I grew up in Napa and moved to Spain for a brief time in my early 20s, so I was excited for a weekend away at Hotel Vin, where I’d be attending a Spanish wine tasting. I hoped to once again experience the regional varietals, cheese, and jamon I often enjoyed while living abroad.
Opened in 2020 in Grapevine’s downtown, the hotel harnesses the spirit of its locale, from a glass of bubbly served as a welcome to the extensive wine list offered at its restaurant, Bacchus Kitchen + Bar. My friend and I settled into our room, one of 120 rooms, and headed to the hotel’s Rioja Rooftop Terrace.
There, we enjoyed wines from Spain’s Rioja and Castille and Leon regions, where the country’s most renowned varietals are grown. Options included tempranillos and a verdejo from Spanish label Familia Torres. My favorite was a tempranillo called Celeste Crianza.
The wines were paired with a huge selection of cheeses and charcuterie, starring my favorite, Manchego cheese. It’s from Spain’s La Mancha region—home to Segovia, where Hemmingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls is set. The owner of Grapevine vendor Enrique Tomás, hand carved traditional jamon ibérico for a savory and slightly salty accompaniment.
Later in the evening, Flamenco-inspired dancers took to the stage in the center of the room, and I was immediately transported to a performance I attended in Seville nearly five years ago. As I listened, my friend and I chatted on the rooftop, taking in the views of Grapevine’s historic train station nearby.
We then headed downstairs to Harvest Hall, the European-style food hall connected to the hotel lobby and home to seven dining concepts. Options range from Chinese street food at Monkey King Noodle Co., to Italian at Spuntino and chicken sandwiches at Chick & Biscuit.
A standout item was the Brisket Arepa Sandwich—a Venezuelan combination of Texas’ favorite meat, avocado, and shoestring plantains topped with chimichurri sauce, wrapped in a maize dough (imagine a really thick, doughy tortilla). The dragon fruit smoothie at Zatar is a lighter, but tart and refreshing, choice.
The next morning, we enjoyed a morning pick-me-up from Main Line Coffee Bar, whose moniker is a nod to the venue’s rail station-inspired architecture. I chose the sweet White Rose Latte, while my partner opted for an Horchata Cold Brew.
Another evening, we explored Magnum, a cozy speakeasy accessible after dialing in at a phone booth next to the elevators. Inspired by the prohibition era, the 18-seat cocktail lounge showcases seasonal drink options and standout décor. I enjoyed the venue’s take on an Old Fashioned and a set of prints inspired by the king and queen of hearts.
We then journeyed next door to Bacchus Kitchen + Bar, where we participated in a wine education class and learned how the shape of the glass affects taste. We sipped the same red and white varietals in a plastic Solo cup, a standard wine glass, and glasses specifically made for the varietal we were given, discovering dramatic differences with each new glass.
For dinner, I recommend the Caesar Salad and Meatballs to start and the chicken for the main course. We finished the night with a miniature lemon meringue tart—an ideal way to end a meal and a quick DFW staycation.
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