Tonight, the 2025 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition winners were honored at the 22nd 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.
The 2025 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition Grand Champion Best of Show, Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut Champagne AOC, NV, sold for $200,000 and was purchased by Andrea Bryant, in memory of Bruce, John M. Cotterell, Cindy & WW Rowland and Curtis Clerkley.
The 2025 Reserve Grand Champion Best of Show, Markham Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2021, was purchased for $225,000 by J Alan Kent Development – Julie & Alan Kent, Randa & Ray Gilliam, Andrea & Scott Fish and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
This premier auction featured an exceptional selection of 61 lots with a total of 518 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 $25,000.
In addition to the live auction, a silent auction was held, which included a variety of luxurious lots, such as a Durango ski house, New Zealand Red Stag Hunt, South African Plains Hunt, lodging on the coast of Spain, a Caviar and Champagne Tasting, a vertical Rothschild Tasting, art, fashion and much 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 2,876 entries, 965 brands were included from around the world. The countries with the most entries were United States, Italy, France, and Argentina. Of the total, 558 entries came from Texas wineries and 314 entries came from the 2025 featured region, Napa County.
For more information on the Rodeo Uncorked! visit rodeohouston.com/wine.
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 2025 Rodeo is scheduled for March 4 – 23. The 2025 World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, presented by Cotton Holdings, is scheduled for Feb. 27 – March 1. For more information, visit rodeohouston.com, the RODEOHOUSTON app and follow @RODEOHOUSTON online via Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram and YouTube for all the latest news.