Next two weekends: Vintners' Festival in an overlooked wine region

Even if you have no chance to make it to the Santa Cruz (CA) Wineries Vintners' Festival the next two weekends -- alas, I won't get there, either -- this is a great time to consider the under-appreciated but many excellent wines coming out of this lovely part of America's best wine producing state.

First of all, click here for info about the festival, if you are lucky enough to consider getting there on June 2-3 or 9-10.

Also go to this link to check out a slide show about some of the region's best, and widely available, fine bottlings.

One of the most well-known wineries in the region is Bonny Doon, famed for its fun-loving owners, whimsical bottle labels, and devotion to Rhone-style blends.
Click here to enter the world of Bonny Doon.

Their Vin Gris de Cigare rose is a reliably pleasant summer wine, so why not start there if you're in the mood for something Santa Cruz-y?

Bonny Doon's owner, Randall Graham