As high temperatures linger across Texas, what better way to enjoy the long, late summer days than with grapes between your toes and the taste of fine wine on your lips?

With the uncertainty of the pandemic, many of us are taking life one sip at a time and adapting to a new way of living. In response to COVID-19, Messina Hof has continued to make the health and safety of guests and staff a top priority during harvest time. Precautions from limiting guest counts and providing individual stomping bins to hand sanitizing stations and social distancing have been put in place.

Whether it’s the feeling of grapes between your toes or the taste of divine wine, here are 5 reasons to pick and sip safe at Messina Hof’s 43rd Annual Harvest Festival.

Stomping Grapes is Super Fun! Duh.

Bring out the family or enjoy a fun-filled date at the Daytime Harvest, packed with picking and stomping the very grapes that go into making Messina Hof’s award-winning ports. Enjoy a tour, tasting and a Gourmet Vineyard Cuisine brunch box, containing a Treberwurst quiche, crisp potato pancake, fresh fruit cup and chocolate croissant. Grape picking and stomping should be on your bucket list!

Visit the Big Kahuna Photo Booth and snap a picture of your unique cluster of grapes to capture the moment you’ll never forget. As if the appetizing brunch box wasn’t enough, you’ll even receive a souvenir Harvest Crew t-shirt signed with your very own purple stomping feet to remember all the fun you had! Who doesn’t love a free t-shirt?

Taste Directly from the Tanks

Taste top-notch award-winning wine during the Cellar Tour & Dinner and sip on a glass of sparkling wine as Messina Hof winemaker and CEO Paul Bonarrigo leads you around the estate and tells the history of the most awarded winery in Texas. View antiques, awards and machinery while being introduced to growing, fermenting and barrel-aging. Taste directly from the tanks and barrel to better understand the wine-making process.

Dine on a Delightful Dinner 

One of the best parts about sipping on primetime wine is also eating a delicious meal that pairs perfectly with it to bring out different flavor elements you never even tasted before. During the Cellar Tour & Dinner, you’ll be treated to an appetizer and three-course meal paired with award-winning Messina Hof wine in the beautiful, relaxing candlelit Cellar Room that’s perfect for a date night. (Reservations are required and space is limited to 30 people.)

First Taste of New Release Wines

Join Messina Hof for the Grand Finale Gala taking place on August 15th. This elegant event raises a toast to a successful Harvest Festival at Messina Hof Bryan. Enjoy a delicious fine menu from the Vintage House chef while the winemaker introduces each wine and walks you through the pairings. Guests will have the privilege of having the “first taste” of new release wines. And as a bonus, Messina Hof will announce the winner of The Texas Artist Wine Label Competition that was voted on this spring.

Award-Winning Bed & Breakfast

After a fun filled day of all things wine, relax and unwind at the Villa Bed & Breakfast, which is only a short walk from the Tasting Room and Vineyard. The Villa too will be following all of state-mandated requirements for cleanliness and social distancing. For those looking for a romantic getaway, we highly recommend this Bed & Breakfast.

The Great Room features stunning stained glass windows from the Louvre in Paris as well as stained glass from one of the original Spanish missions in Texas. Each of the 11 spacious suites are individually furnished and pay tribute to romantic and historical icons (such as Romeo & Juliet). Be sure to enjoy made-from-scratch breakfast on the balcony while taking in the lovely lakeside views.

Mark your calendars!
Daytime Harvest (morning) & Grand Finale Gala (evening) | Bryan, Texas | August 15
More info and tickets here

Cover photo courtesy Messina Hof

Leean Vargas is an Editorial Assistant at Texas Lifestyle Magazine and an honors graduate of Texas State University with a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations.