Ghareeb & Zolezzi Friends Red Blend
Ghareeb & Zolezzi Friends Red Blend is a non-vintage California red blend from Ghareeb & Zolezzi Wines — two San Diego high school friends (Cathedral Catholic "Dons") making wine from Zolezzi Vineyard fruit with eco-friendly vineyard and winery practices, in a 750mL bottle. The Friends bottling blends Syrah, Malbec, and Cabernet from Santa Barbara County, de-stemmed, mixed, and aged in oak barrels — a friendship wine in the most literal sense. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Size: 750mL
- Vintage: NV (non-vintage) — per Meritage Wine Market Santa Barbara listing
- Blend: Syrah, Malbec, and Cabernet (probable, per the brand's harvest notes; no percentages stated)
- Region: Santa Barbara County, California
- Producer: Ghareeb & Zolezzi Wines — San Diego friends, Zolezzi Vineyard; eco-friendly practices
A San Diego Friendship, Bottled
Some wines are made by companies; this one was made by a friendship. Ghareeb & Zolezzi started with two high school friends and a vineyard, and the Friends Red Blend is the bottle that carries the name — Syrah for dark fruit and spice, Malbec for color and plushness, Cabernet for structure, all from Santa Barbara County and raised in oak. The brand's own harvest notes describe rows of Syrah, Malbec, and Cabernet grapes de-stemmed and mixed before barrel aging. It is a local story worth drinking: San Diego friends, California fruit. Browse the Ghareeb & Zolezzi collection and more red wine at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
The producer publishes no official tasting notes for the Friends Red Blend, so this section stays honest: expect the classic profile of its grapes — Syrah's dark berry and pepper, Malbec's plush dark fruit, Cabernet's structure — knit together by oak aging. It is built as an easy, food-friendly red rather than a tasting-note showpiece.
How to Enjoy
Open it with dinner — grilled meats, burgers, hearty pasta — where a friendly, fruit-forward red blend earns its keep. Decant for 20–30 minutes if you like it a touch more open.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grapes are in Ghareeb & Zolezzi Friends Red Blend?
Per the brand's own harvest notes: Syrah, Malbec, and Cabernet — no percentages are published.
What vintage is it?
It is sold as a non-vintage (NV) blend per the Santa Barbara retail listing; the Del Mesa listing carries no vintage.
Who are Ghareeb & Zolezzi?
Two San Diego high school friends making wine from Zolezzi Vineyard fruit, with an eco-friendly approach in vineyard and winery.
Order Ghareeb & Zolezzi Friends Red Blend online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA — a local friendship worth raising a glass to.