Category: Travel

  • A Messina Hof VIP Day in Pauillac

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    As our Messina Hof VIP group traveled through the countryside of Pauillac on a beautiful Sunday in June, massive stone Chateaux rose from the sea of green grapevine leaves on each side of the road like luxurious miniature fortresses.   They stood silent and seemingly lifeless.  On Sundays very few wineries/Chateaux are open.  If you plan…

  • So You Think You Can Taste?

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    By Merrill Bonarrigo Do you taste what others do not? Do they smell what you do not? Larry O’Brien M.S. gave a great talk and tasting at the Durango Wine Experience on smelling and tasting wines. Larry works for Kendall Jackson sharing the details of terroir of the thousands of acres they own worldwide and…

  • Old World Debates New World

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    Old World Debates New World By Merrill Bonarrigo Messina Hof has used New World versus Old World blind tastings for 30 years in order to show the quality of Texas wines versus other wines which have broad market distribution. In January 2010 we did Messina Hof versus the world in a professionally-judged Twitter tasting. All have…

  • Visiting Shumi Winery in Kakheti, Georgia

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    294 varieties of Georgian grapes plus 94 varieties of European grapes grow in the Shumi vineyard, in Tsinandali, Telavi region of Georgia.  From this extensive library vineyard Shumi, which means ‘best wine’ in ancient Georgia, makes a special mistella style wine that is not reproducible.  Each year it changes depending on the field blend.  As…

  • A Guest is a Gift from God

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    Flying into The Republic of Georgia over the Caucasus Minor Mountains we got a sense of rugged independence and a sense of place. Georgians are a people who have been here for centuries and have a strong identity with their land. As we landed at the airport, the expectation was to see the birthplace of…