Introduction to the Houston Rodeo’s International Wine Competition
The Houston Rodeo is a highly anticipated event that takes place every year, offering a wide range of activities, including mutton bustin’, concerts, and carnival rides. However, behind the scenes, a significant event takes place before the official Rodeo season begins – the Houston Rodeo’s International Wine Competition. This competition is crucial in highlighting the importance of agricultural aspects of wine production in Texas while raising scholarship funds.
History and Evolution of the Competition
The competition, now in its 23rd year, received over 3,000 entries from various winemakers, with around a third of them coming from outside the US. This year’s competition introduced a non-alcoholic category, inspired by recent sober-curious trends and an uptick in non-alcoholic wine entries. The committee, which comprises five specialized sectors and includes over 2,000 people, has evolved significantly since its inception in 2003. The initiative began with fewer than 200 people and operated like a livestock auction, during which entries are judged and then auctioned off.
Preparation and Execution of the Competition
Starting in the summer, a team led by Kevin Hames, the vice chairman of entries, is responsible for building a call-to-entry with distributors and wineries. Each winery or distributor must submit five bottles, which are stored in a refrigerated warehouse. The committee members then verify that the application materials and paperwork match the wine bottles. Just before the November competition begins, bottles are transferred to the NRG Center, where they are stored in five separate back rooms at approximately 65 degrees or lower to maintain flavor profiles.
The Judging Process
The competition itself is a complex and precise process, with "neutral zones" – backroom areas off-limits to judges to prevent bias – and bottles numbered with special IDs to ensure the competition is completely blind and free of backroom deals. Before the wine reaches the judging panel, bottles are chilled in a bucket of ice for about five to six minutes. Two ounces of each wine are poured into specially designed glasses with the Rodeo’s signature "Howdy" symbol. The wine will eventually make its way to the judging zone, an area with about 20 panels of around five people each, depending on the number of wines entered.
Training and Expertise of Judges
Panelists must complete an hour-long training, which often includes mock scenarios and a pre-judging exercise requiring participants to taste, evaluate, and compare wines from the previous year. The training helps people better understand the competition and gives returning judges a chance to offer tips and tricks for newbies. The judging process itself can be surprisingly tiresome, with one panel going through around 80 wines a day, so spitting is required to avoid getting drunk on the job.
Awards and Recognition
Wines are awarded a gold, silver, or bronze title, with wines awarded gold by all panel judges receiving a "Double Gold," the competition’s highest ranking. The recognition of Texas wineries at the Rodeo’s competition has been a boon to the state’s wine industry. Carl Chargois, superintendent of the wine competition, says the annual event has helped put the Lone Star State’s grapes on the map for the international wine community; Texas wines, he says, can now keep up with some of the best, despite being a much newer player on the scene.
Impact on the Texas Wine Industry
The push for wine in Texas started out west with Sainte Genevieve Winery, which was first planted in 1981 as an experiment. The vineyard began as part of the larger American-French partnership, supported by the University of Texas System and the University Lands. It subsequently launched Texas’s infancy phase for wine, Chargois says. Since then, the Texas wine scene has matured, moving beyond what Chargois calls an "adolescent" phase, and state wineries are now invited to the table as experts to discuss best practices, soil, and how to grow under certain conditions.
Conclusion
The Houston Rodeo’s International Wine Competition is a significant event that highlights the importance of agricultural aspects of wine production in Texas while raising scholarship funds. The competition has evolved significantly over the years and has become a crucial platform for Texas wineries to showcase their products. With its rigorous judging process and expert panelists, the competition has helped put Texas wines on the map, and wine enthusiasts can look forward to trying some of the best wines at the Champion Wine Garden during the official Rodeo festivities.
