Wine and Food Week returns to The Woodlands for its 22nd edition with events Wednesday and through June 6 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center and The Club at Carlton Woods.
Here is what to know about this year’s event.
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The background
Constance and Clifton McDerby are the founders of Food and Vine Time Productions, producer of Wine and Food Week.
Food and Vine Time Productions’ events include Houston Chronicle Culinary Stars, Katy Sip N Stroll, Wine Fair Cy-Fair, Zest in the West, Haute Wheels Food Truck Fest and a variety of public lifestyle events and private events.
The couple has a passion for promoting and furthering the diverse culinary scene of the Houston area and making wines more approachable by educating the novice to the expert.
Wine and Food Week was their first large-scale event to celebrate the region’s culinary scene.
This year’s lineup
The theme for 2026 is “Going Places.”
“As we celebrate 22 years, Wine and Food Week is Going Places — exploring new flavors, new experiences and new ways to bring people together through food and wine,” said Constance McDerby, founder of Wine and Food Week. “From global wine regions to innovative culinary creations, this year’s event is a celebration of discovery, creativity and the passion that continues to drive the culinary world forward.”
A new event, “Going Places Goes Global” kicks off the week at 6 p.m. Wednesday. A location has not been determined for the evening.
Guests can pair Italian wines with Texas barbecue, explore Parisian and Bulgarian wines and have fun with an “Emily in Paris” look-a-like contest as a nod to the Netflix series.
Other highlights of the week include:
Crushing It With Cocktails, from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center
Ladies of the Vine Tasting, Luncheon and Panel Discussion, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the Club at Carlton Woods
The Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting and Chef Showcase, from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. Acclaimed chefs compete for the coveted Chef of Chefs Award and a $5,000 cash prize at this event.
New this year, a private table can be reserved for the Grand Tasting.
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Here’s how to go
Each event has a separate ticket plus add-on VIP options. A general admission ticket to the Grand Tasting is $156.94. See the ticket page for the options.
Other events affiliated with Wine and Food Week include the Platinum Wine Vault Luxury Tasting event from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 18 at Bayway Cadillac of The Woodlands and the HEB Wine Walk from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center.