Florida Wine Tours 

Trade in the weekend whining for wine excursions

Did you know that Florida is actually the birthplace of American wine? According to Visit Florida, the first recorded reference to winemaking in the United States was found in St. Augustine, where Spanish missionaries used local, wild muscadine grapes to make wine for religious ceremonies. Today, there are approximately 20 “certified” wineries, recognized by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as Florida farm wineries, which maintain a minimum of 5 vineyard acres and other requirements. Collectively, they produce about 6.6 million liters of wine per year. However, Floridians and visitors are consuming even more wine through the likes of additional wineries throughout the state that do not comply with the certified distinction, despite offering tasty products. Whether you like dry, light, robust, or something in between, most Florida wineries are open to the public for tours and tastings. So, stop whining about where to go on your next date night or girls getaway weekend and, instead, book a sweet (or bold) wino weekend ─ without the interruption of whining kiddos!

Most Florida-made wines are sweet and fruity and, thus, ideal for pairing with dessert or presented as a sweet and unique gift. Some vineyards, such as Keel & Curley’s Winery, located in Plant City (one hour southwest of Orlando), truly take advantage of Florida’s famous fruits and juice blend creations, including Wild Blueberry, Key West-Key Lime, Tangerine Tango, Winemakers Reserve Blackberry, and, of course, Strawberry.

Just 25 miles outside of Orlando, in Clermont, Lakeridge Winery offers a Pink Crescendo ─ a favorite among vino fans who also like pink champagne ─ in addition to various red and white selections. Housed in a modern, Mission-style building set on 80-acres of gently rolling vineyards, Lakeridge is Florida’s largest premium winery. Their free tour includes a video presentation and views of the vineyards filled with
Florida hybrid bunch grapes including Stover, Suwannee, and Blanc Du Bois, as well as the native American varieties of Noble, Carlos, and Welder Muscadine. A free tasting is included, featuring up to eight of its award-winning wines, sipped in the gift shop that carries gourmet foods and wine accessories. Like other wineries, this local producer maintains an active event schedule, offering music festivals and harvest grape stomps.

Lakeridge’s sister property, San Sebastian Winery, located in St. Augustine, makes wine on site, just a short distance from the city’s famous tourist destinations. While San Sebastian’s vineyards are located elsewhere in Florida, the winery still offers delicious tastings, enjoyable tours, and a shop catering to wine enthusiasts with items such as olive oil, cheese, mustards, cork openers, and cookbooks. Head upstairs to San Sebastian’s rooftop to drink in the city’s amazing skyline at The Cellar Upstairs Wine, Jazz & Blues Bar (only open on weekends).

If you’re planning a trip to South Florida, schedule a stop at Schnebly Redland’s Winery and Brewery in Homestead, for a weekend tour with the “crafters of the most exotic wines and beers in the world.” The gorgeous grounds boast a lush courtyard, natural coral waterfalls, acres of exotic tropical fruits and vegetables, and an impressive Grand Tasting Room to try signature selections concocted with mango, lychee, guava, and passion fruit, all personally picked for fermentation. For west coast travelers, Bradenton’s Rosa Fiorelli Winery offers a comfortable and homey feel thanks to owner Rosa and her husband, Antonio, who decided to give winemaking a try after noting similarities between Bradenton and their native land of Casteldaccia in Sicily. Visitors can tour the vineyard and winery, sample wines and, in August, pick muscadine grapes right off the vine.

In 2012, Jill Ramsier and David Forrester opened Quantum Leap Winery, located in the Mills 50 district, to “bring good wine to Orlando in a more sustainable-friendly way,” including the elimination of heavy bottles typically shipped from international wineries. Quantum Leap contracts with various grape growers to receive crushed fruit in a fresh, fermented wine state, which is then locally aged and packaged in low carbon footprint vessels, such as light-weight bottles, kegs, pouches, or boxes ─ yes, that means wine on tap! Because Quantum Leap partners with growers outside of the state, the wine is not limited to muscadine grapes and, therefore, offers locals a chance to taste diverse, quality wines with local finesse. Wine lovers who typically shy away from the sweetness of Riesling wines might actually enjoy Quantum’s Leaps “dry” version, made with only half a gram of sugar, compared to the 2 ½ to 3 grams of sugar per liter in most Riesling labels. Winos can book private functions, join the wine club, or enjoy the live music and bustling atmosphere of the Wine Down evenings, held on the second Friday of each month.

Still whining for a winery closer to home? Create your own! According to the Florida Grape Growers Association, in 1979, the Federal government and the State of Florida waived the requirement of needing a permit for home winemaking. However, certain regulations are still in effect, such as the legal limit of 200 gallons of wine per year for a head of household or 100 gallons per year for a single individual (over the legal drinking age), for personal consumption only. However, 200 gallons per year is over 1 1/3 bottles per day and far in excess of the per capita consumption in the leading European wine consuming countries of France and Italy. Winemaking kits are available at select retailers or online. To access home winemaking guidelines, visit fgga.org; and for more information about Florida wineries, log onto visitflorida.com.