A la carte: Fun Sonoma County food events this month

PETALUMA: Wine Country Big Q is back

The grills will be firing up for the seventh annual Wine Country Big Q, a public tasting and competition nationally sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society from 1 to 5 p.m. July 8 at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds.

Some of the best Pit Masters in the country will be serving up barbecued meats while guests enjoy wine, beer, craft cider along with live rock and blues music.

Contests include the Winery Big Beef Challenge (for the best tri-tip with wine pairing), the Bold Bean Challenge and Bakin' for Bacon (desserts). There also will be educational seminars and cooking demos.

Tickets are $20 to $75 and will benefit Sonoma County Vet Connect. winecountrybigq.com.

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SONOMA: Viansa's summer dinners

A series of Chef Dinners featuring John Toulze from The Girl & the Fig, will be held at Viansa Sonoma winery from 6 to 8 p.m. June 29 and July 27.

Toulze started his career in hospitality at Viansa in 1994 alongside The Girl & the Fig owner Sondra Bernstein. He now serves as executive chef and managing partner of the Sonoma restaurant, its sister restaurants and catering operations.

Guests will enjoy farm-to-table fare prepared in the wood-fired oven and served with wine-pairings outdoors while watching the sun set.

Tickets are $75, including three-course dinner with wines. viansa.com. 25200 Arnold Drive.

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HEALDSBURG: Jordan Vineyard debuts caviar

Jordan Vineyard & Winery has launched the Jordan Chef's Reserve Caviar by Tsai Nicoulai of San Francisco, a product hand-crafted in collaboration with Jordan executive chef Todd Knoll.

To create the small-batch caviar, Knoll harvested salt water and kombu (kelp) from the Sonoma Coast, dehydrated the kombu, then used it as a cure for the caviar, which is raised at the Tsar Nicoulai's farm in Sacramento County. The caviar is infused with sea salt and then cured for eight weeks.

“We plan to change the cure every few seasons, incorporating homemade salts from my travels plus other ingredients from Sonoma and beyond,” Knoll said.

The caviar was launched this spring at a dinner that also featured the Jordan Cuvée by Champagne AR Lenoble. It retails for $135 per ounce (including shipping) and is sold at jordanwinery.com/shop.

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SONOMA: Tasting, tacos and tunes

Passaggio Wines will throw a release party for its new vintages from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, with tacos from El Coyote food truck and live music by Adam Traum.

Owner and winemaker Cindy Cosco will also pull some barrel samples. 22020 Carneros Vineyard Way, Suite 2, off of Eighth Street East. Tickets are $28 in advance, or $30 at the door. eventbrite.com.

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NAPA: New classes at Copia

The Culinary Institute of America at Copia has added a new series of classes for the summer, from food demonstrations to wine and beer tastings.

As a new offering, the series includes Chef's Tours that comprise a private trek through the valley, with introductions to local vintners, producers and farmers along the way. The eight-hour adventures will be held July 6 and Aug. 24. Cost is $475.

There is also a new class for teen cooks, Young Chefs, on July 10 and July 24; a new, interactive dinner, Chef's Table, on July 15, 19 and 22; and a series of new CIA Skills classes that delve into handmade fresh cheese, the Spanish Table and Soul Food Classics, which include a meal with wine.

For a complete class list or to purchase tickets, go to ciaatcopia.com or ciaatcopia.eventbrite.com.

Staff Writer Diane Peterson can be reached at 521-5287 or diane.peterson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @dianepete56.