Wedding Blog

Our tours of Wine & Roses and the Old Sugar Mill proved unimpressive. We weren’t thrilled with the prospect of being “one of many” weddings held throughout the day - as this deemed the event as being just one part of a wedding machine. We we also incredulous to view such a beautiful space ridden with character - shoddy character - and unfinished details, to then discover the rental price tag was nearly twice what we felt was appropriate.

Feeling less than thrilled, Mr. Pomegranate and I made an appointment to check out this winery our wedding coordinator kept raving about. R.H. Phillips was out in the middle of nowhere and well, while we DO enjoy ourselves a glass of wine or two, we weren’t exactly true aficionados.

However, my mood turned around once we started on the drive up to Esparto, CA - it was beautiful. Rolling, dry, fuzzy hills; tattered barns spotted along the landscape; the random cow traipsing along - it was endearing to my farm town upbringing. When we arrived at the winery, my heart skipped a beat - it was modern, nicely landscaped - quite the hidden gem! An oasis of grape vines and olive groves met us as we turned down the county road.

Image via www.nightharvest.com

While some may be offput by the industrial nature of the winery structures, we embraced them. It matched our modern architectural tastes and the Wine Tasting room (shown in the forefront above) was beautifully designed with lofty ceilings, exposed wood beams, treated cement floors and warmly painted walls. The gigantic doors that lead you inside were incredible, as they were anchored mid-door to swing open. They will make a great textural backgrounds for photos. The patios were open, gravel-covered, speckled with trees and two artisan fountains. I might offer lucky pennies for the kids to make wishes for our marriage.

The Wine Barrel Fountain at R.H. Phillips Winery.
Image via www.nightharvest.com

 
No florist could easily duplicate this - it’s like nature’s contribution to your floral budget.

A springtime look at the Winery’s modern courtyard where our Reception will be held.

We loved the outdoor atmosphere - as we stayed for the wine pairing lunch. We sat on the patio in the warm sun, enjoyed the breeze with a glass of their Night Harvest Cab and dined on a small plate of farmers market squash, mashed potatoes and well-marinated tri-tip. It was quiet and serene. We could only imagine the ambiance that a few strings of lights in the trees and a couple of tea lights on the tables would provide in the evening.

Image via www.nightharvest.com

Its major selling point, however, was the ceremony site at Olive Hill. Olive Hill was situated walking distance across the street from the winery. A short walk up the hill and you will arrive at a beautifully lush lawn surrounded by grape vines overlooking the entire valley. The view was incredible. We couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else. I mean really, what can compete with this?

Mamita Pom beginning the daunting hike to the top of the hill on our second visit to R.H. Phillips.

The amazing view at the top of Olive Hill. Please excuse my shadow - and my lack of cropping.

A cheesy windblown shot of Mamita Pom and I atop Olive Hill at R.H. Phillips Winery in Esparto, CA.

We were sold right then and there! Now we’ll just have to figure out accommodations, shuttles and all the fun stuff that comes with having a wedding 45 minutes from the nearest metropolitan area. While that’s not horrendously far, the roads are windy and would not be fun to drive after a long night of dancing and celebrating. This twist is nothing compared to the many benefits of our venue - we’ll be the only wedding that day AND the tasting rooms manager mentioned we might be able to have a tour of the winery during our Rehearsal Dinner. How fun would that be!?

Are any of you having your wedding in a remote location?