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Bonny Doon Vineyard's new tasting room | Print |  E-mail
Written by Karen Petersen   
Friday, 05 December 2008

The new west side location also offers small plates in partnership with Chef Sean Baker of Gabriella Café.

Bonny Doon

Bonny Doon Vineyard has relocated and reinvented its wine enlightening experience.

Under its trussed metal warehouse roof, the tasting bar is fronted with oak wine barrel slats, its lamp shades of heat-deformed bottles. The walls carry neatly lettered placards of “President-for-life” Randall Grahm's philosophy and vision. On this day, five wines were available for tasting ($7).

Near a trickling stream sit semi-secluded tasting pods, where a wine ambassador guides guests on specialized tasting adventures.

To the left, through a wine barrel archway stands a second tasting  bar, a gift shop, and the open kitchen of Cigare Volant Café, which prepares the small plates Thursday through Sunday. Order at the kitchen's counter and eat there, or in the sunny Biodynamic lounge; a pager buzzes when lunch is ready.

The menu, which changes regularly to incorporate ingredients at their seasonal peaks, listed seven plates, each with a single paired wine ($15), or a flight of three ($18).

The braised lamb Osso Buco sat atop a thin bed of pumpkin semolina, in a dark and savory sauce with smoked tomatoes and lemon zest. The Fregola Sarda, a Sardinian pea-sized toasted pasta, was mixed with ears of meaty oyster mushrooms in Bonny Doon's Albarino wine broth, and topped with crispy strips of Mendocino seaweed. An oval bruschetta decorated with a button of traditional garlicky aioli completed the dish. Each was a perfectly-sized light lunch or afternoon appetizer.

On Fridays, Andrea London features a weekly assortment of cheeses to sample and purchase. Wine seminars are occasionally offered, and the tasting room is available for private events. 

Bonny Doon Vineyard's Cellar Door and Cigare Volant Café , 328 Ingalls  St. Santa Cruz, 425-4518. Tasting daily 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., café  open Thursday through Sunday.

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