The Periwinkle Foundation will host Houston’s premier wine tasting and sommelier competition, the Iron Sommelier, on Thursday, November 20 at The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston, presented by Chord Energy. The event will feature the city’s finest sommeliers competing for the coveted Iron Sommelier title.

The fundraiser benefits The Periwinkle Foundation’s programs for pediatric cancer patients at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center. Guests will have the opportunity to sample exceptional wines in a private setting while engaging with competing sommeliers. Each sommelier will select three wines highlighting a particular region, grape, or style, presenting them personally while conversing with attendees. A panel of judges will evaluate the sommeliers on wine selection, presentation, creativity, and knowledge.

In addition to the tasting competition, guests can participate in a wine pull, auction, raffle, and children’s art sale, and they will have the chance to vote for the People’s Choice Award.

Competing sommeliers in the 2025 Iron Sommelier competition include Harold Houpt of 13 Celsius Wine Bar, Kelly Rau of AOC Selections & The Texas Wine School, Marcus Gausepohl of Brennan’s Houston, Arlon Scott Crosthwait of Camerata, John Mason of The Coronado Club, Jeff Gregory of 55 Seventy, Matthew McLaughlin of Guard and Grace, Brennan Harmeier of The Library Wine Bar, Coleman Mason of The Marigold Club, Meg Van Til of Mastro’s Steakhouse, Travis Walker of Padres Wine Company, Zach Newman of Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, Sebastian Piedra of Vinology Bottle Shop + Tasting Bar, and Riccardo Guerrieri of VinSanto Wine Bar.

The event will be held at The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston, 1600 West Loop South, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Individual tickets are $250 and can be purchased at www.ironsommelier.org/tickets. Underwriting opportunities are available at Grand Cru ($5,000) and Aficionado ($1,000) levels, and sponsorship options include Anniversary Reserve ($15,000), Premier Grand Cru ($10,000), and Connoisseur ($2,500) levels. Master Sommeliers and former Iron Sommelier champions will showcase rare, hand-selected wines alongside a four-course dinner menu. More information can be found at www.ironsommelier.org/underwrite-sponsor.

For additional event details, visit www.ironsommelier.org or www.periwinklefoundation.org, or contact Alice Rohrman at arohrman@periwinklefoundation.org.