Messina Hof Winery & Resort
Byran, Texas

There’s a way to put a new twist on an old favorite by finding the perfect mate to pair with your mate’s favorite chocolate. Wine and chocolate go together like love and marriage. Messina Hof Winery & Resort in Bryan, TX celebrates this marriage every year by creating an entire menu around the love of chocolate and port.

Both wine and chocolate appeal more than just the tastes, but to all the senses with intricate aromas, rich flavors and textures, and a delightful lingering aftertaste. For dark chocolate lovers, try Messina Hof’s Private Reserve Papa Paulo Port and Barrel Reserve Papa Paulo Port. A lighter port, such as the Messina Hof Ebony, blends well with sweeter, milk chocolate. Heavy and more bitter chocolate are complemented by a Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz or Cabernet Franc.

Founded by Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo in 1977, Messina Hof Winery and Resort was named after their respective ancestral homelands. Paul's family is from Messina, Sicily, and Merrill's family is from Hof, Germany. Messina Hof was founded on family values, romance and tradition. In 1983, Messina Hof's first year of developing commercial wines, Paul and Merrill produced 1,300 gallons. All of the grapes grown on the 100-acre estate are the popular Port varietals Black Spanish or Lenoir. Messina Hof is the leader in the establishment of the Texas wine industry and ranks as one of the fastest growing, most award-winning wineries in the state. This year, Messina Hof will produce 265,000 gallons of wine and more than 18 varietals. Texas is the fifth largest wine producing state in the U.S. Messina Hof controls 25% of all grapevines planted in Texas, and is the largest grape grower in the High Plains region where they yield grapes from 500 acres. Messina Hof is the second largest tourist attraction in Brazos County and brings in more than 250,000 visitors per year.

Four time winner of the “Top Texas Wine” at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Messina Hof wines are handcrafted at the winery, located in Bryan, Texas. Messina Hof Winery and Resort also boast on their 100 acre property the Vintage House Restaurant, origin of Vineyard Cuisine Cook Book, the Villa, which was voted “Most Romantic Bed and Breakfast in the USA” and the Wine Master’s Room Wine Bar, voted best wine by the glass in the Brazos Valley.

But, it's time for poetic justice as everyone gathers to investigate the death and to find the culprit who turned Valentine's Day into a bad rhyme.
Enjoy a four course dinner expertly paired with Messina Hof wines. $69.95 per person plus tax and gratuity. For more details or to make a reservation call 800-736-9463 ext. 234

Valentine’s Day Recipe
This recipe is from Messina Hof Winery and Resort’s Vineyard Cuisine Cook Book.

Chocolate Pâté
Chocolate is an ideal pairing for port.

1 ½ pounds semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 ¾ pounds butter, cubed
½ pound confectioner’s sugar
½ cup Messina Hof Papa Paulo Texas Port
9 eggs, beaten

In the top of a double boiler, melt chocolate and butter. Whisk in confectioner’s sugar and wine.
Slowly add eggs, whisking constantly. Pour into buttered miniature loaf pans; cool.
Store in the refrigerator. Slice like pâté to serve. Serves 10.

Merrill Bonarrigo – Co-founder of Messina Hof Winery & Resort, was a featured guest on Champagne Sundays online radio show on January 25, 2009. To meet the rest of the guests and listen to the entire, unedited show, please click here. To listen to Merrill's interview, please double click on the Play Button below.