Since I was making a homemade pesto pasta that night, I opened the Zephyr ($86 for four bottles) bottle first (apparently it pairs well with goat cheese, pesto, and seafood platters). Made with strawberries and hibiscus, this bottle promises a "summer rosé that you can actually keep drinking all day." The fact that it was December didn't stop me from pouring myself a glass with dinner.
The first thing I noticed was that the zephyr was pinker than most rosés, along with a strong sweet smell. When I took a sip, I could definitely taste the strawberries and noted that it didn't really taste like wine. However, upon reading Acid League's notes, I realised they're not supposed to: "Proxies don't necessarily taste exactly like any specific wine, but they're made to look, feel, and drink like wine. They're designed to pair with food and be enjoyed in wine glasses." With that in mind, I tried to enjoy it for what it was instead of comparing it to real wine.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Madeleine Fournier