The event combines award-winning wines with delectable dishes from Houston-area culinary institutions
Today, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo hosted the highly anticipated Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup & Best Bites Competition. This annual competition brought together signature dishes from renowned Houston-area culinary establishments, skillfully paired with an impressive selection of nearly 450 award-winning wines from the 2024 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition, including the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion. More than 120 of the region’s premier restaurants competed, creating a vibrant and flavorful celebration of culinary excellence.
2024 BEST BITES WINNERS:
People’s Choice Award
- 1st Place: GRAZIA ITALIAN KITCHEN
- 2nd Place: COTTON CULINARY
Outstanding Showmanship Award
- 1st Place: ECULENT
- 2nd Place: SHESHE TREATS
Tasty Tradition Award
- 1st Place: MESSINA HOF HARVEST GREEN WINERY & KITCHEN – Stuffed mushrooms
Mushrooms stuffed with goat cheese, mascarpone, ricotta and Gruyere cheese
- 2nd Place: CULTIVATED F+B – Raspberry white chocolate & vanilla Verrine
Trailblazer Appetizer Award
- 1st Place: PIER 6 SEAFOOD – Wood grilled coconut shrimp
- 2nd Place: GOODE CO. – Campechana
- 3rd Place: LORO – Curried brisket rice
Lone Star Entrée Award
- 1st Place: RAISING CANE’S – Chicken fingers on garlic butter Texas toast with Cane’s sauce
- 2nd Place: THE CAPITAL GRILLE – Kona crusted dry aged sirloin finished with a shallot butter sauce and au gratin potatoes
- 3rd Place: GRAZIA ITALIAN KITCHEN – R-C Ranch smoked wagyu chuck eye pancetta risotto topped with a blueberry, rosemary garlic port reduction
Two-Steppin’ Dessert Award
- 1st Place: EGGHAUS GOURMET – Strawberry Tres leches croissant
- 2nd Place: 1848 HANDCRAFTED HERITAGE ICE CREAM – Buckshot
Caramel stracciatella with praline ethiope and whiskey caramel swirl
- 3rd Place: GUZEL CAKES – Perfect Love
Vanilla pudding cake with strawberry cheesecake
Rookie Award
- MONEY CAT – BistecBao
Filipeno inspired bao with braised beef chuck, calamansi aoili, pickled red onion, cilantro and chicharron
During the event, nearly 450 award-winning wines from the 2024 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition were paired with gourmet dishes. The 21st annual wine competition featured 2,985 entries from 22 countries. In addition, 539 entries came from Texas wineries and the 2024 featured region, Chile, had 161 entries.
The 2024 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition champions included:
- Grand Champion Best of Show – Beau Joie Brut Champagne AOC, NV
- Reserve Grand Champion Best of Show – Smith-Madrone Riesling, Spring Mountain District, 2018
- Top Texas Wine – Meierstone Vineyards The Airship Red, Texas High Plains, 2021
- Top Red Wine – Marchesi di Barolo DOCG, 2018
- Top White Wine – Perissos Vineyards and Winery Winemaker’s Reserve Pape Blanc, Texas High Plains, 2022
- Top Sparkling Wine – Champagne Telmont Reserve Brut Champagne AOC, NV
- Top Dessert Wine – Quady Winery Essensia Orange Muscat, California, 2020
- Top Region Wine – TerraNoble CA1 Andes Carmenere, D.O. Colchagua Valley, 2020
- Top Value Wine – Animus Vinho Verde DOC, 2022
- Top Wine Company – E&J Gallo Winery
- Top Region Wine Company – Winebow Imports
- Top All-Around Winery – Nice Winery
- Top Texas Winery – Kiepersol
Award-winning wines from the annual competition will be auctioned at the Rodeo Uncorked! Champion Wine Auction & Dinner on Sunday, Feb. 25.
A selection 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, Feb. 27 – March 17. 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. 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/WineGarden.
About the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
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 $600 million to the youth of Texas and education. The 2024 Rodeo is scheduled for Feb. 27 – March 17. The 2024 World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, presented by Cotton Holdings, is scheduled for Feb. 22 – 24. For more information, visit rodeohouston.com and follow @RODEOHOUSTON online via Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram and YouTube for all the latest news.