EDITOR’S NOTE: Additional stories linking the University
of Houston and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
are available at http://www.uh.edu/media/nr/2004/02feb/022704rodeo.html.
SADDLING UP A CHARDONNAY:
WINE COMPETITION ADDS FLAVOR TO HOUSTON RODEO
UH’s Cordúa Directs First Vino Contest, Tasting Events
at 2004 HLS&R
HOUSTON, Feb. 27, 2004 – Upscale restaurants aren’t
the only places to find a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.
For the first time ever, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLS&R)
will host a wine competition, tasting event and auction in an effort
to attract new donors and participants to its annual engagement.
The idea was the brainchild of a group of wine connoisseurs, including
the University of Houston’s Glenn Cordúa, vice chairman
of the competition and director of UH’s Conrad N. Hilton College
of Hotel and Restaurant Management’s Wine and Spirits Management
Institute (W&SMI).
“It seemed natural to look for new donors, new members and
new participants that are interested in the beverage world,”
Cordúa said. “The beverage world has a strong relationship
to farming. Foods and wines go well together.”
Cordúa considers himself very fortunate to be involved in
this first-time attraction. The wine competition is the first new
auction to be held at the rodeo in more than 10 years.
“Texas has a growing wine industry, and it’s a great
time to prove that Texas wines can compete with wines from around
the world,” said John Sykes, assistant general manager of
HLS&R. “Best of all, this event will bring new dollars
to support our mission of benefiting youth and supporting education.”
Nearly 900 wines from more than 200 wineries around the world were
submitted for the competition, which took place in December. Sponsors
of W&SMI including E.&J. Gallo Winery, Diageo and Brown-Forman
also participated in the competition.
Entries in each class competed for Champion, Reserve Champion and
blue, red and yellow ribbon prizes. Champion and Reserve Champions
in each class then competed for highest honors — Grand Champion
and Reserve Grand Champion of the show. The rodeo also awarded a
“Best Wine of Texas” award and a “Best All-Around
Winner” award, and “Committeemen’s Commendation”
awards were presented to recognized wines of merit.
Judging was organized by Cordúa and included members of
the wine and restaurant industry, judges in previous wine competitions
and consumer groups. Winners will be announced at a special wine-tasting
event, Rodeo Uncorked!, March 1 at Reliant Park.
On March 4, the public is invited to bid on the award-winning wines
at the HLS&R Wine Auction. Wines on the auction block will include
the Grand Champion, Reserve Grand Champion and Best of Texas wines,
which were bottled in specially crafted oversized bottles commemorating
the inaugural rodeo event.
With this year’s overwhelming success, Cordúa expects
the wine competition to become a rodeo favorite for years to come.
“I think we’re on track to be one of the most successful
attractions at the rodeo,” said Cordúa, who is a first-time
volunteer with HLS&R. “We are really trying to work with
the rodeo to create scholarships that go to students who plan to
go into the wine industry, either in production, service or distribution.
It’s a work in progress.”
For more information about UH visit the universitys Newsroom at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.
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