Let’s Rodeo with Texas Wines
It is only a matter of a few weeks before the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo starts. The days leading up to this mega-fest have jaw-dropping events for wine lovers and foodies. Best Bites will be held Sunday evening of February 23rd which features over 450 of the Houston Rodeo Uncorked award-winning wines selected from thousands of wines by the Houston Rodeo Uncorked Judges last November 25th thru 27th. These award-winning wines selected in the 22nd Annual International Houston Rodeo Uncorked Competition will be paired with selections of about 100 of Houston area’s best restaurants for an event to be savored and remembered until next year. Tickets are selling fast so get your individual tickets at $165 per adult. This world class event will host thousands inside the huge NRG Center (Halls D and E) providing a lot of time for sipping, savoring, and renewing business acquaintances.
The 41st Annual World-Class BBQ Competition from February 27th thru March 1st features intense cooking competition among 250 cooking teams with winners getting bragging rights for 365 days.
The Houston Rodeo Uncorked Wine Dinner and Auction on Texas Independence Day, being March 2nd is one of the highlights of the Pre- Rodeo Events. This annual wine auction brings in over a million dollars, ranking itself as one the TEN RICHEST wine auctions in the world! This event will usually have the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Wines in Magnum bottles bring in around $400,000 for just two bottles of wine. In reality, no wine is worth that much, but the winning bidders have a big chance to get accolades and bragging rights while providing money for scholarships.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo kicks off on March 4th and runs thru March 23rd with the Livestock Show being the largest in the World! The caliber of this show astounds everyone. This mega non-profit has raised hundreds of millions in scholarships while providing outstanding entertainment. One of the best values for entertainment is the Rodeo’s Champion Wine Garden sponsored by Frost Bank in Caruth Plaza near the NRG Stadium on the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Grounds. This wine garden has long hours of operation featuring around 75 of the Houston Rodeo Uncorked Champions for your sipping pleasures.
Please explore the Champion wines in the Champion Wine Gardens and you will be impressed with Texas Wines! By the way, you can reserve a table or a tent for up to 150 for a Texas-sized party.
There will be fifteen wine seminars hosted in the Champion Wine Gardens with two of those seminars focusing on Texas Wines. The popular “Taco ’Bout Wine” pairs Texas’ favorite food with wines from the Champion Wine Garden. Denise Clarke will host “Texas Wines and BBQ” which will dive into the journey of the Texas wine industry. This seminar features great Texas BBQ and outstanding Texas wines to pair with those smoked meats. Speaking of the Texas Wine Industry, it has grown into a 14+ Billion Dollar Industry in 49 years. Texas got its first new winery in 1976 after Prohibition ended in 1933. Over the last 49 years, our fledging wine industry has grown into a work horse. Texas wines a few weeks ago earned six Best of Show at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition along with 29 Double Gold Medals. I predict we will surpass 1,200 wineries in Texas by the end of 2025. All of the great wine selections available in Texas should be also showing up in Texas Restaurants. Tell your favorite restaurants to start serving our great Texas Wines!