When Paul Vincent and Merrill Bonarrigo founded Messina Hof Winery in 1977, their goal was to produce premium Texas wines. They couldn’t have imagined that Messina Hof would become one of the largest producers of 100% Texas wines. They also never dreamed that it would become the most award-winning winery in the Lone Star State and be recognized as a pioneer in the growth of the Texas wine industry. I learned about Messina Hof’s history and tasted some of their wines when I attended the annual Wine & Roses Festival.
The First Family of Texas Wines
Messina Hof began with 50 varieties of grapes on a single acre when there were few commercial vineyards in Texas. No one could foresee that it would become the fifth-largest grape-producing state.
When a Texas A&M graduate student gave the Bonarrigos a feasibility study on growing grapes in Texas, they planted 50 varieties of grapes at their home in Bryan, Texas, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, and Lenoir.
At this point, Paul Vincent and Merrill founded Messina Hof. During the first few years, they learned about winemaking and perfected their technique. Their efforts were rewarded in 1981 when Messina Hof received a medal at the Texas State Fair for a Black Spanish-Cabernet blend.
The Awards Keep Coming
Wine and Spirits Magazine recommended Messina Hof’s Private Reserve Cabernet in 1984. Then it started winning “Best of Class” awards at the Houston Club in 1985. Finally, in 1990, Messina Hof’s Angel Late Harvest Riesling became the first Texas wine to score a 90 in Wine Spectator. It’s still one of only three Texas wines to win this prestigious award.
During the next two decades, Messina Hof received two Best Texas Wine, three Top Texas Wine and three Top Texas Winery Awards. In 2013, it became the first Texas winery to win Top Overall at the Uncorked! Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo International Wine Competition.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is one of the largest events in Texas and a premier philanthropic event in the U.S. The wine competition attracts over 900 wineries from 22 countries because Texas is one of the largest wine markets in the country,
The Legacy Continues
Messina Hof grew rapidly during the 1980s. The Bonarrigos added two more vineyards in 1983. This enabled them to produce 1,300 gallons of wine and release Messina Hof’s first commercial vintage, including Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Papa Paulo Port. Messina Hof began distributing in Texas in 1987 and Japan in 1989. Paul Vincent and Merrill also decided to open a tasting room because neighbors kept asking to sample and buy the wines.
In 2012, the Bonarrigos passed the management of Messina Hof Winery to the next generation. Their son Paul Mitchell became Chief Executive Officer and Head Winemaker and daughter-in-law Karen assumed the role of Director of Administration. With production now at over 200,000 gallons per year, the original and new owners still work side by side as Messina Hof continues to gain international recognition while remaining a leader in the Texas wine industry.
Wine & Roses Festival
Messina Hof hosts its annual Wine and Roses Festival in the spring when buds appear on the grapevines and the roses are in bloom. During the two-day event, visitors can sample wines, participate in a grape stomp competition (or just watch), learn about wine and food pairings, and enjoy an Italian feast.
I asked why there were rose bushes at the end of each row of vines and learned rose bushes are susceptible to the same diseases and pests that attack grapevines. Diseased grapevines are devastating for winemakers, and rosebushes show signs of an attack before grapevines do. So, rosebushes help winemakers prevent damage by acting as the “canary in the coal mine.”
Watch Teams Stomp Grapes
The Wine & Roses Grape Stomp Competition was in full swing when we arrived. We felt like we were watching an I Love Lucy rerun as we watched teams furiously stomp their feet in tubs of grapes while racing against the clock. Each team wanted to extract as much juice as possible to win prizes and earn bragging rights. The top three teams this year were Terarek, Fermented Juice, and The 12th Cork.
Tesarek won 1st place, and team members received a bottle of wine with a personalized Grape Stomp #1 label and four tickets to a Moonlit or Daytime Harvest in August. Fermented Juice came in 2nd, and team members were awarded a private tour and tasting for 10 people. The 12th Cork was 3rd, and team members got $50 gift cards to use at Messina Hof’s Vintage House Restaurant.
The Food & Wine Experience
During the Food & Wine Experience, we learned how to pair wines with different types of foods. The Lepard Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2021 we tasted first is a dry white wine that goes well with lobster, garlic butter sauces and vegetarian dishes.
Our next sample was Bonarrigo Family Wines Heritage Reserve 2020, a bold red wine that’s the perfect choice to serve with Osso Bucco, Bolognese Sauce and Parmigiana. Our final tasting was Private Reserve Papa Paulo Port 2020. Its rich black cherry, dark chocolate, cinnamon and vanilla flavors make it a perfect choice to serve with chocolates.
Vote For Your Favorite Wine Label Design
We next stopped in the vault to vote on our favorite design in the Annual Texas Wine Label Competition. Each year artists throughout Texas compete to have their artwork featured on a Messina Hof wine bottle label. One of the winning designs is on the Private Reserve Papa Paulo Port 2020. This is one of the wines we tasted during the Food & Wine Experience.
Enjoy An Italian Feast
Many visitors stay for the Italian Feast, a family-style buffet dinner that features Messina Hof’s concept of Vineyard Cuisine™. This year’s menu included Pasta with Roasted Red Pepper and Pinot Noir Vodka Sauce, Creamy Chardonnay and Lemon Pasta, Mourvèdre Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms, and Emblaze Balsamic Chicken. Desserts included Strawberry and Blushing Angel Shortcake with Basil and Sparkling Almond and Orange Torta Caprese.
Attend Messina Hof’s Annual Wine & Roses Festival
Messina Hof hosts the Wine & Roses Festival each spring at its Bryan, Texas location. Visitors can choose from multiple ticket packages depending on which events interest them. All ticket packages are per person except for the Grape Stomp Competition. The entry fee is per team for visitors who want to compete.
Following is a summary of what’s included with each ticket package.
Tasting Package
1 Tasting Glass
15 Tickets
1 Festival T-Shirt
Pairing Package (limited availability)
1 Tasting Glass
25 Tickets
1 Festival T-Shirt
1 Wine and Food Experience Pass
Ultimate Package (limited availability)
1 Tasting Glass
40 Tickets
1 Festival T-Shirt
1 Wine and Food Experience Pass
1 Ticket to the Italian Feast
The Messina Hof Winery is located at 4545 Old Reliance Road, Bryan, TX 77808. Parking is available in various lots nearby. Please contact Messina Hof at (979) 778-9463 or by email for more information about the Wine & Roses Festival.
Destination Bryan hosted me, but all opinions are my own.
