The sold-out Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup and Best Bites Competition featured award-winning wines and decadent dishes from 102 distinguished Houston restaurants, chefs, and caterers for thousands of eager guests.
The 2016 International Wine Competition judging boasted nearly 2,500 entries from approximately 20 different countries, including Chile, Croatia, France, New Zealand, and Portugal. The competition also received 181 entries from the 2016 featured region, the Pacific Northwest, which includes the wine-making regions of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and British Columbia.
Texas wineries alone represented 267 entries. As a reminder the Top Texas Wine was the Pedernales Cellars Viognier 2014. All the Texas winery winners can be found at a previous post.
The 2016 Best Bites winners are:
Outstanding Showmanship Award
Grand Champion – Davis Street at Hermann Park
Reserve Grand Champion – Squash Blossom Catering
Third Place – Houston Texans Grille
People’s Choice Award
Grand Champion – Royers Round Top Café
Reserve Grand Champion – Grazia Italian Kitchen
Tasty Traditions Award
Grand Champion – Joyce’s Seafood & Steaks
Trailblazing Appetizer/Starter Award
Grand Champion – Max’s Wine Dive: fried oysters over wonton crisp
Reserve Grand Champion – Federal Grill: truffled beef carpaccio
Third Place – Sonoma Wine Bar & Restaurant: all-natural pork-and-beef meatballs, kale, fresh mozzarella cheese, sweet tomato broth and rustic baguette
Lone Star Entrée Award
Grand Champion – Grazia Italian Kitchen: smoked beef short rib served over pancetta risotto, topped with a cilantro molasses glaze
Reserve Grand Champion – Newk’s Eatery: pimento and bacon mac and cheese
Third Place – Taste of Texas: beef tenderloin
Two-Steppin’ Dessert Award
Grand Champion – Trentino Gelato: gelato pops
Reserve Grand Champion – Joyce’s Seafood & Steaks: white chocolate bread pudding
Third Place – Mostly Chocolate & Catering: truffles
Rookie Award
Grazia Italian Kitchen
All champion wines will be auctioned at the Rodeo Uncorked! Champion Wine Auction, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016. A selection of the champion wines will be available for tasting, by the glass and bottle, throughout the run of the Show, March 1 through 20, in the Rodeo Uncorked! Champion Wine Garden, located in Carruth Plaza. Times are Monday through Thursday, 4 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 on event times, visit rodeohouston.com/Events/RodeoUncorked.
Enjoy the photos of the Texas wineries with representatives at the Best Bites along with some of the “best bites.” (Click for a gallery of larger photos)
- Fall Creek Vineyards and Spicewood Vineyards: Sergio Cuadra, Susan Aulder, Daniel Rodriguez, Ron Yates, Ed Auler
- Eden Hill Winery: Clark, Linda, and Chris Hornbaker
- Chocolate chunk and bacon cookie
- Messina Hof Winery & Resort: Merrill & Paul V. Bonarrigo
- Pleasant Hill Winery: Bob & Jeanne Cottle
- Pedernales Cellars top Texas wine saddle
- Stone House Vineyard: Gina Ross in middle
- Saddlehorn Winery: Stephen Morgan
- Wedding Oak Winery: Mike McHenry
- Lakeview Winery: Kenny & Gail Fowler
- Georgetown Winery & Thirsty Mule: Dan Marek
- Red Caboose Winery: Gary McKibben
- Griffin Meadery: Bridgett Leslie, Felix Ho
- Flat Creek Estate: Ron Naber on left
- Los Pinos Ranch and Vineyards: Gerald Jones, Arnulfo Perez, Scott Kubeczka
- Llano Estacado Winery: Bill Freidhof
- Haak Vineyards and Winery
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