The Mercury News

Nearly everything in Davenport boasts an interesting backstory, and Bonny Doon Vineyard is certainly no exception. Randall Grahm started his label in 1983 in Bonny Doon, just up the hill from Davenport. A dramatic rise to fame and some serious wine-empire building — at one point, it was the 28th largest winery in the U.S. — eventually led to a sudden refocus. Grahm sold off his biggest brands and the original winery and returned to what started it all: a passion for winemaking. Coming full circle, he opened this Bonny Doon Vineyard tasting room in 2013. It’s a beautiful place to linger and learn more about this very original label. Also, they have some perfect bottles — notably the briny Picpoul — to pair with a beach picnic this afternoon.

Still full from that delicious breakfast, we decide to do a bit of shopping first, so we duck into the vintage Airstream set up in the lot next to the Bonny Doon tasting room. This is Slow Coast, which is not just a store or design brand, it’s a philosophy. Founded in 2003 by marine biologist and conservationist Wallace J. Nichols, Slow Coast is all about the stretch of coastline between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz, and the shop is all about promoting the products and artisans of the region. Inside the 1954 Airstream, we find soft plaid shirts, local goat-milk soap, handmade jewelry, honeys, bitters, perfumes, even hand-dyed indigo tea towels. It is definitely worth making the family wait a few minutes while you peruse the wares. (They can take a nap on the outdoor daybed.)

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