Our Man in the Suite: Rubbing Elbows at Saturday’s Cowboys Game

While the Dallas Cowboys were breaking records on the field during the Playoff game, an entirely different crowd spent the game sipping Cabernet and rubbing elbows at Dee Lincoln’s Tasting Room & Bubble Bar.

Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones and Ricky Comardelle at Cowboys Stadium

Del Frisco’s Co-Founder Dee Lincoln, her partners Ricky Comardelle and Legends CEO Mike Rawlings were mingling at their high-end wine bar at Cowboys Stadium. Their staff was pouring wine, shaking martinis and popping champagne bottles as fast as Romo was throwing stellar passes.

Others were in serious discussions with the famed winemakers and winery owners who had flown in from Napa Valley to personally pour wines for Tasting Room wine lovers. Oscar Renteria’s family has been a steward of many of Napa Valley’s finest and most historic vineyards since the ’60s. Doug Shafer (Shafer Vineyards and son of legendary John Shafer) runs Shafer’s family-owned, award winning winery located in Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District. Both were educating without a break.

Pictured left to right: Ricky Comardelle, Pat Smith, Emmitt Smith, Dee Lincoln and Dex Comardelle at Dee Lincoln's Tasting Room & Bubble Bar at Cowboys Stadium

All-Time NFL rushing leader & Dancing With The Stars Champion Emmitt Smith and his wife Pat showed up.

I heard Dee Lincoln in her famous Cajun fast-talking drawl screaming over the crowd, “Hey babe, what’s your favorite?” as she demonstrated her wine machine to Emmitt. Within seconds, she handed a glass of Caymus Reserve to toast Emmitt and Pat. Emmitt Smith is one of 17 finalists for the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction.

Who else was there? Hospitality industry icons lke FreshPoint CEO Lucian LaBarba, Randy DeWitt, Dean Fearing, David Campisi, and Mel LaMane celebrating with Uptown real estate expert Jack Gosnell, Oilman Bob Black with his wife Mary, powerhouse attorney Larry Friedman and his wife Janelle, media icons CBS’ David Henry and Scoreboard Monthly editor Timm Matthews, to name a few. Oilman Spencer Edwards with wife Holly celebrated Spencer’s birthday with a Jeroboam of Veuve Clicquot.

Dee Lincoln showed off her wine menu to Annette and Harold Simmons. Super model Diane Johnston, a regular Tasting Room VIP, chatted with Kit Sawers, Vice President of Special Events, for the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee about the millions raised through an upcoming concert series that will feature Sting and Faith Hill. Diane’s husband, national sports analyst and former Cowboys fullback Daryl Johnston turned heads, as did former Dallas Cowboys Leon Lett and Preston Pearson with his companion Janie Tilford.

Wierd, but Dee Lincoln’s Tasting Room & Bubble Bar seems to have become a business networking playground, where big deals are being closed before the game and during half time breaks. Is a second Dee Lincoln’s Tasting Room & Bubble Bar on the other side of the stadium far behind?

Andrea Alcorn operates a public relations firm in Dallas. Her clients include Dee Lincoln and Emmitt Smith.