WINE
If one of your New Year's resolutions is to try new varietals, the Shooting Star Blue Franc Washington Blaufränkisch ($14) is a great start. It's also a seriously tasty wine. Like other renditions using this grape (sometimes called kékfrankos or lemberger), this boasts bright cherry flavors and a sometimes leathery texture, with dry herbal notes on the midpalate and finish. Try it with a lemon-herb roasted chicken, vegetarian pizzas or a wintry stew. Available at Wine Thief, France 44, Zipp's, Haskell's Chanhassen, Little Wine Shoppe and Kowalski's Uptown, Woodbury and Oak Park Heights.
