Texas Winery in top 50 of the World
William Chris Winery was founded in 2008 by two fellow Texas winemakers, being William “Bill” Blackmon and Chris Brundrett. This friendly, quality-oriented winery took the first names of these winemakers to signify their personal friendship and shared philosophies in making great wines. Both believe:
• Great wines are not made, but grown in the vineyard.
• Wine should be inspired by the pleasure that is shared with an extended community of friends and family over a bottle
Their philosophies are used for the creation of each new vintage which depends greatly upon the two above priorities. They continue to use outstanding Texas grapes to craft their wines for all to enjoy. Their winemaking begins with the harvest. Their timing for each harvest pick requires a full understanding of grape chemistry coupled with well-developed palates coupled with a bit of old-fashioned farmer’s intuition. Each of their harvests also depends heavily on Mother Nature since weather patterns substantially impact the balance of acidity, sugar content, and flavor profiles in a finished wine. In their tasting room on the grounds of one of their vineyards near Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country, you’ll learn what makes each vintage unique. The recognition of their creations has focused international attention to these two winemakers and their outstanding wines. Since 2022, William Chris Vineyards was listed in the Top 100 wineries in the world as rated by “The Worlds 50 Best Vineyards Academy.” In 2025, they leaped to the number 31 position. The “World’s 50 Best Vineyards Academy” is the mechanism used to create The World’s 50 Best Vineyards list. The Academy comprises more than 700 leading wine aficionados, sommeliers, and luxury travel correspondents from across the globe. Each has been selected for their expert opinion of the international wine and wine tourism scene. To create the Academy, and give it a fair representation of the global wine scene, the Academy divided the world into geographical regions. Each region has an acknowledged expert as its Academy Chair. Each Academy Chair is responsible for recruiting 36 wine and travel experts. They vote for seven vineyards in preferential order. Congratulations to the William Chris Vineyard Family for their outstanding achievements in creating quality wines and bringing this prestigious recognition to the Texas Wine Industry.
Houston Rodeo Uncorked Announces Winners
This prestigious annual event draws top wineries from around the world, making the judging process a true reflection of the exceptional quality of the showcased wines. The panel of 130 highly qualified judges carefully evaluated a diverse selection of wines across multiple wine categories, including red, white, sparkling, and dessert at different price points. Each wine was carefully assessed by four-member judge panels based on factors such as aroma, taste, appearance, and overall balance. There were 3,127 entries from throughout the world with
567 Texas entries. The 2026 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition Champions include:
• Grand Champion Best of Show: Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon, Tomahawk Vineyard, Stags Leap District, 2022
• Reserve Grand Champion Best of Show: Sequoia Grove Chardonnay, Napa Valley, 2023
• Top Texas Wine: Friday Mountain Frenchman’s Corner Mourvédre, Salt Lick Vineyard, Texas Hill Country, 2020
• Top Red Wine: Reynolds Family Winery Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2022
• Top White Wine: Carter Creek Plateau White, Texas High Plains, 2024
• Top Sparkling Wine: Perrier-Jouet Blanc de Blanc Champagne AOC, NV
• Top Dessert Wine: Blandy’s 10 Year Old Bual Madeira DOC, NV
• Top Region Wine: Zena Crown Vineyard The Sum Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills, 2021
• Top Value Wine: Bieler Pere et Fils La Jassine Red, Cote du Rhone Village AOC, 2024
• Top Wine Company: E & J Gallo Winery
• Top Region Wine Company: Ste. Michelle Wine Estates
• Top All-Around Winery: Nice Winery
• Top Texas Winery: Thirsty Mule Winery
These judged winners will be showcased at the 2026 Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup and Best Bites Competition on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at NRG Center. These winning wines be auctioned off at the Champion Wine Auction and Dinner on Sunday, March 1, 2026.
