Exploring the South one vintage at a time!
Unless you live in Butte, Montana, you don't have to go far to find Southern wineries. In the thirteen southern states from Virginia to Louisiana there are 810 vineyards and wineries growing, making, and selling their own wines. The wines range from sweet Muscadines to dry Chardonnays and Merlots, and there are several meads in... Continue Reading →
By this time in the year the traditional harvest is done, even when it runs late. The grapes have been stomped and the fermentation is in full swing. The leaves on the vines are starting to turn gold and brown, a great time to go out and snip some vines for grape vine wreathes. The... Continue Reading →
If you’re in the area of Helen or Dahlonega Georgia between now and the end of August, you still have time to get in a few sips of wine during Georgia Wine Highway Week. This year 23 wineries are participating in the annual event which was rescheduled from June to August due to reopening after... Continue Reading →
Long before William Shakespeare was born, French Huguenots and Spanish monks were making wine in Florida. Today, like those pioneers who came before them, the winemakers at San Sebastian Winery carry on a tradition that is over 450 years old. Using native Muscadine grapes, and more recently developed Florida hybrids, they craft their wines using... Continue Reading →
Not known for its vintages, South Carolina is nevertheless one of a growing number of southern states where wine is made at more than a dozen wineries scattered across the state. Most of these wineries are in the upcountry north of Greenville and Spartanburg, but several have opened on or near the coast offering wine... Continue Reading →
Wine Chair Travel Series ~ If you ask state agritourism officials which one was the first to make wine in America, they’ll each say it was them. It’s an ongoing Florida versus North Carolina battle and neither side is ready to give in. We’re only talking about a few years here, but for these states,... Continue Reading →
Certified-Florida-Farm-Wineries-MapDownload The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has created an agritourism designation called “Certified Florida Farm Winery.” There are currently 23 of these throughout the state, a little more than half of the total number of Florida wineries. This certification has nothing to do with the type or quality of wine made, but rather... Continue Reading →
Was it only three years ago I was on the road in north Florida, visiting wineries, tasting their wines and talking with winemakers from Pensacola to St. Augustine? I had fun, and my book, Florida Wine Country Guide to Northern Wineries, has been a great success. Time sure flies. But these days, like so many... Continue Reading →
In these times of stress and worry, take time for yourself and remember to drink responsibly. Stay Safe! Happy Wine Trails!
Yes, that's right! Florida Wine Country Guide to Northern Wineries is sold out of publisher copies. But, if you want to know where all the Florida wineries are in a fun and easy to read format, don't despair. You can still buy the book on Amazon.com. Just click here. Florida Wine Country Guide to Northern... Continue Reading →
Each year at the end of summer, Florida A & M University opens its gates to the public and hosts a day in the vineyard. Its nearly 50 acres of vines, located east of Tallahassee on Highway 90, are a great place to learn about how vintners put grapes into bottles for the rest of... Continue Reading →
Southern Wine Trails 