A significant part of what makes a restaurant successful is the charming, passionate and intelligent wine professional — the sommelier, the somm, the wine guy, the wine geek — who helps diners select the right wine to bring out the best in their meal.

On Thursday, September 26, several of Houston’s wine pros will compete for the title of Iron Sommelier at the Houstonian Hotel (111 N. Post Oak Lane). The competition, which benefits the non-profit Periwinkle Foundation, has become Houston’s signature wine event.

This event is a little different for the local food world. Usually it’s all about the chefs. And chefs do continue to be the rock stars of the restaurant world, the band’s “lead singer,” if you will. Meanwhile, sommeliers are left to serve as the bass player, stationed on the side and back of the stage. They may not provide as much of the sizzle, but you can’t perform a fantastic song without them. It’s a subtle craft that often requires them to set aside their personal tastes and opinions and seek out wines that will make their guests happy. At Iron Sommelier, sommeliers are released from these confines and get the chance to show Houston what the music sounds like when they rule the stage.

The 2013 list of challengers is a who’s-who of local wine professionals, each pouring three wine selections with a theme:

  • Ron Brandani, Carrabba’s (Kirby) — Island Wines of Italy
  • Adele Corrigan, 13 Celsius Wine Bar — Australian Renaissance
  • Sam Governale, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar — Italian Terroir, from North to South
  • Travis Hinkle, The Pass & Provisions — Rioja: Past and Present
  • Kevin Kenyon,The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa — Rocking Rieslings
  • Kelly McCloud, Camerata at Paulie’s — A Slippery Slope: Great Examples of Hillside Wines
  • Steven McDonald, Pappas Bros. Steakhouse — Modern Spain
  • Cathy Nguyen, Mark’s American Cuisine — Tall, White and Slender: lean white wines with high acidity
  • Ben Roberts, Masraff’s — Grapes and the Wines They Make
  • Jason Sherman, Brennan’s of Houston — Concrete Fermentation
  • Evan Turner, Helen: Greek Food & Wine — Summer Lovers: Wines of Santorini
  • Christian Varas, River Oaks Country Club — Syrocks: Great Examples of Syrah from the Rockiest Soils
  • James Watkins, Cordúa Restaurants — Ancient Grenach

Co-chairing the event is a familiar name to Houston wine lovers. Sean Beck, sommelier for Backstreet Cafe, Hugo’s and the up-coming Caracol Restaurant, retired after winning the Iron Sommelier title three times. He’s recruited some of Texas greatest wine professionals to help out at the event, including master sommelier Guy Stout (Glazer’s Distributing), master sommelier Devon Broglie (Whole Foods), Antonio Gianola (Houston Wine Merchant), Jonathan Honefenger (Richard’s Fine Wines) and advanced sommelier Vilma Mazaite (La V Restaurant, soon to open in Austin).

i-TwtKs2D-LGuests will have the opportunity to taste dozens of wines and interact with the city’s talented wine gurus. (Yes, there will be bites to nosh on, too.) Judges will be considering the competitors based on their on their product knowledge, floor skills and overall quality of wine selections. Proceeds of the event support the Periwinkle Foundation, a Houston-based charity that develops and provides programs to positively change the lives of children, young adults and families who are challenged by cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

Single tickets for the event are $150.  Underwriter packages are available as well and include a case of wine selected by Ben Roberts, 2012 Iron Sommelier winner. A panel of judges will crown the Iron Sommelier, but attendees get to vote for the People’s Choice for Best Sommelier. For more information, click here or call 713-807-0191.