Familiar faces at Iron Sommelier contest
Top Houston sommeliers preparing to wow judges at annual benefit competition
Two former champions will be back in the mix for 2018 when some of Houston’s best wine stewards convene Nov. 8 at The Houstonian Hotel & Spa for what has become H-Town’s most prestigious — and instructive — annual wine competition, the battle for the title of Iron Sommelier.
Well, I say battle. This might also be the city’s friendliest competition of all. You know how sommeliers are. They’re a band of brothers and sisters — especially on this night when their intensely creative grape-centric efforts are all for the purpose of benefiting the Periwinkle Foundation, which provides support for families dealing with cancer and other deadly diseases. The event has raised nearly $1.5 million since 2012, when the take was $150,000. Last year the evening brought in a record $290,000.
Seeking a third Iron Sommelier crown will be Christian Varas of River Oaks Country Club, who won in 2013 and 2016. Evan Turner, the 2015 winner who recently took charge of Emmaline’s wine program, is pursuing his second. His raison d’être is Greek wines, and he’ll be presenting three bottles that are speaking the loudest to him these days.
Sean Beck, wine director for chef Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught’s restaurant group and the only three-time winner to date, now helps Periwinkle stage the event.
Varas’ presentation will be “Pushing Past the 45th Parallel: A New Frontier for Fine Wine.” Each somm selects a trio of wines that focuses on a particular region, varietal or genre, then makes his or her case as to why their theme is the most compelling. Professional judges select the winner while attendees vote on the People’s Choice Award winner.
Note that the 2014 Iron Sommelier champ, Steven McDonald, the wine director for Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, recently earned Master Sommelier status. But McDonald has deferred this year to his Pappas Bros. colleague, Chris Walter. Also, Angie Chang of Backstreet Cafe, the runnerup a year ago representing Yauatcha, will be Team Ortega’s representative after her counterpart at Caracol, Andres Blanco, captured both the 2017 Iron Somm designation and the People’s Choice Award. But Blanco’s presence will still be felt. As is the tradition for the defending champion, he has put together a collection of wines — the theme is “Hidden Treasures of Modern Italy” — that can be purchased in advance for $475 for 12 bottles or $250 for six. They’ll be available at the annual Pick-up Party Nov. 15 at Balthazar Cellars.
To reserve event tickets, which are $200, or to order Blanco’s selections, go to ironsommelier.org.