NEWS RELEASE

Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax; 713/743-8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2004

Contact: Angie Joe
713/743-8153 (office)
713/617-7138 (pager)
ajoe@uh.edu

EDITOR’S NOTE: Additional stories linking the University of Houston and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
are available at http://www.uh.edu/media/nr/2004/02feb/022704rodeo.html.

SADDLING UP A CHARDONNAY: WINE COMPETITION ADDS FLAVOR TO HOUSTON RODEO
UH’s Cordúa Directs First Vino Contest, Tasting Events at 2004 HLS&R

HOUSTON, Feb. 27, 2004 – Upscale restaurants aren’t the only places to find a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.
For the first time ever, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLS&R) will host a wine competition, tasting event and auction in an effort to attract new donors and participants to its annual engagement.

The idea was the brainchild of a group of wine connoisseurs, including the University of Houston’s Glenn Cordúa, vice chairman of the competition and director of UH’s Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management’s Wine and Spirits Management Institute (W&SMI).

“It seemed natural to look for new donors, new members and new participants that are interested in the beverage world,” Cordúa said. “The beverage world has a strong relationship to farming. Foods and wines go well together.”

Cordúa considers himself very fortunate to be involved in this first-time attraction. The wine competition is the first new auction to be held at the rodeo in more than 10 years.

“Texas has a growing wine industry, and it’s a great time to prove that Texas wines can compete with wines from around the world,” said John Sykes, assistant general manager of HLS&R. “Best of all, this event will bring new dollars to support our mission of benefiting youth and supporting education.”

Nearly 900 wines from more than 200 wineries around the world were submitted for the competition, which took place in December. Sponsors of W&SMI including E.&J. Gallo Winery, Diageo and Brown-Forman also participated in the competition.

Entries in each class competed for Champion, Reserve Champion and blue, red and yellow ribbon prizes. Champion and Reserve Champions in each class then competed for highest honors — Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion of the show. The rodeo also awarded a “Best Wine of Texas” award and a “Best All-Around Winner” award, and “Committeemen’s Commendation” awards were presented to recognized wines of merit.

Judging was organized by Cordúa and included members of the wine and restaurant industry, judges in previous wine competitions and consumer groups. Winners will be announced at a special wine-tasting event, Rodeo Uncorked!, March 1 at Reliant Park.

On March 4, the public is invited to bid on the award-winning wines at the HLS&R Wine Auction. Wines on the auction block will include the Grand Champion, Reserve Grand Champion and Best of Texas wines, which were bottled in specially crafted oversized bottles commemorating the inaugural rodeo event.

With this year’s overwhelming success, Cordúa expects the wine competition to become a rodeo favorite for years to come.

“I think we’re on track to be one of the most successful attractions at the rodeo,” said Cordúa, who is a first-time volunteer with HLS&R. “We are really trying to work with the rodeo to create scholarships that go to students who plan to go into the wine industry, either in production, service or distribution. It’s a work in progress.”

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.