The Galveston Island Wine Festival is being resurrected this year with fun-filled wine and food events that will take place over Labor Day weekend at Moody Gardens. This event was held annually on Galveston Island for years and provided attendees with memorable experiences that included wine tastings, chef demonstrations, and live entertainment.

For wine lovers, this year is even more exciting with the news that Guy Stout, Master Sommelier, will be a part of the festivities. One of only 269 Master Sommeliers in the world, Guy Stout has been recognized as a Houston icon for his contribution to the wine and food industry of Texas.

Stout has served on the board of directors of the Court of Master Sommeliers and is an active wine judge for a variety of national competitions. Stout is also a Certified Wine Educator (CWE), a Certified Wine Specialist (CSS), and a previous President of the Society of Wine Educators.

A graduate of the University of Houston Hilton School, Stout brings years of knowledge and experience in both wine and hospitality to this event.

Guy Stout’s passion for wine started at an early age, beginning in the Dallas restaurant industry and progressing to a young wine and spirits salesman for various alcohol distributors in Texas.

This ardor would lead Stout and his wife Kim to purchase a small tract of land in the Texas Hill Country in 1999 and establish a vineyard/ranch in Blanco County where they began planting Syrah and Tempranillo grapes, making wine a family affair.

The Stout family learned about wine from the ground up, literally. This was also the catalyst which led Stout to pursue the Master Sommelier certification. He received the title in 2005 becoming the second Master Sommelier in Texas.

He would be the sole Master in Texas for several years, during which time he mentored and trained a new wave of sommeliers, helping to establish the current fine wine scene in Texas.

Stout wanted to do even more with wine. His years of selling wine, growing grapes, and becoming a renowned authority on wine provided him with the opportunity to build significant relationships with winemakers and growers in Napa Valley.

One of Stout’s three sons, Ian, shares his father’s passion for wine. After graduating college, Ian moved to California and worked for high-end wineries where he honed his own vintner skills and began expanding the family’s network of winemaking suppliers and growers in Napa Valley.

The Stout family produced their first vintage of Stout Napa Valley Cabernet in 2011. The family’s goal was to specialize in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, produced classically with French oak barrel aging for 18-24 months.

Stout Family Wines also produces Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and a Russian River Valley Pinot Noir Rosé.

 

Guy is currently focused on distribution in Texas and expanding awareness of his family brand across the country through placement on restaurant wine lists while Ian oversees the daily operations in California.

Stout will be presenting a “Taste with a Master” wine tasting and seminar to teach the deductive process to wine lovers as part of the Galveston Island Wine Festival festivities. This exclusive ‘How to Taste Wine’ class will feature wines of the world served with a cheese plate and will be limited to 20 people. Stout will also be at events throughout the weekend to answer questions and mingle with like-minded wine lovers.

Celebrity chef Christine Ha will be the special guest among an impressive line-up of renowned regional chefs at the Seven-on-Seven Seafood Extravaganza on September 1. Ha, known as the “Blind Cook” and winner of MasterChef Season 3, will bring her unique culinary flair to the festival. She will join forces with other notable culinary talents from BLVD Seafood, Yaga’s Cafe, and Moody Gardens, among others.

Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy wine pairings from some of the world’s best regions with dishes crafted by these culinary artists while they vie for the Best in Show Award. This event kicks off a weekend of spectacular wining and dining, paired with fireworks and live music.

Wine lovers not attending the Galveston Island Wine Festival can order Stout Family Wines directly from their website at www.stoutwines.com/pages/wine-shop. Various hotel packages are available for the weekend, offering one, two, or three nights for a complete Wine Festival experience.

Purchase tickets online at www.moodygardens.com. As this event is being held over Labor Day weekend, Moody Gardens Hotel is sure to sell out so make your reservations early.