We’ve got a whole bunch of awesome sommeliers in Houston. In fact, there’s even an informal wine study group called AweSOMM. The participants, all in the retail or restaurant wine trade and trying to achieve their formal sommelier certifications, have in the past couple of years volunteered at the Taste of Italy Houston event sponsored by the Italy-American Chamber of Commerce. But AweSOMM’s driving force, Jaime DeLeon, decided to add a little drama to the 2019 event, Feb. 25, at the Hilton Post Oak, by launching the Houston’s Best Sommelier competition. Emphasis on “Houston’s.”

“A local event for locals only,” said DeLeon, the adult-beverages sales manager for Kroger’s Houston division. A $1,200 first prize, to be applied toward future wine-education studies, is at stake. Two runners-up will receive $300 for the same. The field will be limited to the first 20 who apply (awesommhouston.com) and modeled on the Court of Master Sommeliers certification protocols, although DeLeon makes it clear there is no affiliation with CMS.