THE CULMINATION OF 20 YEARS OF WINE IN THE WOODLANDS
This weekend ends the 20th year for WINE AND FOOD WEEK IN THE WOODLANDS with huge celebrations. This week of wine and food events is being sponsored by a Texas food and wine Icon, H. E. B. Grocery Stores. During this week of events, you will have encountered many outstanding wines and foods, most of which is available from H. E. B. Grocery Stores. This week of food and wine has been dedicated to Cleverly Stone who contributed so much to the food and wine industry in Houston as a food critic, supporter of restaurants, and a wonderful friend. She will be inducted into the Hall of Fame of Wine and Food Week in The Woodlands at the beginning of Saturday’s big gala event. This Friday evening, “For the Love of Texas kick-starts the weekend. Texans love good BBQ, tangy Tex-Mex, and fresh libations under the stars. Texans also love trying new flavors and big, bold wines. This event pays tribute to the rich food tapestry found in Texas from 6 – 9 p.m. at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott and Convention Center. The BIG event of the week is located over the entire first floor of the Convention Center of The Woodlands Waterway Marriott. The Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting and Chef Showcase on Saturday June 11 from 7-10 p.m. features more than 40 major culinary talents all in one large elegant ballroom vying for the title of Chef of Chefs with its coveted crystal trophy and $5,000 cash prize sponsored by GOYA Foods. This is foodie heaven. This event will feature hundreds of different wines which presents itself as a great place to learn about wines. Whether you are a novice or an experienced oenophile, this events will provide you with great experiences paired with foods from chefs from all over the world! Bayway Cadillac VIP Luxury Lounge at The Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting and Chef Showcase offers a VIP experience with keepsake glass. This is a gated event with only outstanding special wine offerings paired with some great WOW elements. This secured Lounge will have some wines you do not want to miss. I have enjoyed sipping on bottles valued at $3,000 behind this curtained lounge. When entering The Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting and Chef Showcase, you will receive a keepsake wine glass and special slotted plate to hold your glass while trying foods. H. E. B. Grocery Stores normally has a meat and cheese extravaganza with an assortment of wines poured by wine stewards from various H. E. B. stores. There will be over twenty pods set up in an acre of air conditioned wonder land of wines and foods. Each pod will normally have two Chefs, each competing for the Chef of Chefs Award cooking live before your eyes and providing you with food samples while you sip on wines from any of four to six wineries based in that pod. The weekend will end with an outdoor concert at Bernhardt Winery about 30 minutes from The Woodlands. Get there early and stake your place to enjoy “Nightbirds” a tribute band group of Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks playing from 7 to 9 pm.
Tickets are available for these events online by going to www.WineandFoodWeek.com.