You Just “Tannat” Argue with the Success of Texas Tannat: Bending Branch Winery Brings in Rodeo Gold

You Just “Tannat” Argue with the Success of Texas Tannat: Bending Branch Winery Brings in Gold

Bending Branch Winery in Comfort, Texas, has won the coveted “Top Texas Wine” from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ Uncorked!® International Wine Competition. This accolade brings with it the signature saddle award for the winery’s first Hill Country estate-grown Tannat 2011.  Its Texas Tannat, Texas High Plains 2011 also received a double gold medal, earning a Reserve Class Champion award, and its Tempranillo, Newsom Vineyards 2010 earned gold.

Robert Young, Bending Branch founder and co-winemaker said,“We are so proud to win Top Texas Wine at the Houston competition, particularly for our first-ever estate Tannat. Our signature grape, Tannat, has found a sweet spot on the planet here and makes a remarkable and distinctive wine.  We couldn’t be more proud to bring home a saddle for our Tannat.”

[Bob- call me when you saddle up your horse for the photo-op!]

These prestigious awards come on the heels of earning two gold and four “Top of Class” medals at the 2014 San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Wine Competition.  Bending Branch Winery won two gold medals for its 2009 Petite Sirah Reserve, Paso Robles and 2009 Petite Sirah Port style, Paso Robles.

Earlier this year, Bending Branch won a prestigious double gold, at the 2013 San Francisco International Wine Competition.  The 2010 Bending Branch Cabernet Sauvignon, Newsom Vineyards, which received unanimous gold medals from every judge on its panel, is the first 100 percent Texas Cabernet Sauvignon to win double gold in at least 16 years.

2014 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo International Wine Competition Awards

Bending Branch will be presented with its saddle at the Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup and Best Bites Competition on Sunday, Feb. 23.  The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo 2014 Rodeo Uncorked International Wine Competition boasted 2,505 entries, including wines from 40 Texas wineries and 16 different countries.

Bending Branch wines awarded medals at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo International Wine Competition include:

• Top Texas Wine:  Bending Branch Tannat, Estate Grown, Texas Hill Country 2011
• Class Champion and Double Gold:  Bending Branch Tannat, Estate Grown, Texas Hill Country 2011
• Reserve Class Champion and Double Gold: Bending Branch Texas Tannat, Texas High Plains, 2011