If you thought all U.S. wines came from California, you'd be off by a few thousand miles. The Sunshine State has its share of wineries, and in fact, wine-making began here in the 1560s, 200 years before California. Certain grapes, though, don't do well in the summer heat—particularly in sultry South Florida—so in addition to classic varietals, you'll find wines made from mango and other tropical fruits.
- Hybrid and muscadine grapes form the basis of the award-winning table, sparkling and dessert wines at San Sebastian Winery. The winery offers an extensive tasting room and wine shop, with complimentary tours and tastings offered daily, while The Cellar Upstairs is a rooftop wine, jazz and blues bar featuring live music on the weekends.
- Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards in Clermont is the agricultural end of San Sebastian, handling the planting, harvesting and pressing, but this 127-acre vineyard offers its own complimentary wine tastings and tours, seven days a week. In addition, Lakeridge hosts an annual Harvest Festival each summer, featuring arts and crafts, live music and grape stomping. Meanwhile, banquet facilities include more than 1,000 square feet of indoor space with an adjoining covered balcony.
- Tampa Bay's Keel & Curley Winery got its start when founder and owner, Joe Keel, a blueberry farmer, found himself with a surplus harvest and decided to experiment with blueberry wine. Today, the winery produces three types of blueberry wine as well as wines that are fusions of grapes with different fruits. Varieties include Strawberry Riesling, Wild Berry Pinot Noir and Tangerine Zinfandel. A new 3,000-square-foot retail and tasting room has an exterior deck for events.
- The 10-acre, family-owned Rosa Fiorelli Winery is set in the rolling hills of eastern Manatee County and features wines made from muscadine and other grapes, including zinfandel and a Florida variety, the conquistador. Fiorelli wines have competed in, and won, international wine competitions. Groups can purchase a tour that spotlights the winemaking process and vineyards, and includes lunch, a tasting and a souvenir wine glass.
- Set near Fort Myers in the woodlands of Alva, Eden Vineyards produces six wine varieties—ranging from very dry to sweet—created from a hybrid grape bred to withstand Florida's climate. Tastings are offered throughout the day.
- South of metropolitan Miami, the Schnebly Redland's Winery makes wines from mango, guava, lychee, passion fruit and carambola. Tours and tastings are offered, and 20 acres of tropical gardens are available for special events.
