I was thrilled when Constance McDerby, founder of Houston Wine & Food Week, asked me to speak at her popular Ladies of the Vine Luncheon last week. Now in its 11th year, Houston Wine & Food Week is always hosted the first week of June in The Woodlands and features more than 500 wines, 50 restaurants, and legendary wine producers and culinary personalities.
Friday’s Ladies of the Vine Luncheon at The Club at Carlton Woods was led by master of ceremonies Charlotte Neuville, The Fashion Chef, who has parlayed a successful thirty-year career in fashion into realizing her dream to create a couture cake design business. In addition to pouring Jordan wines, I also spoke to the nearly 100 attendees about my career in wine and how a redneck girl who grew up drinking Busch and shooting shotguns has ended up working with some of the greatest wineries in the world. Each panelist shared her journey through lighthearted stories that kept the crowd laughing through the afternoon. I was honored to represent women in the wine business alongside Master Sommelier Sarah Floyd of Luli Wines, philanthropist Cindy Sebek of Gracious Gift and vintner Katie Wetzel Murphy of Alexander Valley Vineyards. The surprise of the day was when Constance announced that every single attendee would be receiving a $500 gift certificate from Shannon Fine Jewelry.
I also signed books on Thursday night at the H-E-B Wine Walk event on Market Street. The 34-acre Market Street took on a festival-like atmosphere with guests enjoying wines from around the world, food sampling and demonstrations, as well as live music in the main courtyard.
Stay tuned for details about my first book chat wine tasting event in Chicago this September.
Thanks again, Constance! You and your staff orchestrated an amazing series of events. I’d also like to thank my friend, wine writer Ron Saikowski, for being such a gracious host throughout my stay in The Woodlands.
- Lisa Mattson and Constance McDerby