tasting there.
Their port is incredible!
Definitely stop here on a tour of the valley. -
Review from Jennifer D.
Cupertino, CA
10/12/2009
This place was A-Ok.
The building is beautiful, the staff great. But at the end of the day, its the wine that counts for me.
This was my first adventure in Livermore winetasting, and this was the first stop. I wasn't necessarily wow'd by anything in particular, but I did like them. Bought a bottle of the Grapeful Red, which was just a really nice wine.
Will definitely go back again. -
Review from Jenn B.
Pleasanton, CA
6/29/2011
I'm very disappointed in this winery. I've been there four times now and the first experience was wonderful and the reason I kept going back. I first went for the event they have once a month with the food paring and music. My boyfriend and I made friends with several of the staff pouring wine and danced and drank the night away. We love wine events and it was a blast. We had so much fun we decided to tasting there the very next day and went back the next month for the event. The next event was not as much fun... or even close. I guess management wasn't happy with the staff interacting with the customers so the staff was on their best behavior which totally changed the fun atmosphere. They also got cheap with how much wine you get and the food.
The last time we went was last weekend when we were wine tasting with friends from out of town on a limo tour. We had only been to two wineries before heading into Ruby Hill Winery. We were no where near drunk we were maybe a little buzzed if that. When we walked in we recognized a staff member that we knew, so we walked in with a big smile waving and walked up to the counter. We said our hi's and started talking when a female employee came up to us and asked if we had been to other wineries. Thinking she wanted to start a conversation, I said yes. She then told us they could not serve us! We couldn't believe it! We are talking 6 mature, happy energetic adults, most in their 40's, on a limo tour at their 3rd winery being rejected!? They couldn't even tell us why except for saying we had been to other wineries! Of course we were! After leaving Ruby Hill we went to Mitchell Katz who happily served us and then we went to dinner and also had no problems there.
I will never go back to Ruby Hill and I'm so glad we didn't sign up for the membership we planned on doing.
I gave the winery 2 stars only because the wine is good and "some" of the staff members are super nice. My post is nothing against them. Just the snobs who are in charge. -
Review from Irene S.
Castro Valley, CA
3/16/2009
Wine? Not bad. Hospitality? Better than others. Crowded... VERY
But still a nice place to try some decent wines. The Big Boy Cabernet is definitely a keeper. There is a separate area for the wine club members to taste. It's around the corner behind the short wrought iron gate. Kind of overkill... but I guess if you want to make your club members "look" special to other people to get them to sign up.. it works. -
Review from Jon P.
Emeryville, CA
1/9/2011
$5 for like 10 wines is awesome! Petra was helping us and when we told her we hadn't been to the LIvermore valley before, she pulled out the winery map and recommended a few. It was very busy, but she was very attentive. I got the sliver and my wife go the gold flights, but she was just poring both wines for us both the whole time. Very awesome place and I will be back for sure. Picked up a champagne that was good. Also got a Late Harvest Zinfandel which is a very unique wine - red, but sweet. Alcohol about 17%, right in between a red and a port. Looking forward to opening that one.
