Grape: 61% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, 4% Petite Sirah

Style: Medium bodied with supple tannins. Juicy red cherry, plum, dried herbs, and white pepper glide into savory earth and a touch of smoke. A California homage to the Rhne.

Details: Practicing biodynamic. Sourced from top Central Coast sites: Loma Del Rio Vineyard (32%), Ventana Vineyard (29%), Oak Knoll/Chalk Knoll Vineyard (20%), Ricks Vineyard (15%), Sin Falta Vineyard (4%). 13.5% abv. First released in 1986, Le Cigare Volant remains Bonny Doons flagship blend.

Story: Randall Grahm founded Bonny Doon Vineyard in the 1980s and quickly realized Californias Central Coast was better suited to Rhne varieties than Burgundy grapes. In a move that was both visionary and tongue-in-cheek, he created Le Cigare Volant as a tribute to Chteauneuf-du-Pape. Its name drawn from a 1954 French decree forbidding UFOs (cigares volants) from landing in Rhne vineyards. Randall, of course, made the UFO his emblem.

Bonny Doon went on to redefine American wine culture, pioneering Rhne varietals in California, advocating screwcaps for fine wine, and demanding transparency on labels long before it was trendy. Today, Le Cigare Volant represents the best of Doonville: a thoughtful, delicious blend that balances intellectual curiosity with pure Central Coast drinkability.