Houston’s top somms selected three wines that focused on a particular wine region, grape, theme or style and presented the wines to guests who compared and tasted from each contender at the walk-around event. Once guests had tasted all the wines, they placed their ballot — a cork, fittingly enough — in the bucket for the sommelier whose wine they liked best.
While guests walked around during the Grand Tasting, each sommelier stepped away from his or her booth for a moment to present their wines to the panel of judges who would decide the 2014 Iron Sommelier winner. Two runners-ups were also awarded, and the sommelier with the most corks in their bucket at the end of the night took home The People’s Choice award. Through underwriting, big board auction items, the evening’s Making A Mark Children’s Art Sale and ticket sales, more than $230,000 was raised for The Periwinkle Foundation.
Here are the winners from last night’s event:
2014 Iron Sommelier: Steven McDonald, Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
First Runner-Up: Christian Varas, River Oaks Country Club
Second Runner-Up: Evan Turner, Table on Post Oak
Best Presentation: Vanessa Treviño Boyd, 60 Degrees Mastercrafted
The People’s Choice Award: Sam Governale, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
The competing sommeliers included:
Vanessa Treviño Boyd, 60 Degrees Mastercrafted
Adele Corrigan, 13 Celsius Wine Bar
Marcus Gausepohl, Ibiza Food & Wine Bar
Sam Governale, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Travis Hinkle, Treadsack Restaurant Group
Kevin Kenyon, The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa
Kelly McCloud, Camerata at Paulie’s
Steven McDonald, Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
Cathy Nguyen, Mark’s American Cuisine
Freddy Opperman, Carrabba’s on Kirby
Evan Turner, Table on Post Oak
Christian Varas, River Oaks Country Club
James Watkins, Cordúa Restaurants