2011Martian Ranch & Vineyard ‘Down to Earth’ Grenache Rosé
I know, I’m on a rosé kick, but I just can’t help it. There’s the weather for one thing, and then this year’s extraordinary crop of delicious rosés. Here’s another I just discovered from Martian Ranch & Vineyard in Santa Maria. “From sky to ground to grape to barrel to bottle and straight into your glass” reads the back label on its delightful “Down to Earth” Grenache rosé. It’s the palest dusty peach in color, and it tastes alive. It’s crisp and soft at the same time, smells like wild strawberries and has quite a finish. Absolutely lovely. — S. Irene Virbila
Region: Central Coast Price: About $18 Style: Crisp and dry
What it goes with: Hummus, sardines on toast, grilled fish, poached salmon
Where to find it: Andrew’s Cheese Shop in Santa Monica, (310) 393-3308, andrews
cheese.com; Domaine547, www.Domaine547.com; Elvino wines in Venice, (310) 396-9705, www.elvinowines
.com; Friends of the Vine in Redondo Beach, (310) 7925940, www.friendsofthevine
.net; K&L Wine Merchants in Hollywood, (323) 464-9463,
www.klwines.com; Larchmont Village Wine, Spirits & Cheese, (323) 856-8699; Red Carpet Wine in Glendale, (800) 339-0609, www.red
carpetwine.com; Silverlake Wine in Los Angeles, (323) 662-9024, www.silverlake wine.com; Topline Wine & Spirits in Glendale, (818) 500-9670; Wine House in West Los Angeles, (310) 479-3731, www.winehouse
.com. And also from Martian Ranch & Vineyard in Santa Maria at (888) 999-8406,
www.martianvineyard.com.