This $25 Texas Wine Was Named America’s Top White At Rodeo Uncorked 2026

Carter Creek Winery’s Plateau White earned the Top White Wine Champion title at the 2026 Rodeo Uncorked! competition, an event that drew than 3,100 entries from 25 countries.
The win underscores the strength of Texas High Plains viticulture, where heat-tolerant varieties enable growers to produce balanced white blends even in tough years.
Sommeliers in Houston and Austin note that competitive wins and guest curiosity are boosting Texas whites’ popularity on wine lists, especially as blended styles complement a variety of dishes and dining experiences.

Carter Creek Winery’s Plateau White, Texas High Plains, 2024has been named Top White Wine Champion at the2026 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition. Last year, the title went to Krutz Family Cellars Chardonnay from California’s Santa Lucia Highlands, while Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut took the overall Grand Champion. This year, Napa’s Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon won Best of Show, with Sequoia Grove Chardonnay named Reserve Grand Champion — underscoring the prestige of the competition and the significance of a Texas High Plains white blend rising to the top.

The Rodeo Uncorked! competition is one of the largest in the country, drawing than 3,100 entries from 25 countries and judged by 130 experts. Of those, 567 wines were produced in Texas. For Carter Creek — a family-owned winery in Johnson City, nearly two hours from Austin — the win is than just a medal: It’s proof that Texas whites can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Champagne and Napa on one of the most competitive stages in the wine world.

Winemaking on the High Plains

Veteran winemaker Jon McPherson grew up in Lubbock, where his father, “Doc” McPherson, helped pioneer modern Texas wine. He describes the High Plains as flat, expansive, and characterized by sandy loam soils with good drainage and pronounced day–night temperature swings.

“We see 25–30 degrees between daytime highs and nighttime lows, which is crucial for balance,” he says. “Grapes like Roussanne, Viognier, Picpoul, and Clairette Blanche aren’t just tolerant of heat — they express well in it.”

The 2024 vintage was punishing: Six weeks of triple‑digit temperatures demanded night harvesting, refrigerated trucking, and rapid processing to protect fruit integrity. “Logistics are always a challenge in Texas,” McPherson says. “But the vines adapted, and the fruit held. That’s what makes Plateau White special. It reflects both the climate and the determination behind it.”

The 2024 Plateau White from Carter Creek Winery was named Top White Wine Champion at the Rodeo Uncorked International Wine Competition, which saw than 3,100 wines from 25 countries. For Texas wine, it’s another milestone proving these blends can hold their own.
Food & Wine / Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa

Plateau White is crafted as a best‑of‑vintage blend rather than a single‑varietal statement. According to McPherson, barrel‑fermented Viognier brings depth and plush texture; Picpoul and Clairette Blanche drive citrus brightness; Roussanne adds weight and a silken feel. Judges praised its “stone fruit and citrus on the nose” and “spot on acid,” with a silky mouthfeel.

McPherson says the wine, which costs $25 at Carter Creek resort, is versatile. “Shrimp and grits, roast chicken, Gulf fish,” McPherson mentions as suitable pairings for the wine. “It’s a wine you can pour on a Tuesday night or at a celebration.”

How sommeliers are positioning Texas whites

In Houston,

” data-component=”link” data-source=”inlineLink” data-type=”externalLink” data-ordinal=”1″ rel=”nofollow”>Kirabeverage director and general manager, Jacob Conrad, says that drinkers, especially younger patrons, are curious about Texas wine.

“People are adventurous. They want to know what Texas can do,” he says. “The key is framing it not as better or worse than France or California, but as its own expression.” He notes that Texas whites skew toward blends, which can make them compelling conversation wines on a list.

Austin chef–sommelier Laila Bazahm, who helms

” data-component=”link” data-source=”inlineLink” data-type=”externalLink” data-ordinal=”1″ rel=”nofollow”>The Ravaland

” data-component=”link” data-source=”inlineLink” data-type=”externalLink” data-ordinal=”2″ rel=”nofollow”>Siticonnects Texas whites to food. “They’re a little heavier because of the sun, with concentrated flavors, and that works to their advantage,” she says.

Both emphasize the shift in perception that comes with public, competitive wins. Masked tastings at Bazahm’s events have amazed guests, and Conrad sees experiential discovery, like visiting Hill Country tasting rooms, and then seeking Texas bottles back home.

Carter Creek also picked up multiple medals across its portfolio at Rodeo Uncorked!, including a Double Gold forPlateau White 2023and a Gold forPrimitivereinforcing the strength of its lineup beyond Plateau White. Additionally, the winery won six medals at the2025 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Wine Competitionfor its 2023 Chenin Blanc, 2023 Sangiovese, 2023 Primitivo, Sparkling Tempranillo Rosé, 2023 Estate Red, and 2023 Tempranillo.

For Jon McPherson, winemaking in Texas isn’t about chasing Napa or Champagne benchmarks — it’s about embracing what the Texas High Plains does best. “The soils and the climate here aren’t forgiving to every grape,” he explains. “But varieties like Roussanne, Viognier, Picpoul, and Clairette Blanche thrive because they can handle the heat and still hold acidity. When you play to those strengths, you get wines that are balanced, distinctive, and true to place.”

Rather than trying to replicate California Chardonnay or French Champagne, McPherson sees Texas whites carving their own lane. “We’re not trying to be anyone else,” he says. “We’re making wines that reflect our conditions. When judges taste them blind, they recognize the quality.”

Winemaking on the High Plains

How sommeliers are positioning Texas whites

Other winners at the 2026 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition