Top 5 Florida Wineries

5. My favorite American city, St. Augustine, starts off my top five wineries in the state of Florida. Since St. Augustine is a tourist attraction, why not have taste tours through the San Sebastian Winery. With a variety of sparkling and still wines, my favorites were the dessert wines, namely Port and Cream Sherry. One of the best things about this facility is that the wine tasting tours are free, of course, if you are at least 21 years of age. Adults can take this tour roughly every 25 minutes. San Sebastian also has a banquet facility and a bar. With a city rich in history, including attractions like old jails, museums, forts, and lighthouses, make sure the history of wine is on your list at San Sbeastian in the oldest American city, Saint Augustine.

4. Sitting along Highway 27 in Clermont, Florida with an eye-catching view, Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards makes number four on my list. The beginning of Spring is almost here and this winery celebrates it with a yearly jazz, wine, and seafood festival. Personally, I have not been to the festival, but this year, Lakeridge Winery may be seeing me during their infamous event. Also, like San Sebastion, Lakeridge has a banquet facility for entertaining weddings or events and the prices are extremely affordable; they even have outside tent rental. Although Clermont is not a touristy atmosphere, small wine tasting tours are available seven days per week every 20 minutes from open until close. Customers are also allowed to taste wines in their gift shop. Get out there soon and pick your grapes in the 80-acre vineyard. Don't leave without tasting Chablis, an award winning dry fruity wine.

3. Although it has been awhile since I have been to Florida Estates Winery in Land 'O Lakes, Florida, this winery is placed at number 3 on my list. The uniqueness of this winery is that it offers wine tasting classes. Such topics that are covered are the history of wines, diseases, styles, uses, rating wines, and of course tasting. I haven't taken any wine class, but wine enthusiasts around the world have learned from Florida Estates Winery. Like the above mentioned, they have a banquet facility as well, but what I like best is the opportunity with a variety of food with their wine. Yes, other places will have the usual wine and cheese, but what about wine combined with seafood, barbecue, and other variety of foods for a small fee. This is a great place to take a group as individualized tours are not at set times. I am unfamiliar with wine tasting here as I was underage during my last visit.

2. Some say that the Garden of Eden can only be in 2 places in the world where 4 rivers connect. Those 2 places are Siberia and Florida. (Weird Travels of Florida 2005) Although 4 rivers do not connect at my number 2 winery, it could be the Garden of Eden of wineries given the name Eden Vineyards. It is located about 17 miles east of Fort Myers in a very small town called Alva. Being an outdoorsman, I enjoy the country atmosphere and laid back locations. Alva is definitely that type of location. What is most favorable about Eden Vineyards is that the owners truly show that failure leads to success and that persistence pays off. Unlike the above, Eden Winery sells their wine on site instead of only retail stores. Of course, their wines are at retail stores also. I'm not a dry wine guy, so given this, I enjoy sweet wine. There is no better sweet wine than the Eden Spice at Eden Winery in Alva.

1. Alva, near Fort Myers, is a countrymen's paradise, but there is one city in Florida where country is king. Country singers, wine stomping, 101 chickens roaming, roosters cockadoodling, hens laying eggs in a 10-acre vineyard tops my list of wineries in the state of Florida. Appropriately named Henscratch Farms Vineyard and Winery. Literally out in the middle of nowhere, Henscratch Farms entertains a variety of age groups on a monthly basis. Where else can kids have so much fun at a Winery? They pride themselves in the fact that they are much more than just a winery. Kids can stomp the wine barefooted during an annual wine stomping event while adults can pick the grapes from the vineyards and taste them on site. Maybe you would rather relax on their front porch or picnic tables just taking in the fresh air while watching the animals. With friendly staff, wine tasting, music, and just a plain ole country atmosphere, a Florida winery getaway wouldn't be complete without visiting Henscratch Farms Winery and Vineyard in the Caladium Capital of the Wolrd - Lake Placid, Florida.