The sold-out Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup and Best Bites Competition featured dishes from 111 distinguished Houston restaurants, chefs and caterers paired with winning wines from the 2017 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition.
Champion wines were selected from 2,850 entries representing wineries from approximately 20 different countries, including Australia, Austria, France, Italy, Japan, Peru, South Africa and Spain. These entries included 105 wines from the 2017 featured region of Tuscany and 351 wines from Texas.
THE CHAMPION WINES ARE:
- Grand Champion Best of Show – Arinzano Gran Vino Blanco, Pago de Arinzano D.O., 2010
- Reserve Grand Champion Best of Show – Nice Winery Notorious Malbec, Mount Veeder, 2013
- Top Texas Wine – Pedernales Cellars Texas High Plains Tempranillo, 2014
- Top Sparkling Wine – Laetitia Brut Rosé, Arroyo Grande Valley, 2014
- Top White Wine – Fall Creek Vineyards Chardonnay, Certenberg Vineyards, 2014
- Top Red Wine – Trinchero Forte Red Wine, Napa Valley, 2012
- Top Region Wine – Talosa Vino Nobile di Montelpulciano D.O.C., 2012
- Top Sweet Wine – Bodegas Dios Baco, Baco de Elite Amontillado Sherry, Jerez D.O., NV
- Top Value Wine – Aia Vecchia Lagone, Toscana I.G.T., 2013
- Top All-Around Winery – Wilson Winery of Dry Creek
- Top Region Wine Company – Palm Bay International
- Top Wine Company – Trinchero Family Estates
- Top Texas Winery – Kiepersol Vineyards & Winery
THE 2017 BEST BITES WINNERS ARE:
Outstanding Showmanship Award
- Grand Champion – Cupcake Kitchen
- Most Creative – Brothers Produce
People’s Choice Award
- Grand Champion – Killen’s STQ
- Reserve Grand Champion – Royer’s Round Top Café
Tasty Traditions Award
- Grand Champion – Mostly Chocolate – hazelnut and popecochs, goat cheese
- Reserve Grand Champion – Merlion on 4th – Shrimp Raad Prick
Trailblazing Appetizer/Starter Award
- Grand Champion – Revolve Kitchen + Bar, Hotel Derek – achiote braised pork sliders, jalapeño cabbage slaw, sriracha honey glaze
- Reserve Grand Champion – Snooze: An AM Eatery – OMG French Toast Bites: French baguette with sweet mascarpone, topped with salted caramel and vanilla crème, and finished with strawberries, toasted coconut, and powdered sugar
- Third Place – Cotton Culinary – duck roulade with candied jalapeño, wrapped with smoked hatch bacon
Lone Star Entrée Award
- Grand Champion – Merlion on 4th – Shrimp Raad Prick
- Reserve Grand Champion – Killen’s STQ – pork belly burnt ends with cherry habanero sauce and a side of creamed corn
- Third Place – Hearsay Gastro Lounge Market Square – Southern-fried Texas quail on 5-year-aged sharp cheddar grits with a Thai chili, bacon, bourbon and butter honey
Two-Steppin’ Dessert Award
- Grand Champion – Mostly Chocolate: hazelnut and popecochs, goat cheese
- Reserve Grand Champion – CRAVE – red velvet mini cupcakes
- Third Place – Brio Tuscan Grille – mascarpone cheesecake
Rookie Award
- Hearsay Gastro Lounge Market Square
All champion wines will be auctioned at the Rodeo Uncorked! Champion Wine Auction, Sunday, March 5.
A selection of the champion wines will be available for tasting, by the glass and bottle, throughout the run of the Show, March 7 through 26, in the Champion Wine Garden, located in Carruth Plaza. Times are Monday through Thursday, 4 to 11 p.m.; Fridays, 4 p.m. to midnight; Saturdays, 11 a.m. to midnight; and Sundays, noon to 10 p.m. Educational seminars are available in the Champion Wine Garden, ranging from $45 to $65 per person. To learn more, visit rodeohouston.com/Visit-the-Show/Attractions-Activities/Wine-Garden.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a Section 501(c)(3) charity that benefits youth, supports education, and facilitates better agricultural practices through exhibitions and presentation. Since its beginning in 1932, the Show has committed more than $430 million to the youth of Texas. For more information, visit rodeohouston.com and connect with #RODEOHOUSTON online via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for all of the latest news. The 2017 Show is scheduled for March 7–26.