Harvest of Champions
Texas Wine & Food Festival
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 They say some of the world's best wines come from Italy and France. Some would argue it's hard to beat a good German or Spanish wine.
But the Texas wine industry is rich in Old World history and origin, and today's Texas wines are proving to be competitive and equally rich as some of the finest wines in the world.
The spotlight is on Texas food and wine this summer, especially at the Messina Hof Winery and Resort near Bryan-College Station, where several weekends in July and August have been set aside for the Harvest of Champions Festival.
Every weekend offers the same great schedule of activities beginning each Saturday morning at 8am. While on a prelimary walking tour of the Estate vineyard, you are encouraged to join in a song with the Messina Hof winemaker, followed by careful picking of select grapes.
Now, get ready to shed your shoes and join in the traditional grape stomping event. The weekend is full of special harvest lunceons, food and wine pairing seminars, and tours of the beautiful vineyard and the romantic bed & breakfast inn on the property.
It all started in 1983 when Winemaker Paul Bonarrigo released the winery's first commercial bottle. But Bpnarrigo's winemaking heritage goes back to over 200 years ago in Messina, Sicily. His immediate family came from Hof, Germany. hence the name of thew Texas Vineyard - Messina Hof.
The tradition of Messina Hof is evident in the Guest Center, where you will encounter a 19th-Century estate home, originally built as a convent. The structure now serves as a breathtaking center of family antiques and lovely gift items. The deck and lake behind the winery provide a perfect setting for a relaxing picnic with a vineyard view.
The famous winery tours and tastings have become a tourism destination for thousands of wine aficionados. The Vintage House restaurant serves up Vineyard Cuisine accented by fresh herbs and vegetables from the Estate Vineyard Garden. They serve the freshest meats and seafood and use Messina Hof wine in all of their marinades and sauces.
The Villa, the bed and breakfast inn, allows guests the kind of romance and privacy previously found only in fairytales. Each room is uniquely decorated with fine antiques and your stay includes a winery tour, wine tasting, wine & cheese reception in the evening and a European breakfast served with Champagne.
Regardless whether you spend a Harvest Festival weekend at the winery or chose another time to visit, the Messina Hof Winery and Resort provide a great opportunity to get in touch with he Old World in this remarkable Texas location.
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