A La Carte: Harvest Awards, Figs & Pigs and more

SONOMA COUNTY:

Harvest Awards Night Gala

This Sunday night, the trio of sweepstakes winners will be announced at the Sonoma County Harvest Awards Night Gala. Breaking with tradition, the public is invited this year, and the gala also has a new venue at the Wells Fargo Center for the arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. for a wine and food reception, featuring award-winning wines and appetizers from the Harvest Fair's professional competition. The awards ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m. A formal dinner, provided by John Ash & Co., will follow at approximately 6:30 p.m. The Harvest Awards Gala celebrates the region's top winemakers, growers, microbrewers and culinary artists, while paying tribute to Sonoma County's role as a leader in American agriculture. Organizers will be honoring many in the field of food and wine. They will cap off the evening by announcing which wineries won the top red, white and specialty wine from the Harvest Fair's Professional Wine Competition and which eateries will take home the top Restaurant Competition prize. Ticket prices for the public are $125 each and are available at harvestfair.org or at the Box Office, which is located at 1350 Bennett Valley Road in Santa Rosa. Cocktail attire is recommended. To find out more, call 545-4200.

More time to savor at fair Grand Tasting

Heads up: This year the Grand Tasting experience at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair is a three-day affair from Oct. 3-5. Last year, the event was only Friday night, but it was extended this year to give people more time to taste through more award-winning wines and food. The tasting pavilion will be open Oct. 3, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Oct. 4 and 5 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Grand Tasting tickets are $55, with a three-day pass $125. Gate admission is $5. The event is at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road in Santa Rosa. For more information, visit www.harvestfair.org or call 545-4200.

HEALDSBURG

Figs & Pigs Festival at Quivira Vineyards

The Quivira Vineyards' Figs & Pigs Festival is Saturday, and the festivities include a grape stomp, barrel making and a fig tree tour. This is the second year for this fig-themed event that celebrates figs, wine and pork. From noon until 4 p.m., the festival will offer guests a menu rich in home-grown figs, a hog roast and plenty of tasty wine. Treats include Figs with Mendocino Sea Salt and Local Honey, and Quivira Figs and Goat Cheese. Tickets are $50 at www.quivirawine.com. For more information, call 431-8333. The winery is at 4900 W. Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg.

100 wineries to pour pinot on the plaza

If you're a pinot noir fanatic, pen this in your calendar: Pinot on the River is Oct. 26 on the Healdsburg Plaza. The 11th annual Grand Tasting event will have 100 wineries pouring from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. the event will benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma County. Cost is $75 in advance and $100 at the door. For more information, visit www.pinotfestival.com or call 433-0433.

JENNER

Wine festival with an ocean backdrop

Tickets are available for the Fort Ross-Seaview Wine Festival Oct. 18 in Jenner. The tasting features some top producers including Flowers, Siduri, and Williams Selyem. The festival takes place on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Festivities include a Grand Tasting ($35) and a Grand Luncheon ($125). The second annual event is at the Fort Ross State Historic Park, 19005 Coast Highway. For more information, visit www.fortross-seaview.org.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Winesong raises funds for Mendocino Coast Hospital

Winesong 2014 raised a projected gross of $650,000 earlier this month from its two-day event. The highlight of the Sept. 6 live auction at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens was the Fund-A-Need lot, which brought in $174,000 in a matter of minutes. After covering production expenses, the Winesong net return will benefit the Mendocino Coast Hospital by helping it purchase equipment. Winesong is produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds for the hospital. For more information, visit www.winesong.org.