Looking for a new wine, cocktail or micro-brewed beer? In this column, we ask an expert for a recommendation. This week we talked to:

Hillary Merrill • General manager at Faustina, 454 E. 300 South, Salt Lake City

What are you drinking now? 2007 Tangent, Ecclestone, Central Coast White Blend

Why do you like it? It is made from a blend of seven different white grapes including Pinot Gris, Viognier, Riesling and Pinot Blanc. I'm not a big fan of oakey wines and this one has a nice crisp taste with a hint of sweetness. There's even a bit of orange muscat (think floral) on the finish.

What makes it interesting? When I starting looking into it I found that this particular winery is SIP certified, which stands for Sustainability in Practice. Tangent was one of the wineries that helped develop the program. It's very different from other certifications. It doesn't just look at organic farming but it considers ethical employee practices, environmental impact, social responsibility and safe pest management. It's really an intense program and very difficult to get certified.

And the name itself is interesting. Tangent means to stray from the ordinary. And the owners specifically started this winery to bring out alternative wines.

They wanted to produce white wines that weren't already popular in America.

Cost • $18.99 Utah state wine stores; $40 at the restaurant.

Best food pairing • On Faustina's new dinner menu, the Asiago-crusted scallop with cappellini and tomato saffron broth is a good match. At lunch, the shrimp sandwich or salmon BLT. Or at home, serve it with seafood or earthy dishes which will complement the floral aspects of the wine.

kathys@sltrib.com