19th annual Beaujolais Festival, plus Newton

Celebrate "les premières vendanges,” the first grape harvests of the year -- aka the 2012 Beaujolais Nouveau festival in Charlotte -- at the Levine Museum of the New South Nov. 16. Beaujolais Nouveau is traditionally (by French law) not released until midnight on the third Thursday of November. Then it can be sold, and can be quite the circus. In Charlotte, which is one of 16 U.S. cities recognized as an official Beaujolais city, the party runs 6-9 p.m. with live jazz, French food and raffles, including one to test drive a (inexplicably Italian) Maserati. $25 for members of the Charlotte International Cabinet & Alliance Francaise, $30 for others.

Blue hosts a Newton Vineyard wine dinner Nov. 16. Among the courses: pan-seared scallops over celery root puree with 2011 Red Label Chardonnay; house-cured pork belly with butternut squash caponata with 2009 Red Label Claret; duo of oven-roasted veal loin and Cabernet-braised veal cheek sugo with 2009 Red Label Cabernet Sauvignon; and more. $75; 704-927-2583; 206 N. College St.