Sunny, sweet mandarins warm up Gold Country

Just as the reality of winter is setting in, the Mountain Mandarin Festival invokes a bit of summer as multitudes of freshly harvested, sunshine-hued Satsuma mandarins, grown in the Placer Valley foothills, bring a warm glow to the Gold Country Fairgrounds. Not only are Satsumas the sweetest and juiciest of all citrus, they are seedless and a cinch to peel. Visitors can sample mandarins in infused drinks, gelato, pulled pork and even pizza, among other uses — and buy 10-pound bags from local growers to take home. Vitals: Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., $3 (free with donation of two food items). Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., $7 (seniors $5, ages 12 and under free) 1273 High St., Auburn. (916) 663-1918, www.mandarinfestival.com. Sonoma women on wine: Guerneville’s Big Bottom Market, a kind of Wine Country-chic version of an old-fashioned country store, introduces its “Women on Wine — Unfiltered” program this week. The first event in the every-other-month series, which combines discussion, food and wine pairing, and networking, features Marimar Torres of the Marimar Estate winery in Sebastopol. The tasting pairs two award-winning Marimar wines with small bites; discussion covers Torres’ journey from her native Spain to the helm of a winery and two vineyards in California. Thursday, 6-8 p.m. $50. (707) 604 7295, www.bigbottommarket.com. Flavor! Napa Valley expands: The wildly successful Flavor! Napa Valley, the star-studded festival of gastronomy that made its debut last year, has added two days to its schedule this year. Some events have sold out already just the same, but last-minute visitors should have more tours, tastings, and demonstrations to choose from. Many local hotels are offering packages and special discounts on festival events. Wednesday-next Sunday. Times vary. Individual events $85-$325, packages $350-$955. (707) 257-0200, www.flavornapavalley.com.