Messina Hof Grapevine Winery — Attraction in Grapevine

If I could give this place zero stars I would. My mother and I were in Dallas for the weekend and decided to check out the wineries in Grapevine before heading back to Austin. We made our way down Main St., My mother saw Messina Hoff, and stated they had great wine! It was Sunday, and it was still a bit before they opened, so we decided to walk around a until about 5-10 minutes after they open.

We come back to Messina after they open, and they already have some patrons browsing inside. We go up to the bar, and told them we were interested in doing a tasting. The server asked us if we had been there before, and proceeds to tell us how the token system works. There was no recommendations for wine, no information about the winery or the grapes they use, just a cavalier "Want do you guys want?". We are still excited, so we brush this off, and pick out our first wine. Before the wine is poured, the server runs my mother's card, and has her sign the receipt. My mother leaves a 15% tip, and figured we would pay more in cash at the end based on service.

Our server pours our first wine, and proceeds to disappear. We notice that it is twenty-something after noon, and all the team members are running around setting up for service (stocking wine bottles, putting down floor mats, ect.) We also notice that several other patrons had come in for tastings and were getting an entire introduction into the wine by a different server, the prices, the grapes, and nice banter from their servers.

After our first wine, which was good, we sit for five minutes with empty glasses watching the servers and (I assume manager) behind the bar frantically setting up for the day. Finally the manager (?) comes over and asks if we are "Having the BEST time ever??" (Rather sarcastically) To which we look at our empty wine glasses, look back at her, and give her a very sarcastic "sure"...

Let me take a moment here to state that I am currently in restaurant and bar management, and have been in other types of retail management in the past. When a guest is unhappy, it is my job to find out what went wrong and how I can fix it. It is also my job to have my establishment ready for service when those doors open... (The manager made sure to loudly mention to other patrons next to us that they had just opened... It was 12:30.)

We proceed to have two more people pour us wine coldly while we see every other patrons around us getting friendly, thoughtful, and inviting service. At no point were we rude or obnoxious, we did absolutely nothing that would warrant the type of service (or lack thereof) that we received.

After sitting for several more minutes with empty glasses and one more drink token, we finally decide to leave. As we get up the manager asks us if we wanted to take our glasses, my mother says no, and that this was the worst experience she has ever had a winery. The woman, in a vile and disgusting tone says, "oh, sorry". It was quite obvious she wasn't sorry about us having a terrible experience.

We went into Messina Hof in a great mood, and left with notes of bitterness in our mouths. We will never buy or drink Messina Hof ever again.

We went down the street to Grapevine Winery, got EXCELLENT guest service, and proceeded to buy two tastings, a set of truffles, and four...

Where to begin. It was our first visit (normally go to Fredericksburg). Went to the Main Street tasting room. First impressions: dated, dusty, Italian grandma’s house, cluttered with oversized-for-the-space wine barrel tables and bar stools.

Service felt very rushed/pushy. The man didn’t really care to explain anything even after being told we are first time visitors. PERFECT opportunity to lure us in and possibly snag a membership and sell wine. But no, He was very loud and doing multiple things at one time. With My wife and I standing there to see what we wanted to do the man cuts me off to yell directions at people across the room then looks back at me like I should be ready to order. I had to drag menu information out of him to even begin ordering.

The tasting tokens are a joke. Very odd system. When you walk around and through the snake trails of bar stools (clutter) up to the counter they request you sit the token down first THEN they take it. The one time i forgot and tried handing the man the token he said . “Oh no don’t do that, put it down first then I’ll take it.” I guess directly handing it to them is unheard of. No explanation or anything. You also stand at the counter a while just for them to aggressively yell at the waiting patrons, “if you’re doing a tasting then walk over to this side and get it.” Classy.

Everyone seemed unorganized. Definitely no leadership. Staff walking around but seemed to be doing nothing really. One woman was filling up pitchers with sink water behind the bar and taking to tables. no ice, no filtered water. Just room temp bar sink water. Classy.

What went from my wife and I just wanting to try new wine turned into me observing the chaos around us. There’s no warmth. Or the “want” for you to be there. Everything is very robotic. Order, drink, don’t make eye contact, leave. There’s no one trying to be personable and talk about the wines you’re tasting/drinking. The place just isn’t for us so we’ll walk on by next time we come with a group.

Take notes from Landon- immediately greeted, same crowd amount and still had great staff, actively informative of each wine, and manager talked to us and others for a while and had great laughs. That’s why we spent $609 and a...

The wine was good and so was the charcuterie board however the 2 girls at the bar were extremely rude. This was our first time visiting, the girl at the bar called 'Sam Douglas' greeted us but went on about her business eating and drinking a sonic drink. Me and my husband didn't not know if we were to seat our selves or wait. I approached the bar and asked her my self. She said you can sit where you want but order at bar. I asked her if she could provide me with information on the cheeses on the board and she said whatever we have and was not helpful at all. When asked if there were any soft cheeses she was rude again and said I don't know. Mind you the charcuterie board is $24 so I would like to know what's coming on my board. My husband does not drink wine so asked if there was anything else. She pointed to a water machine and said that's all we have. She really made me feel like a second class citizen. I do not like that when you ask for a tasting you have to take a token once at a time to the bar. On my 2nd tasting, 'Sam' asked me to bring my empty wine glass to the bar to keep my table clean! Mind you their tastings are not cheap and more expensive than in the area!! Once I was done I took my finished charcuterie board and empty wine glasses to the bar and did her job for her. When I said I didn't know if I needed to bring my dirty plates and finished charcuterie board as I was required to bring my dirty glasses to the bar, she did not say anything! I told her she was very rude, her colleague 'Payton Newton' went on to say 'she heard you!'. If the owner is reading this please evaluate their customer service skills. It is definitely a cute little place but in order to justify the prices you are charging, please have happy and willing to work employees there! Both girls made me feel like I was bothering them everytime I went to the bar as they were deep in conversation everytime I went for my tasting. Lord knows it's hard to find employees at this time but we have to draw the line somewhere! Please...