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 a few of my Naples friends a year or so ago. They were surprised to learn that the wine was made at a nearby Florida winery. A couple of years ago I would have shared their amazement. I didn't realize until then that Florida has a thriving wine industry. The Florida Department of Agriculture map below shows the certified wineries. Wineries that are certified by the Florida Department of Agriculture have to be open to visitors and publish reliable visiting hours. The list of certified wineries changes from year to year for a number of reasons. The list on this page is current as of July 10, 2011. It's best to go to the individual winery page on this website, get the phone number and call the winery directly.
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. Wine actually has a long history in Florida. It goes back to a century before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. SPANISH EXPLORERS MADE THE FIRST FLORIDA WINE 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 31 WINERIES AND VINEYARDS IN FLORIDA 15 of these wineries are certified by the State of Florida; 16 of them are not. 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. 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. Wineries that are certified by the Florida Department of Agriculture have to be open to visitors and publish reliable visiting hours. Non-certified wineries are also interesting and have tasty offerings, but they may or may not be open to visitors. Most of these wineries are off the beaten path. They meet the Florida backroads travel 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. There are at least 17 wineries in Florida that are not certified:
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. Also, many of the wineries sell wine gift baskets in Florida that can be sent to your friends and either purchased at the winery or online. Enjoy your visit to a Florida winery and let me know how you liked the wine. If you're way up in northeast Florida where there are no wineries, you can enjoy many other Family Activities in Jacksonville and still swing down to wineries in St. Augustine and Satsuma for some wine tasting. Tell Us About Your
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