Tonight, Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition winners were honored at the 23rd annual Champion Wine Auction & Dinner at NRG Center. Wine enthusiasts came together for this premier annual event, witnessing the auction of these renowned, award-winning wines, with both the Grand Champion Best of Show and Reserve Grand Champion Best of Show selling for remarkable bids.
2026 Grand Champion Best of Show: Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon, Tomahawk Vineyard, Stags Leap District, 2022
The 2026 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition Grand Champion Best of Show, Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon, Tomahawk Vineyard, Stags Leap District, 2022, sold for $300,000 and was purchased by Randa & Ray Gilliam; J Alan Kent Development – Julie & Alan Kent; Andrea & Scott Fish; and Lisa Blackwood & Kimberly Wilkins.
2026 Reserve Grand Champion Best of Show: Sequoia Grove Chardonnay, Napa Valley, 2023
The 2026 Reserve Grand Champion Best of Show, Sequoia Grove Chardonnay, Napa Valley, 2023, was purchased for a Rodeo record amount of $285,000 by Andrea Bryant; John M. Cotterell; Cindy & WW Rowland; and Kate & Mike Brem.
This premier auction featured an exceptional selection of 61 lots with a total of 502 wines, each of which qualified at the Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition in November. This opulent event offered distinguished guests an all-encompassing experience throughout the evening, including a four-course white glove dinner and table purchases reaching up to $300,000.
In addition to the live auction, a silent auction was held, which included a variety of luxurious lots, such as Italian a Luxury Villa in Spain, Argentina Dove Hunt, Costa Rica Condo, Napa Valley Pheasant Hunt, a Diamond Necklace, a South African Game Hunt, Luxury Villa in Tuscany, Suite at a Rockets Game, Greenwich Village NYC Event Space, and more. The live and silent auction created an illustrious evening for attendees, making this event a continued success.
The Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition attracts the best wine producers globally, making the selection process a true testament to the quality of wines presented. Of the 3,127 entries, 1,051 brands were included from around the world. The countries with the most entries were United States, Italy, France and Argentina. Of the total, 567 entries came from Texas wineries, and 225 entries came from the 2026 featured region, Oregon.
For more information on the Rodeo Uncorked! visit rodeohouston.com/wine.