Houston’s Best Wine Battle is Back for 2022 in a New Location
Justin Vann accepts his runner-up certificate at the 2018 Iron Sommelier competition. To his left is co-chair John Clutterbuck and behind him are master sommeliers Craig Collins, Nick Hetzel and June Rodil. Photo by Phaedra Cook.
Iron Sommelier, Houston’s biggest competition among top local wine professionals, returns on Wednesday, November 9 at 6:30 p.m. As always, it’s the biggest sommelier competition in town, bringing together top industry names to raise money for The Periwinkle Foundation, a non-profit that assists kids battling serious illnesses and their families. As in past years, the Wine Chair is Sean Beck, most recently the beverage director of H Town Restaurant Group, and the Sommelier Chair is John Clutterbuck.
In past years (excluding the pandemic ones, which we’d rather forget), The Houstonian Hotel hosted Iron Sommelier, but this time, it’s at The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston, located at 1600 West Loop South.
Justin Vann of Nancy’s Hustle is the current defender of the Iron Sommelier crown — but there’s plenty of competition coming after it. Here are the other competing sommeliers:
- Zachary Newman – Bludorn
- Justyna Brewczyk – Everywine
- Andrés Blanco – Le Jardinier
- Trevor Wiedeman – MAD
- Evan Ortiz – MARCH
- Skyler Ring – Mastro’s Steakhouse
- Chris Havens – Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
- Dennis Vawter – River Oaks Country Club
- Hector Ramirez – Sonoma Wine Bar
- Adele Corrigan Wade – 13 celsius
- Anthony Garza – Trattoria Sofia
- Kelly Voelkel – Vinology and Bombetta
Each sommelier is challenged to come up with a wine theme, and then select three wines that best represent that theme. Guests get unlimited wine samples, and there are also small bites to nibble on that will help get everyone through the evening. To that end: getting a sober ride to the event and back home is highly recommended. This year, Iron Sommelier is partnering with upscale rideshare service Alto. Use code IRONSOMM for $10 off two rides.
Beyond tasting wine and enjoying small bites, other fun activities include a silent auction, wine pull, raffle and children’s art sale.
Individual tickets cost $250 each and, as of press time, are still available, as are special table and sponsor tickets.
Phaedra Cook has written about Houston’s restaurant and bar scene since 2010. She was a regular contributor to My Table magazine (now closed) and was the lead restaurant critic for the Houston Press for two years, eventually being promoted to food editor. Cook founded Houston Food Finder in November 2016 and has been its editor and publisher ever since.
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