LET RODEO UP SOME WINES
Texas is known for its Agriculture. We have our beef, crops and wines made from some of the best grapes in the Country. Texas has its rodeos and livestock shows almost all year, depending on what part of the State you are in. The prestigious Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has been around for NINETY Years and is the World’s Largest Livestock and Agriculture Event. It also has Auctions which historically bring in more money than any other Agricultural Event in the World. These Auctions and the Entertainment provide millions of dollars each year to Texas Youth for Scholarships. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo added International Wine Competition and related wine events 19 years ago based on the hard work of “Bear” Dalton of SPEC’S fame. The 2022 Edition of Houston Rodeo Uncorked actually starts four months earlier in November where wineries from all over the world submit their BEST wines for judging. This year’s competition featured 2,862 entries from 17 countries, including France, Spain, Italy, Israel, Peru, Argentina and South Africa. Of those entries, 480 entries were from Texas wineries. This year’s BEST is J. Lohr Vineyards Cuvee PAU Red, Paso Robles, 2017 with The Reserve Grand Champion Best of Show awarded to Nice Winery Cabernet Franc, Paicines, 2018, a winery on the west side of Houston. Award-winning wines from the competition will be paired with gourmet dishes at the 2022 Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup and Best Bites Competition on February 20th, and will be sold at the 2022 Champion Wine Auction and Dinner on February 27th. Join fellow wine lovers and “foodies” on February 20th to support the Rodeo by participating in one of the world’s largest gourmet food events paired with more than 450 award-winning wines, including the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion of the International Wine Competition. At the Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup and Best Bites Competition, you will have the opportunity to sample signature dishes from approximately 100 of the area’s top restaurants and culinary institutions, and vote for your favorites in the Best Bites Competition. This event sells out fast with individual tickets at $165 per Adult with Tables of Ten available at $2,000 and $2,500 for a Premium Table.
On February 27th, The Rodeo Uncorked! Champion Wine Auction and Dinner kicks off the Rodeo season. Begin your evening with an exquisite cocktail hour, including an extraordinary silent auction where you can bid on unique wines, unforgettable trips, and other great items. Then join fellow wine lovers in the ballroom to enjoy a sumptuous seated dinner complemented by champion wines. Following dinner, you and your guest can join the excitement by bidding on award-winning wines to support the Rodeo. Tables start at $6,000 and go through $25,000 for a Premium Table. The auctions can get very spirited with the Top Bid on a single Magnum Bottle going for$220,000! I believe that bid tops anything out of California Auctions for a single bottle. Purchased items are available immediately following the auction for you to take home.
A selection of the Class Champion, Reserve Class Champions and medal-winning wines will also be available for purchase in the Rodeo Uncorked! Champion Wine Garden, presented by Frost Bank, during the 2022 Rodeo, scheduled for February 28th thru March 20th.
Additionally, the top-performing Texas wineries will also be invited to participate in Texas Wine Celebration Day in the Champion Wine Garden, March 3. For more information on Rodeo Uncorked! Events, visit www.rodeohouston.com/wine.
