The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo welcomed guests and competitors to the 23rd annual Rodeo Uncorked!® Roundup & Best Bites Competition, presented by Nan & Company Properties, where the region’s top chefs and restaurateurs competed for top honors. The event featured signature dishes from Houston’s leading culinary institutions, paired with nearly 500 award-winning wines from the 2026 Rodeo Uncorked!® International Wine Competition. With more than 100 premier restaurants participating, the competition delivered a dynamic showcase of flavor, creativity, and craftsmanship.
2026 BEST BITES WINNERS:
People’s Choice Award
1st Place: Cotton Culinary – The Huntsmans Harvest
2nd Place: Gus’s Fried Chicken – Fried Chicken
Outstanding Showmanship Award
1st Place Creole Kitchen and Daiquiris – Creole Heaven
2nd Place: SheShe Treats – Iced Sugar Cookies
Tasty Tradition Award
1st Place: Coppa Osteria – Burrata Tartufo
2nd Place: Toro Toro Houston – Flamed Tomahawk
Trailblazer Appetizer Award
1st Place: Robinette Company Caterers – Cheddar Raspberry Bite topped with jalapeno bacon
2nd Place: Deuce of Spades Catering & Events – Seafood Pasts
3rd Place: Flora Mexican Kitchen – Cochinita Pibil
Lone Star Entrée Award
1st Place: House of Blues – Short Rib Rojo
2nd Place: Southern Yankee Crafthouse – Chicken Pot Pie
3rd Place: Raising Cane’s — Chicken Finger with Cane’s Sauce & Garlic Butter Texas Toast
Two-Steppin’ Dessert Award
1st Place: Lemond Kitchen – Louisiana Bread Pudding
2nd Place: Guzel Cakes – Perfect Love Cheesecake
3rd Place: Kendal & Kelby’s Cheesecakes – Apple Crumble Cheesecake Stuffed Cookie
Rookie Award
Tejas Brewery – Truffle Burger Slider
The Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition featured 3,127 entries from a record 25 countries. Of those, 567 entries came from Texas wineries and 225 entries came from the 2026 featured region, Oregon.
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
Award-winning wines from the annual competition will be auctioned at the Rodeo Uncorked! Champion Wine Auction & Dinner on Sunday, March 1, 2026.
A selection of the champion wines will be available for purchase, by the glass and bottle, in the Champion Wine Garden, presented by Frost. The Champion Wine Garden, located in Carruth Plaza, is open throughout the Rodeo, March 2 – 22. Daily hours are Mondays through Thursdays, 4 to 11 p.m.; Fridays, 2 p.m. to midnight; Saturdays, 11 a.m. to midnight; and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Guests can enjoy live music daily. Please visit rodeohouston.com for the full lineup of artists.
For more information about the Champion Wine Garden, click here.