This recipe is for the double dish slow cooker, which requires water to be placed in the cooking vessel while cooking in the insert pan (like a double boiler). When making in the cooking vessel, no water is needed.
Straw wine. Straw wine, or raisin wine, is a wine made from grapes that have been dried to concentrate their juice. The result is similar to that of the ice wine process, but suitable for warmer climates.
Choosing the right wine to pair with crab. Linda Murphy, Chronicle Wine Editor. With its succulent, ocean-fresh sweetness, Dungeness crab pairs best with white wines that don't overwhelm the rich yet delicate flavor of the meat. Whether it's steamed, cracked and served gloriously unadorned, or prepared according to one of today's recipes, crab's pure, sweet flavor should be center stage, with the wine a supporting player. A buttery California Chardonnay would work with crab dipped in melted butter, but this style of wine usually has oak flavors that can overpower the seafood. If the crab is steamed and chilled, try it with the 2002 Pine Ridge California Chenin Blanc-Viognier ($14), an unusual blend that has the citrus, melon and slight honeyed character of the Chenin Blanc grape and the floral aromas and richness of Viognier.