I’m a big fan of rosé, which is usually as close as I get to drinking reds. This Benziger 2012 from Sonoma was a stunner with mezze (fava bean and cucumber salad with feta; hummus, grape leaves, fried halloumi… I’m getting very hungry now).

When we opened it, we gave it an experimental sniff and thought, uh oh. Is this a white zinfandel? But to our delight, the honeyed and fruity scent inheres in a pleasantly dry tipple, part Grenache and part Syrah. It’s gorgeous in the glass too, a delicate peach color.

Related articles:

(No, I’m not a vegan quite yet–having been unable to give up cheese–but hey, I love ya folks!)

• Fava (vibrantlyvegan.com)
• http://www.benziger.com/rose12