2018 Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup and Best Bites Competition

Texas Wine Lover was invited for this coverage. All opinions, experiences, and photographs are entirely our own.

The annual Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup and Best Bites Competition occurred recently on the Houston Rodeo grounds where nearly 6,000 guests enjoyed the wine and food dishes. The event featured 452 winning wines from the 2018 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition and food from 106 Houston restaurants, chefs, and caterers. New this year, five Houston area food trucks competed for the title of Trail Boss Grand Champion.

The 2018 Best Bites winners were:

Outstanding Showmanship Award

• Grand Champion – Brothers Produce
• Reserve Grand Champion – Pop Fancy

People’s Choice Award

• Grand Champion – Killen’s – Beef Ribs
• Reserve Grand Champion – Taste of Texas – Certified Angus Beef Tenderloin

Tasty Traditions Award

• Grand Champion – Ooh La La – Corn Flake Cookie
• Reserve Grand Champion – Texas de Brazil – Flank Steak with Chimichurri Sauce and Mashed Potatoes

Trailblazing Appetizer/Starter Award

• Grand Champion – Snooze an AM Eatery – Pork Belly on a Tortilla with Mango Pico de Gallo
• Reserve Grand Champion – Brennan’s – Tasso and Grit Dumpling with NOLA Barbeque Shrimp
• Third Place – EuraAsia Fusion – Pepper Tuna Crab

Lone Star Entrée Award

• Grand Champion – Killen’s – Beef Ribs
• Reserve Grand Champion – Texas de Brazil – Flank Steak with Chimichurri Sauce and Mashed Potatoes
• Third Place – Brio Tuscan Grill – Balsamic Braised Beef with Smoked Gouda, Polenta and Brussel Sprouts

Two-Steppin’ Dessert Award

• Grand Champion – Killen’s STQ – Maple Bacon Bread Pudding
• Reserve Grand Champion – Pop Fancy – Cereal Pops
• Third Place – Ooh La La – Corn Flake Cookie

Rookie Award

• Pop Fancy – Cereal Pops

Trail Boss Food Truck Award

• Breaking Bao – The Hot Jam Bao

As a reminder, the Top Texas Winery was Bending Branch Winery and their award-winning wines were being poured. The Top Texas Wine was awarded to Llano Estacado Winery for their Viviano Cabernet Sauvignon-Sangiovese and that was being poured for the enjoyment of the guests.

The 2018 International Wine Competition judging included a record 3,188 entries from 18 different countries including Argentina, Austria, Chile, France, Italy, Japan, Portugal, and South Africa. The 2018 featured region, Northern Spain received 212 entries. Texas wineries had 420 awarded entries.

We made a point to try and visit every Texas winery table where representatives were, and the photos we took are included are in the gallery. Surprisingly, there was a table for two Texas wineries who did not show for some reason. We also made a point to taste the Top Region Wine of Gran Reserva from Ramon Bilbao of Rioja, plus the Top White Wine of Riesling Spätlese from Dr. Loosen.

Champion wines will be auctioned at the Rodeo Uncorked! Champion Wine Auction and Dinner on Sunday, February 25.

Visitors to the 2018 rodeo can enjoy a selection of award-winning wines by the glass or bottle at the Rodeo Uncorked! Champion Wine Garden, located in Carruth Plaza at NRG Park. For more information on Rodeo Uncorked! Events, please visit rodeohouston.com/wine.

Enjoy the photos we took during the 2018 Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup and Best Bites Competition!