Bonny Doon Vineyard had a tasting room in the mountains in the town of Bonny Doon.   A few years ago Randall Grahm moved his tasting room and winery to northern Santa Cruz.  The large tasting room doubles as a gourmet restaurant with private booths in large wine vats / barrels and a counter bar with a view of the kitchen activity.

Bonny Doon restaurant within the tasting room. Counter bar with a view of the kitchen action in the distance.

The menu is outstanding and interesting but we found that this place is not a well-kept secret.  In the evenings you should have reservations.  The ambiance is unusual but the metal barn is warmed up with a creative use of wine barrel decor and hospitality.

We just finished the Bonny Doon 2006 San Benito County Sangiovese.  It nicely meets our favorite taste profile of great nose, robust body, and long tasty finish. The label describes it as an “explosively delicious cherry bomb” and we agree.  It is a delight to explore.

I find that San Benito wines tend to be a bit more flavorful than other regions. This little county about 40 minutes south of San Jose has few wineries that are open to the public but wineries in the local regions create some great wines from the grapes.

The area around the winery is loaded with other fine wineries.  While the buildings are basic light industrial they are designed with more style than usual.  The attractiveness of the property gives you more ambiance than you would normally expect.  Definitely worth a visit!

- jim