SWINE SALOON
Wine & Beer Experience
The Swine Saloon is new in 2025 — and it’s unlike anything Bacon Bash Texas has ever done.
Imagine a Texas-themed tasting tent where the best in Texas wine and craft beer come together under one roof. It’s a sip-by-sip adventure featuring JW Hardin Wine Co., Brennan Vineyards, and Baby Cow Brewery designed to match the sizzle of 600 pounds of Pederson’s Farms bacon.
This experience is sponsored by M3 Packaging Solutions. Open to all ticket holders from 4:00–7:00 PM.
What You’ll Experience
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The Wine – Handpicked pours from Brennan Vineyards and JW Hardin Wines, showcasing the best of Texas winemaking.
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The Craft Beer – Sip your way through Baby Cow Brewery brews, including the custom bacon-fat-washed beer made exclusively for Bacon Bash Texas with Pederson’s Farms bacon.
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Sommelier of Swine Challenge – Watch teams pair their Battle of the Bacon entries with Texas wines to compete for $1,000 and the 2025 Sommelier of Swine title.
Sommelier of Swine Challenge
For the first time ever, Bacon Bash teams can compete to be crowned the 2025 Sommelier of Swine Champion — and win $1,000, sponsored by M3 Packaging Solutions.
How It Works:
1. Each team pairs their signature bacon dish with a Texas wine from Brennan Vineyards or JW Hardin Wine Co.
2. Judge Richard King will taste, score, and select the winning pairing
3. One team as the 2025 Sommelier of Swine Champion.
Winner receives $1,000, bragging rights, and a permanent place as a Bacon Bash legend.
The Judge
Richard King, co-owner and sommelier of Ellerbe Fine Foods in Fort Worth, leads the restaurant’s acclaimed wine program, White Gloves, Purple Teeth, expanding Ellerbe’s offerings into retail and educational experiences.
A graduate of Texas Christian University, Richard has spent over three decades in the restaurant and wine industry — from front-of-house operations to consulting and national speaking engagements. For more than ten years, he taught wine education courses at TCU, inspiring the next generation of enthusiasts.
Richard is an active member of tasting groups and wine organizations including Chaine de Rotisseurs, Confrérie Saint-Étienne d’Alsace, and Société Mondiale du Vin. He also founded the Beverage Committee for the Fort Worth Food & Wine Festival, where he continues to serve as a board member and past Chairman of the FWFWF Foundation.
Don't Miss Out On Bacon Bash Texas
The Sponsor
This flavorful experience is made possible by M3 Packaging Solutions — proud sponsor of the Sommelier of Swine Challenge and dedicated supporter of the Bacon Bash Texas mission.