We've had beautiful weather for months it seems. Now, it's finally getting cold and a trifle damp. That has me feeling crabby. Dungeness crabby to be exact. Wineries appear to be feeling it too. So, enjoy a "regular" wine event or two, but take advantage of the crab feeds too. And, if you can't make one of those, do your own. Grab some crab from the market and a crisp or creamy white wine from your favorite local producer. Then, sit down and crack those crabs like they're New York Giants!

I'd also like to give a shout out to the Shootout. You can taste the best of the wines from the Cabernet Shootout this Saturday on Treasure Island. I was a judge for the competition and there are some very good wines in the mix and few are from "the usual suspects." If you're a Cab drinker, this event will be a good opportunity for you to find some new favorites. It's looking pretty booked up, so call them right away if you're interested.

All events listed below are in chronological order within each region. I also recommend checking the increasingly jam-packed events calendar at NorCalWine.com for future events. Some require advance reservations or ticketing. Others offer early-bird discounts.

Boston, MA

Boston Wine Expo — Boston, Massachusetts: Saturday & Sunday, 1:00pm - 5:00pm
If you find yourself in Boston with a hankering for wine from here and elsewhere...

Lodi

Monthly Wine Appreciation Class at Oak Ridge Winery — Lodi: Saturday, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Each class is unique and promises to offer both fun and education to wine enthusiasts of all levels. 

Mendocino

Crab & Wine Days 2012 at McFadden Vineyards — Hopland : Saturday & Sunday, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Taste delicious wines made from organically grown grapes paired with a delicious crab food treat. 

Monterey County

Joyce Vineyards winemaker dinner at Allegro — Carmel: Saturday, 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Six of Joyce's wines with courses of rustic Italian & California-style cuisine. Winemaker Russell Joyce will be in the house.

Napa Valley

AIWF's Savor Wine Country at Westin Verasa — Napa: Friday 6:30pm through Sunday, 6pm
Special events include: exclusive tours and wine tastings, private chefs dinners at participating restaurants, Days at The CIA and the 30th Anniversary Celebration Dinner and Auction with guest of honor Margrit Mondavi. Events are ticketed separately.

Benessere Winemaker Dinner at Tra Vigne — St. Helena: Friday, 7pm
Benessere Vineyards offers a dinner pairing the winery’s Italian varietals with the cuisine of Tra Vigne. Benessere’s Winemaker and GM, Jack Stuart, and the winery’s Certified Sommelier and Retail & Hospitality Director, Eric Hensel, will lead the evening's events.

Paso Robles

Riedel Glass Seminar at Calcareous Vineyard — Paso Robles: Saturday, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Learn about the nuances of different wine glasses and how they affect the taste of your wines.

San Francisco and the Peninsula

5 Producer Zinfandel tasting at KL Wines — Redwood City: Friday, 5 - 6:30pm
Taste from Carol Shelton Wines, Collier Falls Vineyard, OTTIMINO, Ridge Vineyards, and Vino Noceto.

Santa Cruz Mountains

Santa Cruz Mountains Wineries Passport Day at SCM Wineries — Santa Cruz Mountains: Saturday, 11:00am - 5:00pm
Your opportunity to meet the talented winemakers of the Santa Cruz Mountains and to see where and how they produce some of the world's great wines. Some of these wineries are only open to the public on Passport days!

Sierra Foothills

"Aging Beautifully" at Il Gioiello — Fiddletown: Saturday & Sunday 10:00am - 5:00pm
A unique opportunity to taste aged Il Gioiello wines alongside the new.

Be a Nut for a Day at Vino Noceto — Plymouth: Saturday & Sunday, 11:00am - 5:00pm
Vino Noceto extends wine club privileges to the general public for a weekend.

Crab Feed & White Wine Release at Andis Wines — Plymouth: Saturday, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Enjoy appetizers, a classic Crab Feed of fresh Dungeness crab, Caesar salad, pasta, fresh bread and Andis wines.

Sonoma County

Pinot by the Fire at DeLoach Vineyards — Santa Rosa: Saturday & Sunday, 01:00pm - 03:00pm
Enjoy a guided flight of five exclusive Pinot Noirs by a blazing fire in the beautiful DeLoach guest house. By appointment.

Southern California

Chardonnay from Napa and Sonoma at The Wine Country — Signal Hill: Saturday, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Featuring Cakebread, Chateau Montelena, Far Niente, Foreman, Smith Madrone, Kistler, Ramey, Stuhlmuller and more.

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This article is original to NorCalWine.com. Copyright 2012 NorCal Wine. All rights reserved.