Messina Hof Winery - SH 21 E of Bryan TX USA - Wineries on Waymarking.com

The Texas wine industry was born in 1560, when Spaniards brought vines from Europe and planted them at Texas missions, in hopes that the vines would prosper. In the late 1800s, Texan T.V. Munson believed that Texas rootstock could save a troubled French viticulture industry. Introduction of Texas rootstock did, in fact, save the French industry at that time. In the 1970s, a group of agricultural pioneers believed that quality wine grapes could grow in Texas.

Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo were part of the early Texas agricultural group that pioneered the Texas wine industry into what it is today. Paul grew up in the Bronx, New York, and he was the first of his family to get a college education. He graduated from Columbia University in 1968. Merrill was born and raised in Bryan, Texas, and she graduated with one of the first classes of women at Texas A&M University in 1975.

In 1977, Paul and Merrill married and settled into a home in Bryan, Texas. During that same year, they watched the television mini-series “Roots,” which inspired them to learn about their family heritages. Paul’s family came to America from Messina, Sicily, and Merrill’s family emigrated from Hof, Germany. Later that year they began planting their first vineyard. They named their vineyard Messina Hof, after their family roots, and incorporated traditions from each family into the wine, food, and hospitality of Messina Hof Winery and Resort.

Paul’s family in Sicily has been making wine since the 1800s. The Bonarrigo tradition of winemaking was reborn in the United States when Paul Bonarrigo (also known as Paul VI) started creating Messina Hof wines in Texas. Messina Hof is now the most awarded Texas wine in national and international competitions.

Winery Size: Super Large 100,000 Cases or More Attached vineyard?: yes Tasting Room Available?: yes Days and hours of operation: Monday-Saturday 10:00 am-7:00 pm; Sunday 11:00 am-6:00 pm Charge for tasting?: 20.00 (listed in local currency) Tours Available: yes Cost of Tour: 10.00 (listed in local currency) Phone #: (979) 778-9463; (800) 736-9463 Address: 4545 Old Reliance Road Bryan, Texas 77808 Winery, Wine Cooperative, or Tasting Center's Website: [Web Link] Types of wines: Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Port Sherry Shiraz Pinot Grigio Chardonnay Semillon Chenin Blanc Moscato Riesling Zinfandel Gewürztraminer Best Wine Tasted: Solera Texas Sherry Rate the Best Wine Tasted: Price per Bottle: 45.00 (listed in local currency) Winery Club: Yes Wine Club Description:: 1. Exclusive VIP Red Beret Club Discounts Begin the Day You Join VIP Discounts Are Available at Messina Hof in Bryan & Messina Hof Hill Country in Fredricksburg. -20% discount on all wines and accessories purchased from our Tasting Room -10% discount on accommodations at The Villa and at The Manor Haus B&B 5% discount on purchases made in The Vintage House Restaurant -5% discount on specialty dinners 2. Exclusive FREE Symbols of Your VIP Status When you first join, you'll also receive: Winemaker's Red Beret, VIP Red Beret Club Gold Card signifying your VIP status at the winery 3. FREE Gift Certificate for Our World Famous Tour & Taste for Twenty With initial membership and each year thereafter, you'll receive a Gift Certificate for our popular Winery Tour and Wine Tasting for twenty people, including your personal host. Select twenty friends, relatives or business associates 4. FREE Case of Private Labels With initial membership and each year thereafter, you'll receive twelve private wine labels customized with your own personal message. Just purchase your wines at a 20% discount and we'll print your private labels and assemble your customized case. Please allow two weeks. 5. Exclusive VIP Red Beret Club Quarterly Private Parties You, your fellow VIPs and your privileged guests will love all four of these all-inclusive private parties each year. You'll enjoy enlightened conversation, delectable munchies and, of course, great wines. The four VIP exclusive parties you will be invited to are: Winemaker's Birthday Bash Wine & Roses Festival Reception Harvest Reception Wine Premiere Reception Each event will be listed in the Red Beret Communique Newsletter and you will receive an e-mail invitation listing the dates and times. 6. VIP Red Beret Communiqué Newsletter This newsletter contains several unique and valuable features...like The Winemaker's Column, updates on new vintages, vineyard status, wine production and a whole lot more. We'll also include an events calendar listing upcoming wine and food fun, like Cooking Demonstrations, Special Events and Murder Mystery Dinners, Vintner's Dinners, Festivals and more. 7. Exclusive FREE VIP Wine Cavé in the Vintage House Restaurant VIPs can purchase wines from the Tasting Room and we'll store them in your Wine Cavé in The Vintage House Restaurant at no charge...up to twelve bottles. When you wish to have a wine at lunch or dinner, simply ask your server to pull the wine from your private stash. ($4 corkage per bottle). You save 20% on the wine purchase and your wine preference is always available. (Since the space is limited, the VIP Cavé is on a first come-first served basis.) 8. Guaranteed Invitation to Every Winery Activity VIP Club Members will receive a personal invitation to every activity here at the winery, even if that activity isn't exclusive to VIPs. 9. First Choice on New Release Wines VIPs will have first choice of Messina Hof's newest releases before they are available to the public. Some wines - like our Single-Vineyard Estate Bottled Rieslings and Pinot Noirs - are ONLY available at the winery. 10. VIP Loyalty Rewards Program Rewards Program offers our VIP members exclusive insights with up-close and personal experiences with all that Messina Hof has to offer. 2nd Best Wine Tasted: Not listed Rate the 2nd Best Wine Tasted: Not listed Price per Bottle #2: Not Listed Overall Comments:: Not listed

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