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 dishes from Houston-area culinary institutions with winning wines from the 2019 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition. A total of 118 of the area’s top restaurants competed in this year’s event.
2019 BEST BITES WINNERS:
Outstanding Showmanship Award
- Grand Champion: Brothers Produce
- Reserve Grand Champion: Cupcake Kitchen
People’s Choice Award
- Grand Champion: Grazia Italian Kitchen – Wagyu Ribeye Burnt Ends over Sharp Cheddar Stone-ground Grits
- Reserve Grand Champion: Killen’s BBQ – Pork Belly Burnt Ends
Tasty Tradition Award
- Grand Champion: Trentino Gelato – Dulce de Leche Gelato Pop
- Reserve Grand Champion: Black Walnut Café – Carnitas Tacos
Trailblazing Appetizer Award
- Grand Champion: Broken Barrel – Crispy Plantain with Pulled Pork
- Reserve Grand Champion: Uchi Houston – Kiwi Salmon
- Third Place: The Art Institute of Houston – Smoked Buffalo Street Taco
Lone Star Entrée Award
- Grand Champion: Ouisie’s Table – Short Rib Tacos with Poblano
- Reserve Grand Champion: Merlion – Ribeye Kang Kari (Yellow Curry)
- Third Place: Sonoma Wine Bar & Restaurant – 44 Farms Red Wine 7-hour Braised Short Rib with Herbed Mashed Potato & Heirloom Carrots
Two-Steppin’ Dessert Award
- Grand Champion: AshleyCakes – “Royal” Mini Cake Shot
- Reserve Grand Champion: Red Dessert Dive – Bourbon Caramel Cupcake
- Third Place: Seasons 52 – Belgian Chocolate S’more
Rookie Award
- CULTIVATED F+B – Guajillo Short Rib Taco
Trail Boss Food Truck Award
- Grand Champion: Bayou City Eats – Seared Shrimp with Herbed Grits
During the event, each dish could be paired with one of nearly 500 champion wines from the 2019 International Wine Competition. This year, the International Wine Competition included 3,156 entries from 18 countries. Texas wineries represented 413 entries, and 370 entries came from this year’s featured region, California’s Central Coast.
2019 RODEO UNCORKED! INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION CHAMPION WINES:
- Grand Champion Best of Show – Graham Beck Brut Rosé, Robertson NV
- Reserve Grand Champion Best of Show – Bodegas Muriel Reserva, Rioja DOCa, 2013
- Top Texas Wine – McPherson Les Copains White, Texas, 2017
- Top Sparkling Wine – Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noir Brut, Carneros, NV
- Top White Wine – Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay, Carneros, 2017
- Top Red Wine – Chloe Wine Selections Cabernet Sauvignon, San Lucas, 2015
- Top Region Wine – Ancient Peaks Winery Renegade, Santa Margarita Ranch, 2016
- Top Dessert Wine – San Felice Belcaro Vin Santo, Chianti Classico DOCG, 2009
- Top Value Wine – Ravage Cabernet Sauvignon, California, 2016
- Top All-Around Winery – Wilson Winery
- Top Region Wine Company – J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
- Top Wine Company – Constellation Brands International
- Top Texas Winery – Haak Vineyards & Winery
The champion wines will be auctioned at the Rodeo Uncorked! Champion Wine Auction on Sunday, Feb. 24.
A select few of the champion wines will be available for purchase, by the glass and bottle, in the Champion Wine Garden, located in Carruth Plaza. The Champion Wine Garden is open throughout the Rodeo, Feb. 25 through March 17. Hours are Mondays – Thursdays, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Fridays, 4 p.m. to midnight; Saturdays, 11 a.m. to midnight; and Sundays, noon to 10 p.m.
For more information about the Rodeo Uncorked! wine events, visit rodeohouston.com/wine.