Florida Vineyards = Family Fun

Visiting a winery in Florida can equal family fun for all.  It’s a part of Florida many visitors, many residents, don’t even know exist!  That’s right!  Florida’s vineyards are an interesting part of Florida history and few people know about it, but many more people have been discovering recently.

Centuries before Sonoma Valley was giving tours, before California was even a state, wine was being made in Florida.  Among the state’s lush vegetation and rich fruits and flowers were the peninsula’s native grapevines.  These grapes were harvested by the Spanish settlers and converted into the first American wine.  Since then Florida’s rich soils and rolling hills have supported both vineyards and wine making.  In fact, this wine is still made in the very same way it was then.  Naturally, the technology has advanced but the process hasn’t changed.  The muscadine grape is indigenous to the southeast region of the country and its aromatic wines are a southern specialty that’s not produced anywhere else.

One reason for the popularity of muscadine grapes is that they are a sustainable fruit crop in Florida.  They are tolerant of insect and disease so even homeowners could successfully grow muscadine grapes without spraying any pesticides.  Another is the health benefits it offers.  Muscadine grapes are reputedly a very high source of resveratrol.  While the actual amount is in dispute, a recent analysis at the Louisiana State University found that muscadine wine had up to six times more resveratrol than red wine from Spain.  Yet in spite of its already beneficial qualities, scientists at the University of Florida have been committed to improving Sunshine State grapes.  This research has developed varieties that further flourish in Florida’s subtropical climate, are even better suited to our soils and are more perfect for wine making.  The development of these new hybrid grapes, with high taste and aroma qualities, secures the promise of a bright future for Florida’s vineyards.

So you say, what happened to Florida citrus?!  Well, twenty years ago, the Florida Orange Groves Winery, in Pinellas County, became Florida’s original tropical fruit winery….and they don’t stop at oranges!  They produce over 43 different varieties of premium tropical fruit wines!  Thus, they are the only Florida wine ever allowed at Disney’s Epcot International Food and Wine Festival held annually.

The wineries and vineyards scattered throughout the state of Florida have harvest times ranging from May to September.  Many have tours that will allow you to watch or participate in the wine making process — the corking, bottling, labeling, and even sampling of the wonderful and distinctive varieties of delicious Florida wines.  Some vineyards even let visitors pick grapes (or other fruits) right off the vines.  That way you can try your hand at home wine making.  …and that’s a twist on traditional Florida that I can get into! 

For an official list of Florida’s wineries visit: http://www.fgga.org/brochure.htm