Sip, Savor, Celebrate

Uncork the fun at GrapeFest's ultimate wine weekend in Grapevine

You'll want to get your tickets now.

Photo courtesy of Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau

This September, Grapevine’s Historic Main Street transforms into a wine paradise with a Roaring Twenties twist as the 39th Annual GrapeFest – A Texas Wine Experience, presented by Bank of the West, uncorks four days of flavor, fun, and festivities.

Running September 11-14, this year’s “Grape Gatsby” theme pays homage to the glamour and indulgence of the 1920s — minus the prohibition, of course.

Fresh off being named one of USA TODAY’s Top 10 Best Wine Festivals in the U.S., GrapeFest promises an unforgettable experience filled with live music, artisan vendors, iconic festival bites, and plenty of opportunities to raise a glass.

GrapeFest Photo courtesy of Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau

The People’s Choice: You be the judge

The People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic, presented by Audi Grapevine and the largest consumer-judged wine competition in the country, puts the power in your hands. Across ten 90-minute sessions, you’ll sample Texas wines in categories from dry whites to bold reds, delicate rosés to rich blends, and cast your vote for the best.

Opt for a VIP People’s Choice session and enjoy limited-capacity tastings that offer a more intimate wine experience, plus a souvenir glass and wine guide to help you navigate the flavors. With Texas winemakers on hand to share their craft, this is your chance to sip, swirl, and decide who takes home the bragging rights.

GrapeFest Photo courtesy of Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau

Barossa bound: Win an Australian wine escape

This year, tasting could be your ticket across the globe. Thanks to Qantas, Barossa, and South Australia, one lucky festivalgoer will win a six-night, seven-day luxury getaway Down Under to Barossa and Adelaide.

The prize includes roundtrip Qantas economy flights from DFW, upscale accommodations, private Barossa winery tours, and luxury transfers. To enter, simply stop by the Qantas booth during the festival.

While you’re there, immerse yourself in the flavors of Barossa through the Barossa Premium Wine Experience, engaging wine master classes, and expert-led wine seminars.

GrapeFest Photo courtesy of Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau

More ways to enjoy the 'Grape Gatsby'

Beyond People’s Choice and the Australian getaway, GrapeFest is overflowing with opportunities to sip, savor, and celebrate:

International Wine Experience – Travel the globe without leaving Main Street, featuring wines from around the world, sponsored by Gaylord Texan Resort.
Champagne Terrace – Effervescent delights in a stylish, relaxed setting, sponsored by Hilton DFW Lakes.
GrapeStomp – Kick off your shoes, roll up your pants, and live your best Lucy Ricardo moment.
Champagne Cork Shoot-Off – Cheer on the corks as they fly.
Live Music & Entertainment – From jazz to Texas country, the soundtrack to your weekend is set.
Artisan Marketplace & Festival Bites – Shop unique finds, savor festival classics, and discover gourmet treats.

All of this takes place along Grapevine’s Historic Main Street, lined with charming shops, tasting rooms, and the kind of small-town character that makes this festival as welcoming as it is world-class.

Plan your GrapeFest getaway

Whether you come for the competition, the culture, or the sheer joy of wine tasting, GrapeFest is the kind of event that becomes an annual tradition.

Tickets are on sale now, and popular tastings — especially the VIP People’s Choice sessions — sell out fast. Secure yours today at GrapeFest.com and get ready to toast to Texas wine, Gatsby-style.

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Plate Lunch News

Dallas Hawaiian foodie favorite Pine Isle expands to new DFW city

Pine Isle

A Hawaiian-inspired restaurant founded in Dallas is going west to Fort Worth: Pine Isle will be open in early fall at 3005 S. University Dr., near Texas Christian University.

Pine Isle is from Kevin Singharaj, who debuted the original Pine Isle in Dallas in 2025 as a takeout shop focused on Hawaiian dishes including poke, Spam, and the Hawaiian plate lunch — a comfort food dish featuring a protein like chicken paired with rice and macaroni salad, which has been a trendy item around DFW in recent years.

Singharaj, whose family owns the Zaap Kitchen chain, once lived in Hawaii and brings a personal and artisanal level to the genre, earning a following among foodies in the know.

"Hawaii was very special to me," he says. "Life was totally different there, and I want to provide an insight into my experiences in Hawaii to DFW residents."

The menu at Pine Isle features Hawaiian favorites like Spam musubi, the Spam version of sushi with a slab of Spam on top of rice; and loco moco, a plate with a beef patty and sunny side egg on top of steamed rice with brown gravy.

There's a big selection of lunch plates including Kalua pork with cabbage, teriyaki beef, garlic shrimp, miso chicken, chicken katsu, fried chicken, and kalbi Korean barbecued beef ribs. Other options include tuna poke bowls, poke nachos, hamachi, ahi tuna tataki, and garlic kimchi fries.

They recently added chicken teriyaki, which can be ordered a la carte or as a plate lunch; plus spicy Spam musubi; and spicy fried musubi.

Fort Worth will follow the same menu, quality, and overall experience as Dallas, but with a little extra.

"The biggest difference is that we’ll finally have indoor seating and an outdoor patio," Singharaj says. "Our Dallas location is only 950 square feet and was built around takeout, so this will give customers a different way to enjoy the food."

"We’re taking over the former Dutch’s Burrito Bar space, so we’ve had to get creative with the layout and operations to make sure we can maintain the same efficiency we’ve built in Dallas," he says. "I’m sure there will be some growing pains along the way, but our goal is simple: serve the same quality food and provide the same level of hospitality that got us here in the first place."

They weren't actively looking to open a second location, but Fort Worth turned out to be a perfect place for expansion.

"When Pine Isle started taking off, our first focus was investing back into the original store," he says. "We wanted to make sure we could handle the growth before chasing another lease. But this Fort Worth location just made sense. It’s right by TCU, and I also knew the area well since our Zaap Kitchen Fort Worth location is only a few minutes away."

"On top of that, customers have been asking us to come west for a while," he says. "Fort Worth has grown a lot over the years, and we’re excited to be a part of that growth."

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