During a trip to Umbria in 2012, the founders of Messina Hof, Paul V. and Merrill, fell in love with Sagrantino. They were impressed by the boldness of the grape and the resultant wine. It was hearty like Texans and seemed to thrive on heat and soil similar to ours.

As soon as they landed back in the States, they were in search of the varietal. They called nurseries from the East Coast to the West Coast, but to their deep disappointment, not one nursery carried cuttings of it.

Months later, Paul V. received a phone call from University of California Davis telling him they had vines of what they thought was Primitivo, but after running DNA testing turned out to be Sagrantino.

Paul V. bought every vine they had.

He planted the rootstock in his partner vineyards in Lamesa and Brownfield, Texas in 2013 and in his Estate vineyard in Bryan, Texas in 2014.

One year later, Messina Hof Winery created the first-ever Sagrantino in Texas with the debut of the 2014 Paulo Sagrantino.

Now, in 2024, our portfolio has expanded to four different Sagrantino wines: Paulo Sagrantino, Estate Sagrantino, Sagrantino Reserva, and Bonarrigo Family Wines Heritage Reserve. We are always looking at ways to innovate with this amazing varietal, so keep an eye out for new releases!

Our Sagrantino Reserva is an exquisite, dark red wine with intense tannins and rich, jammy fruit flavors. Oak aging adds hints of vanilla and cinnamon with earthy undertones. Sagrantino is a grape with incredible structure, tannin and flavor. Unique and exclusive, it is one of the first Sagrantinos to be grown in Texas.

The grapes were grown at an elevation of 3,600 feet in the Texas High Plains. Aged for 20 months in hybrid oak barrels.

Awards:

• Silver at the 2024 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition
• Silver at the 2024 Sommelier Choice Awards
• Texas Class Champion at the 2023 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo International Wine Competition
• Gold at the 2022 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo International Wine Competition

The debut vintage of this Paulo Sagrantino was one of the first Texas wines to receive a gold medal at the 2017 AWC Vienna, the largest officially recognized wine competition in the world.

Paulo Sagrantino is an exquisite bold wine with flavors of black plum and dark, jammy fruits. As this wine undergoes extensive oak aging in brand new fusion oak barrels delicate hints of spice and earth begin to develop. Unique and exclusive, Messina Hof was the first to grow and produce Sagrantino in Texas.

Awards:

• Silver at the 2024 TEXSOM
• Double Gold at the 2023 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo International Wine Competition
• Gold at the 2023 Lone Star International Wine Competition
• Grand Star Red at the 2023 Lone Star International Wine Competition

Messina Hof’s Estate Sagrantino has beautiful deep ruby color and bold tannins. Light aromas of bell peppers are complemented with jammy red fruit flavors. Extensive oak aging adds complexity and soft leather notes.

This classic wine pairs perfectly with beef, lamb and wild game. These Sagrantino grapes were harvested and produced from Messina Hof’s Estate Vineyard in Bryan, Texas.

*This wine is not submitted to competitions due to its limited availability.

A bold blend of traditional Italian varieties (Sagrantino, Sangiovese, and Primitivo), this wine has rustic nuances of herbs and spice with aromas of smoked meats. Dynamic flavors of tart cherry and stewed tomatoes complement the stronger tannins giving this wine an elegant complexity.

The Bonarrigo Family began making wine in Messina, Sicily over 200 years ago. For Seven Generations the Bonarrigos have produced wines of passion and heart. The tradition started in Italy, took root in America, and today the family continues crafting soulful wines in Texas while honoring its Italian lineage.

Awards:

• Gold at the 2022 San Antonion Stock Show & Rodeo
• Silver at the 2022 San Francisco International Wine Competition
• Bronze at the 2024 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo International Wine Competition