Dateline Houston: 2/8/09

New Charles Creek Fans in Houston, Bill Brinton, Proprietor, Charles Creek Welcome Texas!

My trip to Houston this past weekend went into planning when our winery Charles Creek entered some wines into the Houston Rodeo and Wine Competition and Best Bites Events to pursue the below Chaps and Belt Buckles given to the Winning Wineries. This has become arguably the largest wine competition in the world with 1879 wine entries from 14 countries, 583 Wineries entered and 1000 wines got awards and the balance did not with roughtly 14% got Champion and Reserve Champion Awards. The wines are judged by leading wine professionals from the Houston area and around the country. This is one of the most fiercely competitive wine events in the United States judging from the wine entered and the quality of the panels who judge.

"2009 International Wine Competition" Chaps, Presented to the Top Winery

This tasting and competition was linked with the world famous Houston Rodeo, the World’s Largest, in its 77th Year. It has been a smash hit since then with the many attendees (4400 this year) comprised of local people and many international winemakers.

And not saying a word about the 20,000 volunteers that make this event successful would be a crime. Every one of the many volunteers was so nice, so helpful and so knowledgeable about what they were doing, it was amazing. Thanks to you all for making my stay wonderful.

I have included some shots of my volunteer worker Curtis and a few others who were also assigned to me the last time I was down in Houston. Many of these fine individuals volunteer year after year because they are committed to the causes that are supported by this event. And we are happy to support them as well.

Curtis, architect, volunteer extraordinaire, Bill Brinton, Proprietor, Charles Creek

Michael and Laurie Huffman, Laurie is one of Our Wonderful Distributors Reps in Houston with BEVCO

Ok, right out front, so what’s wine got to do with rodeo and ‘best bites’? Simple, it’s a celebration of fine wine, food, a traditional western sport and most importantly, charities. Houstonians love a way to have a party and celebrate and support community organizations that help people. That is what awards night is: A big food and wine party to raise money for fine groups. Great local music with a country and western theme, unbelievable foods from 60 of the Top Restaurants in Houston (who compete in a Peoples’ Awards Vote at the end of the Night) and of course the world class wines provided by the leading wineries of the world.

And later on, they turn really serious and auction off the finest wines from the competition for charity at a gala affair in early March where many of the winning wines large format beautifully etched bottles have gone for over $100,000. Now that is serious! And Competitive with Napa Valley’s auction. And here’s the good news for local charities in Houston, they distributed close to $14,000,000 last year.

Skip Wagoner, President HLS&R, Marla Barnard, Volunteer, Dawne Martin, Fundraising Captain, Bill Brinton, CCV

All in all, I had a great time celebrating the success of the wines we entered into the contest. Our wines won Two Top Awards: 2005 La Vista Cabernet Sauvignon won The Grand Champion Award for the Top Cabernet over $25, and our 2007 Pinot Grigio was awarded the Reserve Champion and Best of Class Award for the Pinot Grigio class. And as a memento of this success we will receive two huge silver belt buckles commemorating these awards! Gerry can’t wait to wear hers to the next Western party!

As I said at the beginning, my trip to Houston this past weekend started with my entry into the contest of our wines last October. I probably wouldn’t have entered any wines but my wife and I had had fun going down two years ago to receive a top award for our Champion Chardonnay, the Las Patolitas 2004. And we’ll be going back next year!
We enter competitions to put a value on our wines. A gut check if you will. We are committed to great wines at great prices and have largely done well with this mission. 15 Best of Class Awards, 100 Gold Medals in 6 ½ years.

Our Valued Trade Partners in Houston Visit our Booth

Contests are good for the following reasons: Usually ten experienced wine professionals taste the wines, blind. The results are accurate; no biases come out as they do from national wine reviewers such as you know who. Trust yourself and these competitions, they mean something. They are a wonderful way to buy wines and find some real diamonds in the rough.