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    escape to the cellar

    Tilman Fertitta's Post Oak Hotel uncorks record-shattering $3 million wine room

    Holly Beretto
    Apr 24, 2019 | 11:15 am

    One of Houston’s most luxurious hotels just got even more luxurious. Tilman Fertitta’s swank Post Oak Hotel has uncorked The Cellar, an intimate wine room ready to create bespoke experiences, exclusive social gatherings, and world-class private dining.

    The Cellar hews closely to the hotel’s raison d’etre as an upscale urban oasis. Billed as an “oenophile’s utopia,” The Cellar is poised to be the perfect venue for guests to enjoy the hotel’s record-shattering wine collection, featuring more than $3 million worth of inventory, and wines from more than 25 countries. The space houses more than 30,000 bottles with vintages dating back to the 1800s.

    Located on the hotel’s sixth floor, The Cellar might have guests mistakenly think they’re in the wine vault of a French Château or a cellar in a Tuscan Villa. Exposed brick, a cross-vault ceiling, glittering chandeliers, and dramatically backlit wine vaults highlight the space.

    The idea is to create a distinctive destination for celebrating all those special moments — from wedding rehearsal receptions to indulgent romantic dinners.

    “This will be an experience not only unique to Houston, but a top wine experience of the world,” says Jorge Gonzalez, general manager of The Post Oak Hotel. “We perfected our wine selections to offer the very best, most sought-after wineries from around the globe.”

    Sumptuous design transports guests to the wine vault of a French Château or a cellar in a Tuscan Villa. Elegant highlights range from exposed brick, a cross-vault ceiling and glittering chandeliers to dramatically backlit wine vaults, making The Cellar a distinctive destination to celebrate special moments from wedding rehearsal receptions to indulgent romantic dinners.

    “Every bottle of wine has a story to tell and every cork popped is an opportunity to create your own,” says master sommelier Keith Goldston, who brings more than 30 years of experience to curating and managing The Cellar’s wines and who, in 2001, became the 47th master sommelier in the U.S. “The Cellar at The Post Oak is your chance to drink your way through some of the greatest wine stories ever told.”

    The Cellar will offer dining events with menus skillfully selected by the hotel’s culinary team. Led by executive chef Jean Luc Royere, sophisticated menus are thoughtfully coupled with Cellar selections, ensuring every course provides a personalized experience to please the most discriminating of tastes.

    This spring, look for the launch of a “Sommelier Series” of exclusive dinners featuring epicurean experiences limited to 12 guests and hosted by the hotel’s sommelier team of Goldston and four advanced sommeliers. The team of accredited sommeliers will journey guests through some of the world’s greatest wines and wine regions, all paired with dishes expertly crafted by the hotel’s executive chefs.

    From the Grand Crus of Burgundy to the “Cult Cabs” of the Napa Valley; memorable selections and conversations will be presented throughout the series. “Sommelier Series” events include:

    • April 25: Grand Crus of Burgundy. A night exploring some of the world’s greatest wines, discovering why this region has been celebrated for its wine for thousands of years.
    • June 27: Napa versus Sonoma. A “Battle Royale” between two of California’s finest regions.
    • August 29: Journey through Italy. Often viewed by insiders as the single greatest wine producing region, experience the diversity of Italy’s Northern and Southern vines.
    • October 24: Beef and Bordeaux. The Classification of 1855 was a ranking of the best of Bordeaux, taste through the five levels of the Classification ending with a “1st Growth” and a night to remember.
    • December 12: 100 Point Dinner. Nothing but 100 point wines all night long, a great way to wrap up the year.

    ---

    To book an event or Sommelier Series dinner or private dinner, visit the Cellar’s official site.

    The lavish Cellar boasts a $3 million inventory.

    The Cellar Post Oak Hotel
    Photo courtesy of The Post Oak Hotel
    The lavish Cellar boasts a $3 million inventory.
    hotelswine
    news/restaurants-bars

    Top restaurant stories of 2025

    Major closures, celeb sightings, more top Houston restaurant news 2025

    Eric Sandler
    Dec 26, 2025 | 1:15 pm
    Austin Simmons Charolais restaurant headshot
    Courtesy of Chef Austin Simmons
    Austin Simmons is opening Charolais by Chef Austin Simmons.

    Editor’s note: Readers turn to CultureMap to stay informed on all the latest Houston restaurant news, but some stories grab more people’s attention than others. As always, closings rank highly, taking seven of the 10 places on this list. What’s notable is that the closings included both restaurants open for more than 25 years as well as a steakhouse that closed in less than two years. While the results are mostly doom-and-gloom, we found joy in one of America’s most famous former athletes surprising the diners at popular Houston restaurant — and leaving one lucky waiter a tip worth celebrating.

    Here are the 10 most-read CultureMap restaurant and bar stories of 2025.

    1. Houston chef breaks his silence on sudden exit from Woodlands restaurant. Speaking exclusively to CultureMap, chef Austin Simmons explained the reasons for his surprising departure from Tris, including a dispute with the restaurant’s owner over interior renovations. After taking some time to focus on his Chef & Rancher beef company, Simmons announced in September that he’ll open Charolais by Chef Austin Simmons in the Hughes Landing district. Scheduled to open in April, the restaurant will also have a companion butcher shop that sells meat from Chef & Rancher.

    2. Pioneering Houston Mexican restaurant will shutter after 44 years. Chef Arnaldo Richards announced his intention to close his Mexican restaurant Picos. He cited a number of factors, including a decline in business and the death of his brother Alex. Due to an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response from Houstonians, Picos extended its closing until early 2026.

    3. Houston restaurant served Beyoncé a Southern feast for her first meal in H-Town. When Beyoncé Knowles-Carter returned to Houston for two sold-out shows at NRG Stadium, she and her family turned to downtown restaurant Taste Kitchen + Bar for a Southern feast. The epic spread included jerk lamb chops with deep-fried lobster, smothered chicken with collard greens, and the restaurant’s signature chicken and waffles. Later that weekend, Taste chef-owner Don Bowie shared a photo with Jay-Z.

    4. Shaquille O'Neal leaves $1,000 tip at Houston Tex-Mex institution. The NBA Hall-of-Famer, media personality, and restaurateur dined at Ninfa’s Uptown in July. Sitting in the main dining room, he posed for pictures with both fans and the restaurant’s staff. After dining on crispy tacos, he left his server a very generous tip.

    5. James Harden's Houston restaurant locked out over $2.2 million in unpaid rent. The former Houston Rocket’s tenure as a restaurant owner came to an abrupt end in September, when the building’s landlord locked out Thirteen for non-payment of rent. Harden opened Thirteen in 2021, shortly after he left the Rockets for the Brooklyn Nets. In July, he signed a two-year, $81.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.

    6. Award-winning Houston steakhouse will close after only 2 years. Although it has achieved success and spots in the Michelin Guide with both Candente and The Pit Room, Sambrooks Hospitality couldn’t find an audience for Andiron, its live fire steakhouse in Montrose. Even after pivoting to a more affordable menu, Andiron wasn’t financially viable. New Orleans restaurateur Malachi DuPre claimed the space for Casa Kenji, a new seafood restaurant that blends Japanese and Latin influences.

    7. Surprise chef resignation shutters The Woodlands' best restaurant. Chef Austin Simmons took two spots in this year’s top 10. The sudden closure of Tris, a fine dining steakhouse that drew celebrities such as Joe Rogan, shocked the Houston community. Bari Ristorante, an Italian restaurant in River Oaks District, will open its second location in the space in early 2026.

    8. Top-rated Houston restaurant will close after 8 years in Montrose. Chef Ryan Lachaine cited the increased costs of operating a restaurant when he announced he would close Riel at the end of August. Food enthusiasts and hospitality workers flooded the restaurant for one final meal of caviar tots, pierogies, and other fan favorites. Lachaine found a new position as the executive chef of River Oaks restaurants State of Grace.

    9. Beloved Houston Italian restaurant will close after 27 years in Montrose. Surely one of this year’s saddest closures is Paulie’s, the Italian restaurant in Montrose, and its companion wine bar Camerata. Owner Paul Petronella said he was unable to agree on lease terms with the building’s landlord. Since the announcement, fans have lined up for one last meal of pastas, salads, and decorated shortbread cookies.

    10. Meet the men behind Houston's most under-the-radar Italian restaurant. In this episode of CultureMap’s “What’s Eric Eating” podcast, Mimo owners Mike Sammons and chef Fernando Rios share how working together at Da Marco became the basis of a friendship and business partnership. In addition to discussing their decision to open Mimo and how it has achieved success, the episode also includes insights from both men on Marco Wiles, the pioneering Houston chef and restaurateur behind Da Marco, Vinoteca Poscol, and the late, lamented Dolce Vita pizzeria.

    Austin Simmons Charolais restaurant headshot
    Courtesy of Chef Austin Simmons
    Austin Simmons is opening Charolais by Chef Austin Simmons.
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