Farina’s Winery & Cafe

“Where Friends Meet” is the catchy slogan Farina’s Winery & Café came up with after opening in 2007. After eating at Farina’s a handful of times, I think that slogan could not be any truer. Perfectly located in the heart of Grapevine’s Historic District on Main Street, Farina’s is surrounded by charming shops and boutiques. Whether you are grabbing lunch with a friend after shopping next door at The Edge Apparel or enjoying dinner and a bottle of wine at night, Farina’s laid back atmosphere will make you want to stay a while (as you’ll see from my photos, we did just that).

We started the evening with the Stonewood Pinot Noir, Fattoria Chianti, and Farina’s Frozen Sangria. What I really like about their happy hour is that they offer almost all of their wines by the glass at the happy hour price of $6.00 whereas many other restaurants typically offer only a handful of house wines. Our wonderful waitress introduced me to my now favorite Chardonnay, Spellbound. I could not get over how delicious this wine was. It has hints of pineapple and vanilla that give it such a unique flavor. *Interesting fact: Farina’s sells the most Spellbound in the U.S.!* We also sampled another delicious Chardonnay, Novellum that I would also recommend. It is uniquely aged on Viognier lees which gives it a honeysuckle and white peach-scented nose (so I’m told).

During happy hour they offer their pizza at half-price. Normal pizza prices start at $8.50 and go up from there depending on how many toppings you add. I recommend ordering a few different pizzas and sharing. I consider their pizzas to be personal size pizzas. I know what you’re thinking, any pizza can be a personal size pizza if you set your mind to it. But really, if you have an appetite, you will finish a pizza on your own. The Margherita and Italian Sausage are my favorites. The Margherita comes with the classic ingredients of fresh tomatoes and basil with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Anytime I eat Margherita pizza I ask for a side of balsamic vinegar. The waitress insisted we try their creamy Italian dressing with the pizza as well. At first I thought that may be overdoing it and taking away from the pizza but she was so right. It was delicious and feels a little classier than asking for a side of ranch… Now there was no hesitation when I was told I had to try the Farina family favorite, “Spaghetti Pizza”. It is exactly how it sounds. Spaghetti on top of a pizza. They cook spaghetti and put it on top of a cheese pizza and then add more cheese. So pretty much it’s carb heaven (highly recommend).

A few nights a week they have live music. Usually one person on the guitar that creates a nice ambiance for the evening. Farina’s also has a beautiful patio in the back with a bar and fireplace perfect to enjoy a glass of wine once the weather warms up. One thing you’ll always find is the owner, Gary, visiting with tables and having a few laughs. Again, making you feel welcome and just want to stay a while, so it is no surprise this is “where friends meet”. The next time you’re in the area or in the mood for Italian and wine, head over to Farina’s Winery & Café. I promise it won’t disappoint.