Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ Combines Award-Winning Wines with Gourmet Dishes at the Annual Rodeo Uncorked!® Roundup & Best Bites Competition
On Sunday, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo hosted a destination for local food and wine enthusiasts during the Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup & Best Bites Competition. The annual competition paired signature dishes from Houston-area culinary institutions with more than 450 award-winning wines from the 2020 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition, including the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion. A total of 113 of the area’s top restaurants competed in this year’s event.
2020 BEST BITES WINNERS:
Outstanding Showmanship Award
- 1st Place: Brother’s Produce
- 2nd Place: JW Marriott – Downtown
People’s Choice Award
- 1st Place: Grazia Italian Kitchen – Smoked & Soaked Wagyu Chuck, Corn Pudding, Date Gastrique, Cabernet Reduction, Tallow Fried Crumble, Micro Arugula & Amaranth
- 2nd Place: Cotton Culinary The Art of Catering – Duck Carnitas
Tasty Tradition Award
- 1st Place: Maggiano’s Little Italy – Lasagna with Marinara Sauce
- 2nd Place: Revival Market – Miso Mushrooms Toast, Whipped TX Goat Cheese & Houston Urban Honey
Trailblazer Appetizer Award
- 1st Place: Brennan’s of Houston – Hot Hot Oyster with Crystal Hot Sauce Butter, Pepper Jelly Glaze & Pickled Okra Chow Chow
- 2nd Place: Smokey Cheeks – Smokey Cheek Taco with Coleslaw, Pickled Onions & Cilantro, finished with a Blueberry Ghost Pepper Hollandaise Sauce
- 3rd Place: The Capital Grill – Porcini-Rubbed Smoked Bacon with Sweet Corn Risotto finished with Tomato Jam
Lone Star Entrée Award
- 1st Place: NOBU – Black Cod Miso on Lettuce Cup topped with Crispy Khataifi
- 2nd Place: Phat Eatery – Beef Rendang
- 3rd Place: Pinstripe’s – Short Ribs with Parmesan Polenta & Peppercorn Cream
Two-Steppin’ Dessert Award
- 1st Place: Ooh La La Sweets – Praline Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel Sauce
- 2nd Place: Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria – Mini Cannoli
- 3rd Place: Joyce’s Seafood & Steaks – White Chocolate Bread Pudding
Rookie Award
- Killen’s in the Heights – Smoked Brisket Enchilada
Trail Boss Food Truck Award
- Eaker Barbecue – Smoked Pulled Pork atop Creamed Corn with Green Onion Garnish
During the event, more than 450 champion wines from the 2020 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition were paired with gourmet dishes. The 2020 competition included 3,528 entries from 19 countries, including France, Spain, Bulgaria, Italy, Israel, Argentina and South Africa. Texas wineries represented 480 entries, and 380 entries came from this year’s featured region, Mendoza, Argentina.
The 2020 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition champions included:
- Grand Champion Best of Show – Piper-Heidsieck Brut, Champagne, NV
- Reserve Grand Champion Best of Show – Cavaliere d’Oro Bellezza, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, 2015
- Top Texas Wine – Bingham Family Vineyards Dugout Red, Texas High Plans, 2017
- Top Sparkling Wine – Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut, Spain, NV
- Top White Wine – Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling, Columbia Valley, 2018
- Top Red Wine – Revelry Vintners D11 Cabernet Sauvignon, Dionysus Vineyard, Columbia Valley, 2015
- Top Region Wine – Mi Terruño Mayacaba Malbec, Mendoza, 2015
- Top Dessert Wine – Inniskillin Gold Vidal Icewine, Niagara Peninsula VQA, 2017
- Top Value Wine – Raywood Merlot, Central Coast, 2017
- Top All-Around Winery – Wilson Family Winery
- Top Region Wine Company – MundoVino
- Top Wine Company – E&J Gallo Winery
- Top Texas Winery – Becker Vineyards
Award-winning wines from the annual competition will be auctioned at the Rodeo Uncorked! Champion Wine Auction & Dinner on Sunday, March 1.
A select few of the champion wines will be available for purchase, by the glass and bottle, in the Champion Wine Garden, presented by Frost Bank. The Champion Wine Garden, located in Carruth Plaza, is open throughout the Rodeo, March 3 – 22. Daily hours are Mondays through Thursdays, 4 to 11 p.m.; Fridays, 4 p.m. to midnight; Saturdays, 11 a.m. to midnight; and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Enjoy live music daily beginning at 4 p.m. on weekdays, 11 a.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. on Sundays. For more information about the Champion Wine Garden, visit rodeohouston.com/Visit-the-Rodeo/Attractions-Activities/Wine-Garden.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo promotes agriculture by hosting an annual, family-friendly experience that educates and entertains the public, supports Texas youth, showcases Western heritage and provides year-round educational support within the community. Since its beginning in 1932, the Rodeo has committed more than $500 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 the latest news. The 2020 Rodeo is scheduled for March 3 – 22.