A long-awaited boutique hotel in Grapevine is finally sabering the champagne. Hotel Vin, Autograph Collection — a 120-room luxury hotel located in the town's bustling historic district — debuts Thursday, September 3, with grand-opening fanfare extending through the long Labor Day weekend.
Part of the new, $114 million Grapevine Main development, Hotel Vin (pronounced "vin," not "veen") nods to the city's history as a wine-producing region. From design flourishes to an exclusive glassware program, the hotel's wine motif is carried through in refined ways reminiscent of a high-end Napa Valley resort, says Tom Santora, the hotel's managing director.
"It’s really thoughtful touches throughout the hotel that provide you the atmosphere that doesn’t scream 'wine' at all," Santora says.
Blink-or-you'll-miss-them examples include ballroom chandeliers that are made of wine glasses and champagne flutes; an art installation crafted from wine barrel staves; and a beautiful custom-made wall that houses decanters, goblets, and other wine decor.
The property will offer regular wine-tastings and seminars, and throughout the hotel and its restaurants, wine will be served in varietal-specific Riedel glassware to enhance its enjoyment. No more sipping New World Pinot Noir from a Tempranillo glass, thank you very much.
Dining and drinking
The hotel will house two eateries: the premier Bacchus Kitchen + Bar, and the tapas-style Rioja Rooftop Terrace.
Bacchus Kitchen + Bar (named for the Roman god of wine) will feature contemporary cuisine in an upscale and approachable setting. Headed by executive chef William Salisbury, it will include locally sourced fare from nearby purveyors and farms; handcrafted cocktails; craft beer; and an elevated wine program including a temperature-controlled wine wall stocked with more than 860 bottles. (More on the menu here.)
Coming in October will be much-buzzed-about Harvest Hall, a food hall whose operators will include Easy Sliders, Arepa TX, Chick & Biscuit Comfort Cuisine, Four Sisters – A Taste of Vietnam, Spuntino Bites of Italy, and Zatar, a Fort Worth food truck that does Mediterranean cuisine.
Throughout the hotel, an extensive wine program will showcase national and international wines. Santora says these include vintages from Bordeaux, Tuscany, Rioja, Napa, Sonoma, Oregon, and even Upstate New York. It does not, however, include wines from Grapevine.
"We're partnering with local vineyards for tastings and VIP tours," he says. "Our wine list itself is more about New and Old World Wines."
More highlights of Hotel Vin include:
- Of the 120 rooms, there are six suites and one presidential suite. All feature high-tech amenities such as "Enseo," with allows guests to customize their in-room entertainment from the touch of a smartphone.
- A 38,000 square-foot outdoor plaza.
- A 500-space parking garage.
- More than 20,000 square feet of flexible indoor-outdoor meeting space (including eight meeting rooms).
- The Bordeaux ballroom, offering panoramic views of Main Street and the community plaza below.
- State-of-the-art fitness center, luxe sunroom, and two outdoor patios.
- Four private dining rooms, including a wine room and an intimate hidden alcove.
- A location in front of the new TEXRail line, which connects DFW Airport to downtown Fort Worth, as well as steps from the shopping, dining, and entertainment along historic Main Street District.
- Part of Marriott's Bonvoy loyalty program, which provides perks for travelers.
Santora acknowledges that opening a hotel during the COVID-19 pandemic has presented some challenges (health and safety precautions are outlined on their website). But, he says, the community has been supportive — opening night at the restaurant is sold out, and the hotel is booked 70 percent on opening weekend.
He also acknowledges that Grapevine is a hotel-dense town, with the massive Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, staycation-friendly Great Wolf Lodge, and a dozen others within a few miles. He is sure Hotel Vin can stand out among the crowd.
"We're really the first and only boutique lifestyle hotel in Grapevine," he says. "So if you look at who we’re competing with, it's really the Joule or Crescent or Adolphus in Dallas, or the Sinclair in Fort Worth. Plus, we're the only hotel on Main Street and really have that advantage, whether for business travelers or staycations or a group coming in for a meeting."
Opening details
Hotel Vin, 215 E. Dallas Rd., is opening with a full weekend of dinner features, brunch specials, wine tastings, and live music, including:
Thursday, September 3
5-6:30 pm: Live music from La Pompe
6-10 pm: Bacchus Kitchen + Bar dinner special featuring Lobster Thermidor with Jadot Poully Fuisse
7-10 pm: Live music from Ricki Derek
Friday, September 4
3:39-5:39 pm: Bacchus Kitchen + Bar Inaugural Happy Hour
5-11 pm: Bacchus Kitchen + Bar dinner special featuring a 42 oz. Porterhouse with Blackbird’s Paramour
7-10 pm: Live music from the Joe Savage Band
Saturday, September 5
11 am-3 pm: Derby Day Brunch offerings by G.H. Mumm and Woodford Reserve
5-11 pm: Bacchus Kitchen + Bar dinner special featuring Whole Grilled Fish with Robert Mondavi Fume Blanc
7-10 pm: Live music from The British Are Coming
6-8 pm.: Complimentary cigar rolling from Ole Grapevine Cigar & Tobacco
6:30-8:30 pm: Blackbird Vineyards wine tasting (limited availability)
6:30-8:30 pm: Riedel Wine Glass tasting (limited availability)
Sunday, September 6
11 am-3 pm: Bacchus Kitchen + Bar brunch special
11 am-2 pm.: Live music from Maya Piata
5-11:00 pm: Bacchus Kitchen + Bar dinner special featuring Fried Chicken with Perrier Jouet
Monday, September 7
11 am-3 pm: Bacchus Kitchen + Bar brunch special
To mark the grand opening, two special guest packages are available September 3-December 30. The "76051 Locals Only" and "Escape to Grapevine" packages offer guests 15 to 50 percent off per night. Visit the website for additional details and to book.
Hotel Vin broke ground in January 2018 and is finally opening on September 3, 2020.
Gauguin in the World is on display at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston from now until February 16, 2025.
Photo courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
William Chris Vineyards has done it again.
Photo courtesy of William Chris Vineyards