| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
| |
|
|
WHEREAS, Messina Hof Winery is celebrating its 40th |
|
|
anniversary in 2017; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In 1977, the winery was established by Paul Vincent |
|
|
Bonarrigo, a sixth-generation winemaker from New York, and his |
|
|
wife, Bryan native Merrill Bonarrigo; these pioneers in the Texas |
|
|
wine industry planted a one-acre experimental vineyard in Bryan |
|
|
with 50 varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, and |
|
|
Lenoir, and four years later, Messina Hof Winery won a medal at the |
|
|
Texas State Fair with a black Spanish-Cabernet blend; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The business grew rapidly during the 1980s; |
|
|
following the addition of two vineyards, Messina Hof produced 1,300 |
|
|
gallons of wine in 1983 and released its first commercial vintage, |
|
|
which included Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Papa Paulo |
|
|
Port offerings; it began Texas distribution in 1987 and soon |
|
|
expanded into Japan; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Over the years, Messina Hof has received myriad |
|
|
accolades; its Angel Late Harvest Riesling was the first Texas wine |
|
|
to score a 90 in Wine Spectator, and in 2013, the winery was the |
|
|
first in the Lone Star State to win the Top All-Around Winery award |
|
|
at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The Bonarrigos brought their son, Paul Mitchell, |
|
|
into the business, and in 2011, the family opened Messina Hof Hill |
|
|
Country Winery; Paul Mitchell Bonarrigo became chief executive |
|
|
officer in 2012 and his wife, Karen, was named director of |
|
|
administration; they opened Messina Hof Grapevine Winery at the end |
|
|
of 2014, and the company has continued to flourish; it now produces |
|
|
130,000 gallons annually; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, For four decades, Messina Hof Winery has contributed |
|
|
to the growth, vitality, and prosperity of the Texas wine industry, |
|
|
and its management and staff may take pride in the company's |
|
|
achievements as they mark this significant milestone in its |
|
|
history; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby congratulate Messina Hof Winery on its 40th |
|
|
anniversary and extend to all those associated with the enterprise |
|
|
sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for the winery as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|
|
House of Representatives. |
| |
|
|
Kacal |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 2088 was adopted by the House on May |
|
|
25, 2017, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |