Texas Day Trip: Messina Hof Winery

by Michael Satterfield - 06/21/2021

This week we have been driving the new Nissan Rogue, the Japanese brand's midsize SUV designed to compete with the Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V. Since this is the Platinum trim level we decided a day in Texas wine country would be the perfect fit. Nissan has done an amazing job at taking the Rogue upscale with diamond pleated leather, premium sound system, large infotainment screen, and a bevy of technology.

Our destination was the Messina Hof Winery and resort on the outskirts of Bryan, Texas just a short drive from our home. But I decided to take the long way to really test out Nissan's ProPilot Assist which I soon discovered might be one of the best driver assist systems on the market. The adaptive cruise is smooth and the steering adjustment is firm without jerking the steering wheel. If you are doing a lot of highway miles you should test drive a Nissan with ProPilot.

Arriving at Messina Hof, the Rogue fits is just fine with the sea of midsized upscale SUVs you often find in the parking lot at wineries, but it stands out with its handsome new styling. Messina Hof is a family owned winerier with vineyards across Texas, and is the most award-winning winery in Texas. The Bryan location is the original winery which started with a single-acre in 1977 and has grown to be the fourth largest winery in Texas.

We opted for lunch at the on site restaurant which offers a mix of Italian and American cuisine, much of the produce is grown in the Messina Hof garden and each dish is paired with a wine. The food is always excellent and worth the drive on its own. After lunch you can explore the property, take a guided tour to learn more about the winemaking process, or just enjoy some time out by the lake. If you are coming from out of out town you can always opt to stay at the Villa, the onsite Bed and Breakfast offers eleven suites each inspired by grand hotels in Europe.

The winery also hosts a number of events like Harvest Festivalweekends where you can take part in the grape harvest, stomp grapes, and enjoy brunch. They also host murder mystery dinners and special tasting events throughout the year.

We picked up a few bottles to bring home and headed back to the Nissan, we took a short drive through the surrounding coutnryside and enjoyed the smooth ride and supringly luxury of the Rogue. For a road trip vehicle or daily driver the Nissan Rogue was seriously impressive especially in the Platinum trim. Even at this top teir level, the Rogue comes in at under $40,000 making it an increadable value in this segment.