Read Philips, owner of Palm Event Center, and her architect husband have done it again with the creation of Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery, another fabulous event space in the heart of the Livermore Wine Country. The venue is designed for elegant events with sophisticated clients in mind. Surrounded by vineyards and olive trees, this 20,000 sq. ft. regal villa embodies Mediterranean Old-World charm and has elegant details throughout. The clever layout of the venue allows versatile use of the space and can host a variety of events.

The façade of the venue is impressive, with stonework and intricate metal scrollwork along the breezeways connecting the winery tasting room to the venue’s Entrance Hall. Arriving in front of the Entrance Hall by way of a long stone-covered driveway, visitors are greeted by a large marble Italian fountain and huge wooden doors imported from Nicaragua. Inside, an oversized, round wooden table decorated with flowers gives the hall the feeling of a great mansion. The room can be used in a variety of ways, including corporate breakout space, for pre-party gathering, or for a bridal couple to waltz their first dance across the Italian tiles.

The main event space at Casa Real is the Grand Salon, with its classical limestone arches, champagne-colored walls and glistening chandeliers. Its large walls are broken up by attractively carved limestone niches, which are outfitted with uplights to provide a romantic ambiance. In one corner of the room is a solid mahogany bar that serves wines from the winery next-door, in addition to beer, sangria and mixed drinks. Guests can dance right on the golden Italian tile flooring, and the room can be configured in a variety of ways with handsome screens. Above, pin-lights help illuminate tables and provide a star-speckled ceiling.

The left-hand side of the salon consists of large glass doors that open out to the charming Sun Garden. Resembling a walled-in mission garden with citrus trees, blooming lavender bushes, views of the rolling foothills and vineyard, bubbling fountains and a lawn area that accommodates 500 people, it is the perfect space for an outdoor ceremony or cocktail reception.

For couples who wish to be married indoors, the spacious Amber Room provides a romantic setting, with a colossal 12 ft. tall, hand-carved limestone fireplace. The room’s name is taken from the golden-brown color of the walls that is offset by shimmering limestone arches and niches as in the Grand Salon. The Amber Room is adjacent to the salon and has several wooden doors on one side that can be pushed back to open up both spaces, allowing guests to flow between both rooms. An additional feature of the property is the spacious and comfortable bridal suite, with a specially designed place for hanging the bridal gown and a private restroom.

Just recently we, a large group of event professionals, enjoyed a wonderful luncheon in the Grand Salon. The cuisine was creative and delicious, and was served from the state-of-the-art kitchen. The noise quality of the building also impressed us as the acoustical tiling in the ceiling made it easy for us to chat without having to strain to hear guests seated across the table.

Casa Real is spacious enough to host an event for 550 seated guests in its largest room. It is also close to the freeway and less than an hour from most places in the Bay Area. An experienced staff helps clients create a custom-tailored menu and beverage packages.