WINE

I love the way that the folks at Clif Family tweak their blends every year. Past vintages have had a lot of syrah and/or cabernet sauvignon, but the Clif Family "The Climber" Red 2010 ($16) is 50 percent zinfandel and 36 percent cabernet franc (yum) with small doses of cab, merlot and petite sirah. The result is a lively, peppery, juicy, red-berry-laden mouthful that has enough structure to linger deftly on the finish. This is a swell "cocktail wine" but also is suited for pizza, Swiss steak, barbecued chicken or ribs and lasagna.

BILL WARD