Messina Hof Winery and Resort Experience

While the Messina Hof family celebrates their 34th Summer Harvest Festival, a quick getaway to the Winery in Bryan, Texas can be a great way to relax this summer and enjoy some picking and stomping. Hello and welcome to another episode of Raasthe aka Road With Ruchi where I will take you on a tour of this lush green vineyard and resort just an hour and half away from Houston.

The Messina Hof Winery and Resort is one of the fastest growing, award winning wineries and resorts in Texas, celebrating its 34th anniversary and harvest season from July 22 to August 20, 2011. More than fifteen media folks boarded a luxury limo bus from Houston and headed to Bryan, College Station. This was no ordinary trip; it was an exclusive ‘Moonlit Harvest’, the perfect romantic escapade at the peak of harvest season when guests can experience the century old tradition of making wine by the picking and stomping of grapes. After the grapes had been crushed, guests imprinted their purple feet on a Messina Hof souvenir t-shirt and later enjoyed an elaborate dinner at the Vintage House Restaurant.

Established in 1977 by co-founders Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo, Messina Hof’s foundation is based upon family values, romantic notions and traditions. Family means a lot to this vineyard house and the legacy of fame continues as Sophia Marie, a dry rosé is named after the Bonarrigo’s third-generation winemaker-to-be, granddaughter Sophie, who turned out to be everyone’s favorite. The Papa Paulo Port is still one of the most popular wines, and was the first wine made at Messina Hof.

This all day trip was filled with fun, great views and a surprise informal cigar launch by Chip Hight. The highlight was the plucking of the grapes grown on the 100 acre estate, the popular Port varietal Black Spanish or Lenoir. This year, Messina Hof will produce 265,000 gallons of wine and more than 18 varietals. So all you wine connoisseurs grab your chance to visit the Messina Hof retreat and experience a Vintage Affair. To follow up on their upcoming summer, fall and winter events visit www.messinahof.com.

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