Melissa here. And isn't this an interesting puzzle? Rather than the typical set of related theme answers, today we have instead four sets of circled letters that spell out a variety of wine: SHIRAZ, MUSCAT, MERLOT, AND MALBEC.
The reveal at 52A: Party drink option, no corkscrew required ... and what's in each set of circles. BOXED WINE. This theme would be next to impossible to figure out without the circles.
Across:
1. One working with dishes: CHEF.
5. They change on birthdays: AGES.
9. Vegan, e.g.: DIET.
13. Reviewer's "10": RAVE.
14. Absolut rival, familiarly: STOLI. A soviet brand of vodka, short for Stolichnaya, but as the clue suggests, most refer to it as simply STOLI.
15. First name in jazz singing: ELLA.
16. "Excuse me ... ": AHEM.
17. What golfers hit, with "the": LINKS.
18. Send for delivery: SHIP.
19. Traditional flowers used in Indian weddings: MARIGOLDS. Closely related to calendula, which has many medicinal qualities.
21. Fad: CRAZE.
22. Just learning about: NEW TO. Speaking of which, this appears to be Dana's LA Times debut.
23. Justice Kagan et al.: ELENA'S.
24. Another time: AGAIN.
27. Flood stopper: LEVEE. I first read that as "Food stopper." D'oh.
29. Dishevels, as hair: MUSSES.
31. Tel __: AVIV.
32. Baseball bounce: HOP.
35. Marsh plant: CAT TAIL. More botany. Plant of a thousand uses.
37. Strauss opera based on a Sophocles tragedy: ELEKTRA.
39. __-fi: SCI.
40. Creepy look: LEER.
42. "Ghostbusters" ghost: SLIMER. "I've been slimed!"
43. "Casablanca" star, informally: BOGIE. Humphrey Bogart.
44. Divvy up: ALLOT.
45. Come into view: EMERGE.
48. Turn it down: SAY NO.
51. Asia's __ Peninsula: MALAY. The area contains Peninsular Malaysia, Southern Thailand, and the southernmost tip of Myanmar (Kawthaung), as well as the city-state of Singapore, historically inhabited by the Malays, an Austronesian people.
57. "Queen of Salsa" Cruz: CELIA. Cuban American singer. How Celia Cruz became the 'Queen of Salsa.'
58. __ rug: AREA.
59. Wilcox daughter in "Howards End": EVIE. Played by Vanessa Redgrave in the 1992 film.
60. Relish the taste of: SAVOR.
61. Social sensitivity: TACT.
62. Cabs, say: REDS. Bonus!
63. Shopping cart unit: ITEM.
64. Disapproving sounds: TSKS.
Down:
1. Pull an all-nighter: CRAM. Slang for study - for a test.
2. "LOL!": HAHA.
3. At any time: EVER.
4. Certain equality advocate: FEMINIST.
5. Lopsided: ATILT. Tricky.
6. Aspen transport: GONDOLA. In Venice, it is a flat-bottomed boat used in the canals. In Aspen, an enclosed car suspended from a cable and used for transporting passengers, as a ski lift.
7. Group with lodges: ELKS.
8. Member of the fam: SIS. The shortened 'fam' indicates it woudn't be mom or dad.
9. "You Gotta Be" singer: DES'REE. English pop recording artist.
10. Minnesota's __ Omar: ILHAN. U.S. Representative.
11. "Tru Calling" actress Dushku: ELIZA. Faith in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
12. Masking and others: TAPES. Sneaky.
14. Like lento music: SLOW.
20. Family tree subject: GENEALOGY. I usually try to spell it GENEOLOGY.
21. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame city: CLEVELAND.
23. Bad things: EVILS.
24. Gremlin and Pacer: AMCS. Automobile models.
25. Avocado dip, for short: GUAC.
26. Vino venue: ASTI. More wine!
28. First lady: EVE.
30. Long battle: SIEGE.
32. Browser standard: HTML.
33. Black-and-white treat: OREO.
34. Hair line: PART. Funny how styles change. Middle parts for women seem to be in again.
36. Luau accessory: LEI.
38. Electric bill unit: KILOWATT.
41. Settle: RESOLVE.
43. They're depressed by drivers: BRAKES. Not pedals.
45. Old flame?: EMBER. Great clue.
46. Author Binchy: MAEVE. Irish novelist.
47. Spanish folk hero: EL CID. Became well known for his service in the armies of both Christian and Muslim rulers.
49. Truism: AXIOM.
50. Once around the sun: YEAR.
52. Rhythm: BEAT.
53. Portfolio options, for short: IRAS. Individual Retirement Accounts.
54. Place for a figurative pain: NECK.
55. Dines: EATS.
57. CBS series with multiple spin-offs: CSI. Crime Scene Investigation.
