How about a trip to Texas Wine Country? I know just the place to indulge in some spectacular wines and a great event coming up, too.
Texas Wine Country offers wine growers from other regions a chance to purchase and grow fine wines with less cost than California, and the quality of the grapes is excellent.
Last fall our Wine Review Council met to sample and pair wines from Messina Hof. We were so lucky to taste these amazing wines and to pair them with food. From our chat with Paul Vincent, the son of the founders as well as the
CEO and winemaker, I can attest to the warmth and hospitality of this winery.
On Messina Hof’s website you can also find food and wine pairings. This is a great way to decide what works best with one of their delicious wines. Some of us used this advice for our food pairings when sampling the wines.
Our first wine of the day was the Riesling Artist Series vintage 2023 from the Texas High Plains. We enjoyed the acidity with a subtle sweetness. Green apple jumps forward on our taste buds with a hint of lime. Our Riesling pairing was a Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad.
The Gewurztraminer Artist Series 2023 High Plains spoke to me. Loaded with flavors of lychee, honey, and ginger along with its off-dry acidity and body pairs beautifully with our Lemon Parmesan Arancini.
Off we travel to the reds and the Paulo Collection of wines. In the Bonarrigo family (and many other Italian families), it’s an old family tradition that the first-born son is named Paul or Paulo, and he learns the winemaking practices of his father. This collection of reds is handcrafted by Messina Hof founder, Paul Bonarrigo and
his son, Paul M. Bonarrigo in honor of the family tradition.
Our first sip of the Paulo 2020 Tempranillo showcases this full-bodied wine with flavors of dark cherry, vanilla, and the spiciness of dried cloves. Body and tannins abound in this wine. We pair it with Prosciutto and Fig Pasta, a marriage made in heaven.
We love the reds, and our next try is the 2020 Paulo Cabernet Franc from the Texas High
Plains. The Cab Franc has been aged for 18 months which smooths and balances the acid and tannin structure to create a delightful mouth-feel. Strawberry and black currant bombard us as we sip. Since it was football season, our pairing is Pigs In A Blanket.
A red wine new to us is the 2019 Paulo Sagrantino and its big, bold flavors of black plum and jammy fruits. It is full of body, acidity, and tannins. The wine displays plenty of spice and earthiness. This yummy wine pairs well with our choice of Mushroom Risotto with
Aged Parmesan.
Last, but not least, is the 2020 Paulo Port, a sweet and decadent dessert wine. We finddark chocolate and vanilla along with dark berries, anise, and espresso when we sample this wine. Our fun pairing is an Apricot Bread Pudding.
Visiting everything that is Messina Hof could be an experience to fill several days of relaxing and interesting enjoyment. Messina Hof is the most award-winning winery in Texas and one of the largest producers of 100% Texas wine.
Start out to enjoy Messina Hof Grapevine Winery in historic downtown Grapevine located in the Wallis Hotel facility, their first urban winery. Offering 40 different wines to try along with carefully selected small plates, this urban winery is a bonus to your Texas Wine Country tour.
The flagship location for Messina Hof started in 1977. It is in Bryan/College Station and has a tasting room and the Vintage House Restaurant offering fine dining. This restaurant is a recipient of the Santé Award and the coveted Chaine des Rotisseurs Restaurant.
The quaint Villa Bed & Breakfast in Bryan is a wonderful option to stay while seeing everything Messina Hof. This romantic B & B features 11 themed suites such as the Romeo and Juliet room. Stained glass windows adorn this B & B. On the second-floor balcony, find an original stained glass window from one of the Louvre’s original greenhouses. The suites offer private patios and lakeside views.
To get the full experience of what Messina Hof has to offer, head to the beautiful Texas Hill Country in Fredericksburg to visit their winery that opened in 2011. This winery has 60 reserve wines only offered at this site. You can even book a stay at one of the four themed cottages on the property at Manor Haus that is located just
minutes from downtown Fredericksburg.
While you are at the winery, it would be fun to pick up a gift package for a friend (or yourself) like this one called Sage and Verbena Candle with Chenin Blanc Bundle.
What’s coming up at Messina Hof? Book a flight to enjoy their 2025 Wine & Roses Festival taking place in Bryan, Texas, on April 26. You can select from several choices for tickets by going to this link: https://linkin.bio/messinahof/
If you haven’t recently tasted Texas wines, Messina Hof is the place to start your journey.
