Florida Wineries Are A Tasty ExperienceFlorida wineries are one of the state's best kept little secrets. I enjoyed a wonderful glass of white wine with my Naples neighbors the other night. They were surprised to learn that the wine was made at a nearby Florida winery. They were also surprised to learn that wine gift baskets in Florida are almost as common as citrus baskets. Buying wine online is also possible at many of these wineries. Just a few months ago, I would have shared their amazement. I didn't realize until then that Florida has a thriving wine industry. The wine we enjoyed was Alva White, a light white wine. I had bought it at a nearby winery the day before. MOST FLORIDA WINERIES MAKE WINE FROM GRAPES My wine expertise is limited. Either I like a wine or I don't. I liked this wine and so did my neighbors. Even though I'm a long time Floridian, I assumed for many years that Florida wineries made citrus wine. I had no idea that any of them even knew a grape wine recipe. I didn't even know there was such a thing as a Florida wine tasting event. I was wrong about the citrus wine. Florida grows nice grapes, and I was missing a lot by not knowing more about these wineries. The wine we enjoyed the other night was made at at one of our Southwest Florida Wineries, Eden Vineyards near Alva east of Fort Myers. 
Wine actually has a long history in Florida. It goes back to a century before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.
SPANISH EXPLORERS The first Spanish explorers came to the land they called La Florida back in the 1500's. These Spaniards discovered wild grapes growing in the tangled jungles and hammocks along the Florida east coast. They picked the grapes, began growing them and making wine from their harvests. These were the first Florida wineries. Agriculture is a Florida tradition, and many parts of the state have rich soil ideal for growing grapes and berries. Some parts of Florida are hilly, and look like vineyard country. Among the many types of wine, muscadine is especially tasty and produced in quantity in Florida. The University of Florida has done a lot of research leading to the development of hybrid grapes specially suited to Florida soils and climate. They have helped create a wide variety of grapes. THERE ARE AT LEAST 28 WINERIES AND VINEYARDS IN FLORIDA They produce many types of wines, and are scattered throughout the several regions of Florida. They are located from the Florida panhandle to Homestead, south of Miami. Grape harvests begin in May and usually end in September. Florida wineries and vineyards are fun to visit, and quite often give you a glimpse of rural Florida. Many of them will not only sell you wine, but give you personalized wine bottle labels. This can be fun for wedding receptions, special occasions like birthdays, or for just plain fun. FLORIDA WINERIES ARE FUN TO VISIT Most wineries also have shops with wine related gifts, and most of them also host wine tasting events. Some other wineries sell wine gift baskets. I always assumed wine gift baskets in Florida were rare. I thought gift baskets in the Sunshine State are full of citrus. The map below is from the Florida Department of Agriculture. It shows the locations of certified Florida wineries. Wineries that are certified by the Florida Department of Agriculture have to be open to visitors and publish reliable visiting hours.
Most of these wineries are off the beaten path. They meet the backroads theme of this website. They are in wonderful Florida towns that are a delight to visit. These places can be the centerpiece of an appealing Florida travel experience. The 18 certified Florida wineries that I am aware of are:
Some of the non-certified wineries may be open for tours and tastings from time to time. It is best to call in advance, or visit their website. This website is a work in progress. I will be adding additional information and links to winery websites in the future. In the meantime, enjoy your visit to a Florida winery and let me know how you liked the wine. Return From Florida Wineries
|
