I’m a little bitter that the three-martini lunch met its demise before I had an expense account. I love the notion of lingering past my allotted noon hour deep in a plush banquette, nibbling olives off the end of a toothpick. Instead, I look for a midday beverage that’s not quite as potent as Tanqueray but packs a little more punch than Perrier. I like a drink that balances acidity and sweetness—the way a well-made cocktail or a good wine does. These days, I’m washing down my lunch with Vignette’s Wine Country Soda. The Berkeley-based company introduced its lightly carbonated pinot noir– and chardonnay-based sodas two years ago, but the rosé, which hit shelves just a few months back, is my favorite. Made with a blend of grenache and sauvignon blanc grape juices, it’s dry with just a hint of sweetness. It’s everything I love in a rosé, except the alcohol—which, at lunchtime, I’ll grudgingly admit, can be a good thing. winecountrysoda.com