Things to do / Travel Guide
The Spaniards and French who first reached Florida in the 16th century liked their wines, so upon tying up their ships they found the time to follow a most critical pursuit: winemaking. Therefore, believe it or not, before there were wineries in faraway Napa Valley or the distant Upstate New York, there were a number of wineries producing excellent Old World wines in the balmy state of Florida.
The French and, subsequently and to a greater extent, the Spanish did not import their vines from the Old Country, rather they sought out the wild grapes growing all over the region, tamed them, and thus developed the first great New-World wine. The formerly-wild grapes are called Muscadine, and the wines these Muscadine grapes produce are generally sweet, though some dry varieties exist. Muscadine-lovers are a particular brand of connoisseurs, and they are always looking for new people with whom to share their taste.
- People have been enjoying wine in St. Augustine for over 400 years and a visit to the San Sebastian Winery might be just the way to combine history, wine tasting and even some musical entertainment.
- Heading west, towards Tallahassee, the Monticello Winery, offers a taste of a family-run, organic operation, as well as a taste of Muscadine wines. If you arrive during the harvest, you may be invited to help pick the grapes.
- The Chautauqua Winery, off I-10 on the way to Pensacola and points west is located in DeFuniak. Enjoy the tours and tasting both the regional and more traditional wines.
- Closer to Panama City, Seabreeze Winery, claims to have perfected the Muscadine wines.
Wineries in Jacksonville, Destin, Daytona Beach, Pensacola, St. Augustine, Northeast Florida
Wineries
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