HOUSTON — The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo hasn’t even started yet, but records are already falling, according to the Rodeo.
At the Rodeo’s Uncorked! International Wine competition on Sunday, new records were set for both the Grand Champion Best of Show wine and the reserve Grand Champion.
As for the Grand Champion, that went to Beau Joi Brut Chamagne AOC, Nevada, which sold for a record $335,000 at auction Sunday at NRG Center.
The Reserve Grand Champion, a Riesling from the Spring Mountain District of Napa Valley, California, sold for $225,000 -- also a record.
In all, 471 wines were auctioned off, according to RodeoHouston.
The competition truly was a global affair, but had a distinct Texas flavor. The United States, Italy and Chile had the most of the nearly 3,000 entries. According to RodeoHouston, more than 500 entries came from Texas wineries.
The wine records were set a day after the winners of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo BBQ Cookoff winners were announced.
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