Messina Hof plans four Texas wineries beyond upcoming Hill Country expansion

Messina Hof Winery and Resort, which is building its second location in the Texas Hill Country just east of Fredericksburg, plans to establish four more locations elsewhere in Texas as part of a five-year expansion program.

In January 2011, Messina Hof announced it is building a winery and resort on about 10 acres near Fredericksburg, which is nearly 80 miles west of Austin. The Hill Country location is set to debut in late 2011. The original Messina Hof opened in Bryan in 1977; it draws about 250,000 visitors a year.

Messina Hof’s expansion won’t stop with the Hill Country establishment, however. Four more winery resorts are planned for other spots in Texas over the next five years, company spokeswoman Brittany Hanagriff told Examiner.com.

The sites for those four additions haven’t been revealed yet, but they reportedly will be built near Texas’ major metropolitan areas.

In all, Messina Hof will own six winery resorts once the expansion plan is completed.

“The Texas wine industry is thriving and continuously gaining recognition as one of the top wine producers in the country, but it has not yet reached its full potential in making an impact on our state’s economy,” said Paul Bonarrigo, co-founder and co-owner of Messina Hof.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples applauded Messina Hof’s expansion into the Fredericksburg area.

“The Texas Hill Country has become one of the most prominent and popular wine regions in the country, attracting more than 1 million tourists a year,” Staples said in a statement released to Examiner.com.

“The popularity is also attracting more winery development in the region, and that is great news for Texas job development. Messina Hof Winery and Resort’s expansion into the Hill Country makes good sense for the winery and will add more award-winning wines to the region plus create more jobs for our citizens.”

The upcoming location – to be built along U.S. Highway 290 – and the existing Bryan location will serve as templates for the additional winery resorts. Like the 100-acre resort in Bryan, the business near Fredericksburg will feature a vineyard, a bed and breakfast, a wine bar, a retail shop and conference facilities. Within its first year, the new location will employ at least 10 people.

Messina Hof will target a 200-mile radius around Fredericksburg – including Austin, San Antonio and Houston – for visitors to the new location.

“The new location combines 33 years of winemaking and hospitality experience with the most award-winning wines. Our presence and expansion in the Hill Country region reflects our commitment to remaining a leader in the growing Texas wine industry as well our passion for spreading our award-winning brand to wine connoisseurs throughout the state,” Bonarrigo said.

Bonarrigo, CEO of Messina Hoff, is a member of the state Department of Agriculture’s Texas Wine Industry Development and Marketing Advisory Committee.

Bonarrigo and his wife, Merrill Bonarrigo, own Messina Hof. Their business controls about one-fourth of the grapevines in Texas, which is the fifth largest wine-producing state. More than 160 wineries operate in Texas, with an economic impact exceeding $1.3 billion a year.

“The Texas wine industry has come of age,” Staples said. “Our grape growers are producing premium fruit, and our winemakers have demonstrated tremendous skill in crafting truly fine wines.”