Wine dinners and more

• Del Frisco’s hosts a Reynolds Family Winery dinner Jan. 15, with Steve Reynolds presenting each wine. In the lineup: ’07 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir with handmade gnocchi and cremini mushrooms and mascarpone sauce; ’04 Persistence with roasted pork tenderloin with cherry pecan stuffing; ’05 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon with Kona-braised short ribs; and more. $95; 4725 Piedmont Row Drive; 704-552-5502.

• Blue offers an Oregon Pinot Noir and food pairing night Jan. 19, with five Mediterranean dishes in a casual tasting setup. Among the pairings: pan-seared striped bass over bacon and leek pomme Anna with ’07 Chehalem “Three Vineyard”; and magret duck breast with wilted arugula and spiced walnut salad with ‘07 Stoller “JV Estate”, Dundee Hills Willamette Valley. $34.95 (reservations required); uptown’s Hearst Tower at College and 5th streets; 704-927-2583.

• Beginning this week, McCormick & Schmick’s offers some New Zealand menu items, along with a sweepstakes for a trip for two (including air and hotel) Down Under. Also, each chain location will award one $50 gift certificate. You can enter at the restaurants or online. Among the dishes: mussel fritters; shellfish stew in sourdough bread bowl; New Zealand grass-fed filet mignon Wellington style and more. 4335 Barclay Downs Drive (704- 442-5522) and 200 S. Tryon St. (704-377-0201).