About Messina Hof Hill Country

In 2011, The Bonarrigo family established the Messina Hof Hill Country Winery in Fredericksburg, Texas. Merrill Bonarrigo’s family originates from Hof, Germany and settled in Fredericksburg, Texas in 1800s. This beautiful 10-acre estate includes a Wine Garten, “Manor Haus” B&B, VIP Room and Guest Center.

Messina Hof Winery & Resort in Bryan, Texas was established in 1977 by Merrill & Paul Bonarrigo VI . Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo were part of the early Texas agricultural group that pioneered the Texas wine industry. Paul grew up in the Bronx, New York. Merrill was born and raised in Bryan, Texas. Paul’s family in Sicily has been making wine since the 1800s. The Bonarrigo tradition of winemaking was reborn in the United States when Paul Bonarrigo (also known as Paul VI) started creating Messina Hof wines in Texas. Messina Hof is now the most awarded Texas wine in national and international competitions.

Story of the origins of Hof of Messina Hof

Martin Kuno Sachs, a native of Hof, Germany, immigrated to New York City at the age of 17. After becoming a citizen he set his sights on Texas. The German communities around Fredericksburg seemed like home. He settled in the Hill Country where he worked on many of the courthouses as a pioneer brick maker. As he traveled around Texas sharing his craft, it led him to Grapevine, Elgin, and Waco. There he met and married his bride of 57 years Miss Alma Georgia Blount of Cherokee, Alabama. They settled in Houston, Texas, and raised twelve children. His invention of a brick conveyor to help make brick-making more efficient led to a partnership with Mike Butler of Austin to open Butler Bricks Works in Houston, Texas.

His great granddaughter, Merrill Bonarrigo, and her husband Paul continued the family traditions of innovation as pioneers in the Texas Wine industry through Messina Hof Brazos Valley in Bryan-College Station. Now his great- great grandson, Paul Mitchell Bonarrigo, with his wife Karen continue the legacy through Messina Hof Hill Country in Fredericksburg.