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Grape harvest at Messina Hof Winery & Resort
Now is the time to begin your search for a winery that allows wine lovers to experience a grape harvest. Some wineries around the country offer an opportunity for wine enthusiasts to participate in harvesting grapes. These wineries are happy to provide the experience for little cost. Activities may also include stomping grapes, music and food. Our experiences have taken place at grape harvests in Maryland and Texas. All were fun experiences. While searching for wineries that offer a grape harvest experience, keep in mind that other wineries prefer to have only their own employees harvesting grapes. Please do not enter any vineyard without permission.
Of the wineries we have visited for harvest, Messina Hof Winery & Resort in Bryan, Texas provides the most detailed experience. In 2017 the winery is hosting their 40th Annual Grape Harvest. This event takes place over several weeks. This year the first harvest event is in the evening from 7:30 to 10pm on July 28. On Friday, the Moonlit Harvest begins with a Blessing of the Vines followed by harvesting the grapes and then grape stomping. The general admission ticket this year is $59.95 plus the tax and gratuity. This ticket will include the general admission, a harvest shirt and a dinner buffet.
Additional 2017 Harvest Days at Messina Hof include July 29, August 5, August 12, and August 19 . These days include orientation, harvest, the Big Kahuna Contest, grape stomping, tour and wine tasting, lunch and a food & wine pairing class. Ticket prices vary depending on the activities in which you wish to participate. Prices begin at $35 plus tax and the high end is $75 plus tax and gratuity which includes the wine and food pairing.
If you don’t get to Messina Hof’s Bryan location, consider attending Messina Hof’s location in Fredericksburg, Texas. The Fredericksburg location has a harvest festival scheduled for August 25 and August 26. Tickets are available online.
To discover a winery that offers wine enthusiasts a grape harvest event, check with your favorite winery. Otherwise do an internet search for wineries that offer this delightful experience.
If you are not sure what to expect, read our blogs that we wrote about our experiences when harvesting grapes. Check out this blog about a harvest festival we attended at Messina Hof.
We also have a reviews of Messina Hof at their Bryan, Texas location and the Fredericksburg location. If you will be traveling and need lodging, both locations have lodging available. Check out this article about the Villa at the Bryan winery. An article about the lodging at Fredericksburg is here.
Cheers!
Kathy
Bodegas La Val, a Rias Baixas Winery
Albariño wine from Bodegas La Val in Rias Baixas
Bodegas La Val is located in the DO Rias Baixas of Spain. The winery was established in 1985 by Mr. Jose Limeres Guille. Historically, Bodegas La Val was started in the O Rosal region. In 2003 the winery relocated to Finca Arantei in Condado do Tea. It was one of the first wineries in the region to focus on using only their own estate grown grapes. In 2010 the winery was bought out by a group of investors and today the administrators of Bodegas La Val are Fernando Bandeira García and Antonio Ruiloba Molíns. Now Bodegas La Val has four estate vineyards that cover approximately 60 hectares (148 acres). The soils in the vineyards range from slate to alluvial and granite. The focus of the winery is the popular Albariño grape variety. In addition to producing Albariño wines, Bodegas La Val is producing liquors. Current liquors include: White eaux-de-vie, Herbs eaux-de-vie, Coffee Liquor and Cream Orujo.
The wines of Bodegas La Val are distributed to over 20 countries. The majority of wines are shipped to the United States, the UK and Germany.
The La Val 2015 was produced with the Albariño grape variety. It had 12% alcohol and the retail price is $18. The wine spent two months on lees. The winery tasting notes included, “The wine has an intense and clean straw-yellow colour with bright green tones. On the nose it shows aromas of fresh herbs and laurel with fine floral and lemon notes as well as white stone fruits. In the mouth it is fresh and rich, with citrus notes and a long finish.” Bodegas La Val suggests food matches including cheese, foie gras, rice, pasta, chicken, fish and seafood.
Enotourism at Bodegas La Val
Tourists and travelers can visit Bodegas la Val and receive guided tours. The winery offers to adapt the tours based on whether the visitors are tourists, professionals or visiting for a leisurely experience. Tours can last from one to three hours. Tours are available in Spanish, English and Galician. Visits may include wine tasting and appetizers. Access to Bodegas La Val is available daily at specific times. Contact Bodegas La Val for registration and more details.
Below is an online interview with Chema Ureta, the winemaker at Bodegas La Val.
Recent Online Interview with winemaker Chema Ureta at Bodegas La Val
What are your most enjoyable aspects of winemaking?
The heterogeneity of the vintages, every year is different. It is not a methodical or a routine process, every year you have to face different challenges that test your winemaking skills, sometimes you have to take a fast decision that transforms into transcendental, that creates passion for this job.
How and when did your wine journey begin?
I am the fourth generation of winemakers. Already in the early 1900’s, my great-grandfather bought wine in bulk to sell it in a wine store. From an early age, I was busy filling bottles, cleaning barrels, bottling wine, etc, you can say that I grew up surrounded by wine
Why did you decide to start making wine?
I had it in my blood and studied for it.
What do you wish you knew when you started making wine that you now know?
When it comes to winemaking, the less you interfere, the better.
To what do you contribute your success as a winemaker?
If we consider success the fact that our wines are appreciated, I think that it is due to several reasons such as the quality of our vineyard, the dedication and generosity of our workers , and the good job at the winery.
Albariño is a very food friendly wine. What types of foods do you like to pair with Albariño wine?
Of course, the seafood is the perfect pairing, as well as fresh cheese, but for me it is a surprise how good it pairs with Japanese food (sushi, sashimi, etc).
Look for Bodegas La Val wines at your favorite local wine shop.
Cheers!
Kathy