Texas Hill Country Coming to Southeast Texas
Thousands flocked to the Texas Hill Country last Monday to experience the solar eclipse. Now it is the Texas Hill Country coming to Houston. Twenty of those Texas Hill Country wineries are now coming to the Greater Houston area on Thursday, April 18th at the fabulous Peach Orchard Event Center off Sawdust Road in The Woodlands. These wineries are bringing 60+ world-class wines to show to Texans and the world what outstanding wines that Texas wineries are producing, more specifically Texas Hill Country wineries. It’s a well-kept secret that Texas wineries make wines just as good as California and Europe. Why not check it out yourself to see all of the outstanding wines that are grown and made in Texas. A Charcuterie Board and light appetizers will be provided to pair with these awesome Texas wines. Participating wineries at the Peach Orchard Event Center at 1737 Sawdust Road include:
• Ab Astris Winery
• Airis’Ele Vineyards
• Becker Vineyards
• Bending Branch Vineyards
• Blue Lotus Winery
• Driftwood Estates
• Duchman Family Winery
• Elisa Christopher Wines
• Flat Creek Estate
• Hye Meadow Winery
• Kerrville Hills Winery
• Lost Draw Winery
• Messina Hof Hill Country Winery
• Pedernales Cellars
• Portree Cellars
• Ron Yates
• Spicewood Vineyards
• Texas Heritage Vineyard
• William Chris Vineyards
• Wine for the People
Most of these wineries are unknown to most people since these boutique wineries do not distribute their wines through mass retailers like HEB, Kroger’s or SPEC’s. Instead these wineries craft smaller batches of Texas grapes to provide the highest quality wines. Regretfully, these wines are only sold at the winery. Several of the winemakers from these wineries will be pouring their wines for your enjoyment and to share their passion for making outstanding wines. These winemakers are helping to put Texas on the international wine map. You can purchase y our ticket for $75.00 per adult by going to www.TexasHillCountryWineries.org. Tickets are limited to 200 so get yours today! I hope to see you there to find out which are your favorites!
40th Annual Wine and Rose Festival
Messina Hof Winery in Bryan invites everyone to enjoy a three-day weekend at their Family winery, staring Friday, April 26th and lasting through Sunday. Start off the weekend with a wine dinner which will include a release of another vintage of wines. Saturday showcases more food, including an all-day Italian Buffet, grape-stomp competition, a variety of wine tastings, and special barrel tasting sessions featuring second-generation Paul Bonarrigo explaining the nuances of barrel tasting. He can tell you about “Angel’s Share” when it comes to barrel aging. Continue the wine celebration at Messina Hoff Winery and enjoy the celebration with your four-legged dog friend. This Family winery started around 1980 by newly marrieds Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo. The winery is now in the hands of their son, Paul M. Bonarrigo, and his wife Karen. The third generation is now coming into age as they are involved to some extent with the winery under their parents and grandparents tutelage. I have labeled the Bonarrigo’s as Texas’ First Family in the Texas Wine Industry.