The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo has officially returned for the season! Ahead of its return, numerous Rodeo pre-festivities activated open the weekend including the Trail Rides, Downtown Rodeo Parade, and World Championship Bar-B-Que contest.
The Champion Wine Auction and Dinner also occurred over the weekend, drawing in all sorts of wine enthusiasts with deep pockets. One such guest was Houston-based rapper, 50 Cent – real name Curtis Jackson, who dropped an astounding $225,000 on a bottle of wine.
Held at the NRG Center this past Sunday, the Champion Wine Auction Dinner is a prestigious annual event as a part of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo’s Rodeo Uncorked! series. Here, 518 award-winning wines from Uncorked! International Wine Competition were auctioned off along with 2,358 wines from Texas and global brand wines.
The highest priced wine featured at the auction was the Markham Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2021. Coming in as the 2025 Reserve Grand Champion Best of Show, 50 Cent along with the J Alan Kent Development including Alan and Julie Kent, Ray and Randa Gilliam, Scott and Andrea Fish – purchased the bid a total of $225,000 for the bottle.
This wasn’t the only bottle to sell for top dollar. The Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut Champagne AOC, NV – the 2025 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition Grand Champion Best of Show – sold for $200K.
The event also featured a four-course, white-glove dinner as well as a silent auction which featured such luxuries as a coastal Spanish lodging, South African Plains Hunt, New Zealand Red Stag Hunt, a Caviar and Champagne Tasting, all up for auction.
The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo officially kicks off today, running from March 4 to March 23. When running, Rodeo ticket holders can drop in to the Champion Wine Garden at Carruth Plaza. Reservations here are available, where patrons can enjoy award-winning wines as well as live music daily throughout Rodeo season.
See also: Here Is The Houston Rodeo Food We Are Most Excited To Eat This Year