Matthew McLaughlin from Guard & Grace is Houston’s 2024 Iron Sommelier. The annual competition took place at The Post Oak Hotel on November 7.

McLaughlin was one of 14 sommeliers from the city’s bars and restaurants who competed in the event, which benefits The Periwinkle Foundation, a nonprofit providing support and programming for children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. The organization offers emotionally-healing camps, arts, and survivor programs. Iron Sommelier, which has become one of Houston’s premier sommelier competitions and wine-tasting events, was sponsored by AUTOSOL® and raised more than $410,000.

Each sommelier picked three wines centered around a specific region, grape, or style. Judges evaluated the wines on selection, presentation, originality, and expertise. Colin Eddy of Hyland Estates and NW Wine Company, Paul Hobbs of Paul Hobbs Wineries, Lauren Holbrook of Della Terra Wines, and Gabe Howe of CDV 713 judged the event.

McLaughlin’s presentation, Rhône If You Want To: Rhône Around The World showcased Rhone-style grapes, such as Cinsault, Syrah, and Grenache, grown in places other than France’s Rhone Valley. He poured the 2022 Pedro Parra “Trane” Cinsault from Chile, the 2021 Thistledown “The Vagabond” Old Vine Grenache from Australia’s McLaren Vale, and the 2021 Reyvaan “Stonessence” Syrah from Walla Walla, Washington.

For the 600 guests in attendance, the evening provided an opportunity both to taste a variety of wines and to learn from the participating sommeliers about what makes them special. Alvin Pham, who took home Second Runner Up and Best Wine awards, decked out his booth in an homage to the defunct video chain Blockbuster, complete with movie snacks like Gummy Bears and Bit-O-Honey. His theme, Be Kind and Re-wine: Abandoned Vineyards and Wineries Restoring Them, recognized sustainable winemaking. His selections included the 2022 Andis Old Vine Zinfandel.

“The vineyard was planted in the 1800s, during the Gold Rush,” he tells CultureMap. “Now, the winemakers have replenished and renewed it, and they’re planting Zinfandel, just like in the 1800s.”

Both Brennan Harmeier of The Library Wine Bar and Sarah Brenner of Vinology Bottle Shop + Tasting Bar made Champagne the focus of their presentations. Under the theme POP Culture Icons: Celebrating Iconic Styles of Bubbles, Brenner poured the Cellar Jan Vidal “Vita Vivet” Cava Brut NV, the Adami “Bosso di Gica” Brut Valobbiadene DOCG, and Philipponnat Royal Reserve Brut Champagne. Harmier came away with The People’s Choice Award for his Let’s Get Fizz-ical: a Rosé Champagne meets workout theme.

“I feel rose gets a bad rap,” Harmier says. “It gets seen as this ‘rose all day’ fad or it’s seen as girly. But great rose Champagne has been around for 200 years.”

Other awards are:

1st Runner Up
Kelly Rau, AOC Selections & The Texas Wine School with a theme of Grüner or Later: Austria’s Greatest Grape

2nd Runner Up
Alvin Pham, Andiron with Be Kind and Re-wine: Abandoned Vineyards and Wineries Restoring Them

People’s Choice
Brennan Harmeier, The Library Wine Bar with a theme of Let’s Get Fizz-ical: a Rosé Champagne Workout

Best Wine
Alvin Pham, Andiron for the 2019 Cliff Lede Beckstoffer To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard

Best Theme
John Mason, The Coronado Club for Break It Down Now: The Wines of Australia

The evening’s other Iron Sommelier competitions included Harold Houpt, 13 Celsius Wine Bar; Kate Severson, Houston Oaks Country Club & Retreat; Lucas Bowes, March; Davis Allen Wood, Mastro’s Steakhouse; Travis Walker, Padre’s Wine; Jason Barnett, Pappas Bros. Steakhouse; Dennis Vawter, River Oaks Country Club; and Sarah Brenner, Vinology Bottle Shop + Tasting Bar.

World-renowned winemaker Paul Hobbs also served as a guest judge. His 2020 Hillick & Hobbs Dry Riesling from Seneca Lake, New York was one of the wines served at a multi-course dinner in the Underwriter Room. Other selections from his winery were available for tasking at a sampling station in the hotel's entry foyer.

And four master sommeliers offered a selection of rare, high-end wines to underwriters in the exclusive Masters Tasting Room.

In addition to sampling wines, attendees bid on several auction packages, including a four-night getaway to the wine country of Gigondas in southern France, featuring VIP tastings; personalized wine and dining experiences at iconic Houston restaurants such as Brennan's and Bludorn; a curated 40-50 bottle personalized wine cellar, plus a 10-bottle collection of artisan agave, gin, rum, and whiskey, selected by sommelier Sean Beck; and exclusive food and wine experiences with master sommeliers, including former Iron Sommelier champion Julie Dalton of The Post Oak.

Other items up for bid included artwork by pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s and Hematology Center through the Periwinkle Arts in Medicine program.

Among the guests were Melinda and Matt Mogas, Sherry and Connard Barker, Sherri and Chris Boatwright, Lindsey Brown and Chris Shepherd, Erin Hicks and Bryan Caswell, Laura and Jeff Kaplan, Cathy Easter, Michael Garfield, Gary Moss, Monique Pappas, Cia Pappas, Joy and Mike Rayburn, Judy and Chris Simon, and Jennifer Vallone and Doug Klesel.

Photo by Dave Rossman

Sommelier Chair Lara Lack, Iron Sommelier winner Matthew McLaughlin, and Event Chair Sean Beck.