Grape Expectations 

The events draw everyone from students at nearby Texas A&M University to visiting Russian ambassadors.


“We’ve had Chinese professors who don’t speak any English,” says Barb Szumanski, who prepares gourmet breakfasts for overnight guests at the winery’s 10-room, European-style villa.

Experience a day filled with activity at the state’s second-largest premium wine producer, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. While Messina Hof is best known for its prize-winning ports, visitors also come to pick grapes, stomp them into juice, sample tastings, and enjoy elaborate food-and-wine pairings.