Wine news

Award-winning Texas winery honors its Italian heritage with 2 new vintages

Messina Hof Bonarrigo Family Wines collection

The Bonarrigo Family Series is available now.

Courtesy of Messina Hof

Texas winery Messina Hof is putting family first. The Bryan-based winemaker, which has a winery in Grapevine, has introduced its Bonarrigo Family Wines collection — a tribute to its owners’ seven generations of wine making in Sicily and America.

“Our motto as a company is ‘join the family,’” says Messina Hof CEO and head winemaker Paul Bonarrigo. “This is a little piece of our heart and something that’s very special.”

In keeping with the family’s Italian heritage, the Bonarrigo Family Wines collection consists of two vintages — the 2018 Heritage Select dry white wine blend ($25) and the 2018 Heritage Reserve dry red wine blend ($40) — made with Italian-style varietals grown in the Texas High Plains near Lubbock.

Both wines are now available online via Messina Hof’s website or at the company’s wineries in Grapevine, Bryan, and Fredericksburg.

“For those who aren’t aware, that is the premier growing region of Texas,” Bonarrigo says. “Lots of grapes are grown up there, and the quality is tremendous: lots of elevation, good water quality, obviously lots of great sunlight, so you get these great ripe flavors in the wine.”

The Heritage Reserve blends 55-percent Sagrantino, 30-percent Primitivo, and 15-percent Sangiovese. It’s aged in a mix of French and American oak barrels then bottle-aged for an additional six months. Sagrantino gives the wine tannins, while drinkers should note dark fruit from from the Primitivo and earthy notes from the Sangiovese.

“When we did our dinner last weekend, we paired it with osso bucco and it was exceptional,” Bonarrigo says. “Just about any Italian dish would go great.”

The Heritage Select blends 83-percent Pinot Grigio grapes and 17-percent Trebbiano, giving it a mixture of citrus, floral, and tropical fruit notes. Recommended pairings includes chicken, seafood, or pasta dishes such as lemon risotto.

“Ultimately, looking at Italian-style wine, food is a big piece of that culture and our family,” the winemaker says. “Making wines that are geared toward the dining room table is exactly what we’re trying to achieve.”

Meanwhile, work continues on the company’s newest winery: a Houston-area facility in Richmond’s Harvest Green community. Currently, the company expects the winery to open in November.

In total, Messina Hof Harvest Green Winery and Kitchen will feature over two acres of vineyards that could yield production of approximately 400 cases of wine per year. Visitors will be able to taste wine from the barrel or tank as well as try their hand at blending.

“We’re very excited about it,” Bonarrigo says. “This is another project that has been in the works a long time. To see it coming together with the walls going up is really exciting.”

wine

Global tastes

New botanería pairs drinks with free bites near Dallas Farmers Market

Chef Karla Soria Palomino's menu delivers authentic Mexican flavors and bold heat.

Photo credit: Paul Torres.

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There is a novel concept open in the Dallas Farmers Market district: Called Sor Juana, it's a botanería inspired by traditional Mexican establishments where drinks are served alongside complimentary snacks and bar bites.

Located at 1908 Canton St., the space provides an immersion into Mexican culture through its food, beverages, decor, and overall atmosphere.

Sor Juana comes from Alexandra Hernández and Karla Soria Palomino. Hernández brings a background in front-of-house hospitality, theatre, and events while Soria Palomino contributes extensive kitchen experience from restaurants across Mexico and Dallas.

The inspiration behind the name and concept comes from 17th-century nun and scholar Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. Recognized as the "First Feminist of the Americas," she was a literary trailblazer who learned to read and write during an era when women were denied an education. Considered one of the greatest poets of the Baroque period in what is now Mexico, Sor Juana defied societal norms, stood up to the male-dominated clergy, and excelled in science, mathematics, music, and culinary arts.

“We wanted to pick a strong woman from Mexico as the emblematic figure of our botanería — traditionally run and frequented only by men,” Hernández says. “With our women-run botanería, which is a unique concept for Dallas, we are creating a space for everyone.”

The frame for their idea is a landmark Dallas building originally constructed over a century ago for the Desco Tile Company. Designed in a Venetian Gothic style with exterior arches and columns, the interior features original chandeliers alongside decorative, colorful tilework — including a wall fountain, a fireplace, and terrazzo floors — all preserved intact for Sor Juana, with a few new tile accents added to the bathrooms and bar backdrop.

Historic Dallas architecture meets traditional Mexican hospitality at Sor Juana.Photo credit: Paul Torres

“We tried to respect the architecture of the building by adjusting our concept to the space, rather than forcing the space to adjust to us,” Hernández says.

The duo worked with interior designer Callie Windle on the details, sourcing decorative pieces from artists both in Mexico and locally (many of which are available for purchase).

The 90-seat venue features comfortable seating centered around a dynamic bar program managed by Saúl Hernández (previously of Midnight Rambler, La Viuda Negra, and Las Almas Rotas).

True to the hospitality spirit of a traditional botanería, patrons receive a complimentary botana (bar bite) with every drink purchase. While the offerings rotate regularly to maintain an element of surprise, options range from spiced nuts, fresh fruit, and popcorn to more substantial plates like tacos and caldo de camarón.

The creative cocktail menu ranges from $12 to $16, anchored by their signature “La Nueva Sangre” — an orange blossom gin cocktail balanced with beet juice, lemon, passion fruit, and lavender bitters. Hernández notes the drink is “as complex and interesting, with a little bit of everything, just as Sor Juana was.”

The bar also pours Mexican imports alongside local favorites Shiner and Michelob for $7, wines, and zero-proof options including non-alcoholic champagne.

Happy hour runs Wednesday through Friday from 5:30-7:30 pm, featuring $6 beers, $8 wines, and $8 cocktails infused with house-made Mexican chili oil macha sauce.

Beyond the complimentary botanas, the venue offers a full food menu designed by Chef Soria Palomino. It comes with a playful warning: “Expect bold flavors and a little heat — that’s what the cerveza is for.” Signature items include ceviche, mezcal-glazed wings, tacos, and tostadas, all centered on authentic Mexican flavor profiles.

For dessert, they feature a ganzote crafted by Diana Zamora of Nena Postrería, inspired by the classic packaged Gansito sponge cake.

Community events play a major role in the space, including lotería nights, "Bring Your Own Vinyl" Sundays, and rotating local DJs every other Friday. The team is actively taking community feedback to build out future programming, including upcoming collaborative dinner series.

“Events are a way to build community and bring people together,” Hernández says. “When we started crafting this concept, we looked at every detail — from the playlist to the food and cocktails, as we wanted a total experience where every element comes together and complements the rest.”

Sor Juana is open 2-10 pm Wednesday-Thursday 12 pm-12 pm Friday-Saturday, 12-10 pm Sunday. Metered street parking is enforced until 6 pm, with free parking available afterward.