Wine calendar
Best fine-wine Cellars pairings Dinner benefiting with the T.J. Martell Foundation: Hotel ZaZa, 5701 Main. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. From $750. tjmartell.org. Smith Story wine dinner: Brennan’s of Houston, 3300 Smith. 6:30 p.m. Thursday. $135. 713-522-9711. Lange Twins wine dinner: Piatto Ristorante, 4925 W. Alabama. 6:30 p.m. Thursday. $59. 713-871-9722. Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars dinner: The Palm, 6100 Westheimer. 6:30 p.m. Thursday. $160 plus tax and gratuity. 713-977-8180. “Pinot for the People” tasting featuring pinot noirs from around the world: Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, 1200 McKinney St. 5:30 p.m. Friday. $75 plus tax and gratuity. 713-658-1995. Cristal, in honor of Backstreet Cafe’s 35th anniversary: Backstreet Cafe, 1103 Shepherd. $35 for a glass, $175 for a bottle, lunch or dinner, for the entire month of October.
Wine Fest: Kemah Boardwalk, 215 Kipp, Kemah. 2-5 p.m. Oct. 13. $54.95 advance purchase, $59.95 day of the event. 281-535-8100. Women of Wine Charities Grand Tasting Even benefiting the Houston Area Women’s Center: The Crystal Ballroom at the Rice, 909 Texas Ave. 6-9 p.m. Oct. 22. From $125. wowcharities.org. Iron Sommelier competition presented by Autosol and benefiting the Periwinkle Foundation: The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa. 6 p.m. Nov. 8. From $200. 713-807-0191 or arohrman@periwinklefoundation.org. Ongoing wine education: The Texas Wine School, 2301 Portsmouth. thetexaswineschool.com. 713-828-7767.
Weekly free tastings: Houston Wine Merchant, 2646 S. Shepherd. 5:30 p.m. Fridays and 2 p.m. Saturdays. 713-524-3397. French Country Wines, 2433 Bartlett. Noon-6 p.m. Saturdays. 713-993-9500. TuttiLili Wines and Specialty Foods, 2421 Bartlett. Noon-6 p.m. Saturdays. 281-687-7565.Vine Wine Room, 12420 Memorial, 3 p.m. Saturdays. 713-463-8463.