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Pappas Bros. Steakhouse’s Jason Huerta wins title

of ‘Texas’ Best Sommelier’

6th-Annual TexSom Conference draws record crowds from across nation

Irving, Texas (August 16, 2010) –– Dallas’ own Jason Huerta has

indisputable bragging rights for the next year. This tenacious wine steward

from Pappas Bros. Steakhouse outperformed twenty other wine professionals

in a rigorous three-part wine examination involving service, blind tasting

and theory.  An elite panel of Master Sommelier judges selected him as

Texas’ Best Sommelier 2010 at a ceremony on Monday evening.

Held on August 15 at the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Las Colinas, the

competition is a key part of TexSom, an annual wine-education conference.

Presented by the not-for-profit organizations the Texas Sommelier

Association and the Wine and Food Foundation of Texas, TexSom is the only

event of its kind in the United States.  Since its inception in 2005, it

has attracted more than 1,800 wine professionals from across the United

States, and more than 140 Texas sommeliers have competed.  The speakers and

judges constitute a who’s who list of the nation’s top wine professionals:

Master Sommeliers (MS), Certified Wine Educators (CWE), one Master of Wine

(MW) and other respected wine educators.

In addition to laying claim to the title of “Texas’ Best Sommelier,” Huerta

received a scholarship of $2,500 and round-trip airfare from the Guild of

Sommeliers Education Foundation to be used for a Court of Master Sommeliers

certification program.  Upon accepting  the award,  Huerta expressed

appreciation for his mentors, the conference organizers and his

competitors.  “This is unbelievable,”  Huerta said.   “Thank you for making

this event happen and for challenging me.”

Jack Mason from Mark’s American Cuisine in Houston landed second place and

a $1,500 scholarship. Steve Murphey of Mid-State Wine  received third place

and a $1,000 scholarship.

Students traveled from as far away as Oregon and Georgia to attend the

classes, according to Master Sommelier Drew Hendricks, one of the

conference’s founders.  “Every year our conference and competition get more

diverse,” Drew says.  “Although we created this event to serve our local

community, we now serve as a model for  sommeliers worldwide, and the

potential is amazing.  I can’t say enough about all the new faces and the

future of our industry.”

At the awards ceremony, conference co-founder James Tidwell announced a

newly forged partnership between the Texas Sommelier Association and the

Dallas Morning News Wine Competition, as well as the dates for next year’s

event:  August 14 and 15, 2011.  The Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at

Las Colinas will host the group again next year.

Highlights of this year’s lineup including courses and tastings with Fred

Dame MS, President of the Guild of Sommeliers Education Foundation; Guy

Stout MS, Education Director for Glazer’s Distributors; and Charles Curtis

MW, Head of Wine Sales for Christie’s– North America.  The conference also

brought in high-profile educators such as Serafin Alvarado MS; Wayne

Belding MS; John Blazon MS;  Laura DePasquale MS; Jay Fletcher MS; Keith

Goldston MS; Greg Harrington MS; Jay James MS; Geoff Kruth MS; Sally Mohr

MS; Barbara Werley MS; and Laura Williamson MS.  Many of these instructors

also participated as judges in the competition.

The Texaco Conference Background

TexSom and the Texas’ Best Sommelier Competition were founded by James

Tidwell MS, CWE, Sommelier at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at

Las Colinas; and Drew Hendricks MS, CWE, Director of Beverage Education for

Pappas Restaurants in Houston.

The event is made possible by the generous support of many sponsors, with

scholarships provided by the Guild of Sommeliers Education Foundation.

Co-Presenter for the public portions of the program is the Wine and Food

Foundaiton of Texas. Sponsors include:  (Platinum-level) Four Seasons

Resort Dallas and Club at Las Colinas, Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, Republic

National Distributing Company, Stewart Cellars and Slingshot Wines,

Structure Born; (Gold-level) Aqua Panna/San Pellegrino, Riedel, and ETS

Laboratories; (Silver level), Banfi Vintners, Old Bridge Cellars, Broadbent

Selections, the Guild of Sommeliers Education Foundation,  Whole Foods

Market, Wines of Chile, Pioneer Wine Company, Treasury Wine Estates, Avante

Beverages, The Rathbone Wine Group, and Moet-Hennessy USA.   For more

information, visit www.texsom.com.

The Texas Sommelier Association Background

The Texas Sommelier Association is a trade association comprised of Texas

wine professionals. The Association promotes professional wine service

standards, outlines paths for further wine education and certification, and

raises public awareness about the professional standards and certifications

for sommeliers. The organization sponsors the “Texas’ Best Sommelier”

competition, with the winner being awarded scholarships for professional

certification courses.  This competition is held behind the scenes during

the TexSom conference.  For more information, visit www.texsom.com.

The Wine and Food Foundation of Texas Background

The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas was established to connect its members

and the general public with the value, creativity and craftsmanship

inherently present in the culinary and viticulture arts. This mission is

fulfilled by funding grants, scholarships and research aimed at elevating

the quality, awareness and enjoyment of good food and fine wine as well as

hosting education and social events that enhance the quality of life for

members and communities. These programs offer unique opportunities to

enrich the minds and palates of guests, who in turn can relate their

experience with friends sharing common interests.  For more information,

visit www.winefoodfoundation.org.