By Linda Fasteson

Bucking broncos, bareback riding, steer wrestling, and mechanical bulls may seem an unlikely pairing with fine wines.

For the fourth straight year it was a winning combination at the Houston Livestock and Rodeo International Wine Competition's two great public food and wine events. In the spirit of Texas, the state's wineries took on the world's biggest and best.

GREAT TASTES

The Fourth Annual Texas Uncorked! Roundup and Competition on February 26 at the Reliant Astrodome was an unveiling and tasting of all Champion, Reserve Champion, and Double Gold medal-winning wines. It was also Best Bites, a tasting competition with over 50 participating Houston area restaurants, caterers, culinary schools and hotels. Attendees used tokens to vote for their favorite culinary creations. At the end of the evening, the award-winning wines were announced.

In true Texas style, top winners -- Grand Champion Best of Show, Reserve Grand Champion Best of Show, Top Wine of Texas, Top Value Wine, and Top All-Around Winery are awarded a prestigious Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo hand-tooled trophy saddle. Winners of other categories are given chaps and belt buckles.

The event drew 1580 entries from 443 wineries in 16 countries throughout the world. "We're extremely proud of this outstanding performance by Texas wines against very impressive competition," said Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples. "Once again, the awards affirm for consumers that premium-quality, world-class wines are being made right here in Texas." Twenty-four Texas wines received top awards.

For the fourth straight year, Messina Hof Winery has won the Top Texas Wine Award, this year for their Sweet Riesling Late Harvest Angel 2005, a Double Gold Champion and Texas Gold Champion.

For more information about 2007 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo International Wine Competition winners go to www.rodeohouston.com/et/wse/we_ww.aspx

AUCTION

The Champion Wine Auction and Dinner, held March 3, is a reception and pairing of the champion wines with dinner prior to bidding for specially prepared oversized gold-etched bottles of the award-winning wines from the competition. It has become so popular that tickets sell out nearly a year in advance.

One of the country's highest-earning wine auctions, a bottle of the 2004 Grand Champion Raymond Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon sold for a record $200,000 in 2006, and annual earnings now top $1 million. As part of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, proceeds benefit youth and education and better agricultural practices. In the fall of 2006, 1,935 students were enrolled in 92 Texas colleges and universities on direct Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Scholarships.

The Lone Star state shines bright in the wine industry and is one of the fastest growing wine regions in the world. Texas is the fifth largest wine-producing state in the USA. There are now more than 120 wineries in operation, and Texas wines have won win medals in both national and international competitions.

RODEO


This year marks the 75^th Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, www.rodeohouston.com, held

February 27-March 18, and the the 50^th anniversary of educational programs. It has been named "The Year of the Volunteer". About 18,000 volunteers on 90 committees share their time, talents and resources, donating an average of 67.7 hours of service each, allowing the event's proceeds to be directed to the show's mission.

Begun in 1932 to improve and develop the cattle industry, the objectives of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has been expanded to include support for agricultural improvement with exhibitions and presentations, promotion of education through scholarships and programs, preservation of the area's rich Western heritage, and fun and affordable family-friendly entertainment.

Since the first scholarship was given in 1957 over $100 million has been committed to educational support to over 20,000 students through scholarships, teacher training, and the arts program. To boot, it's a top entertainment event with high spirited fun.

The stars at night, are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas...

It all opened with a grand parade and lively rodeocompetitions, followed by a standing room only performance by George Strait, his 20^th Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo performance. Included, of course, was his recent #1 hit, Give It Away. Other performers this year include Reba McEntire, Natalie Cole, Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana, and Beyoncé. Gene Autry was the first celebrity entertainer, in 1942. Elvis Presley starred in 1970.

Rodeo Houston has it all--bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping, and tie-down roping. It's twenty days of events and attractions-chuck wagon races, a carnival, live animal exhibits of just about every kind of livestock, a mechanical bull, pig races, barbeque competition, and a shoppers paradise of Western goods, to name a few.

And of course, it's Texas-sized fun: