For a whimsical and charming wine tour, The Tasting Tours in St. Augustine , FL specializes in creating the perfect wine tasting experience. Exploring this historical town from the comfort of a horse drawn carriage or your own two feet, The Tasting Tours will provide a wine tasting you will never forget. Recently, the popular Corks and Forks Walking Tour was featured as a ‘Best Tour’ in Travel and Leisure Magazine. For a unique wine and fine dining experience, The Tasting Tours is not to be missed: https://www.thetastingtours.com/

Florida Wine Festivals:

• Florida Winefest: https://floridawinefest.org/f/
• Forks and Corks: https://www.dineoriginal.com/forksandcorks
• EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/epcot-international-food-and-wine-festival/

More fun “Florida Wine History” for you:  Florida’s wine tradition dates back to the 16^th Century, when Spanish missionaries planted the first vines to produce sacramental wine for use in religious ceremonies. They soon discovered, however, that traditional vinifera varietals could not endure the tropical climate of Florida, often succumbing to fungal problems and Pierce’s Disease. After generations of futile attempts at wine making, the 1930s brought new hope to the industry, as researchers from the University of Florida successfully developed climate-compatible hybrid varieties using a family of grape native to the south-eastern region of the country. This innovation was largely made possible because of the Florida Grape Growers Association, an organization founded in 1923 that sponsored research initiatives to develop grapes that were suited to the state’s climate. The majority of Florida’s winemakers use grapes derived from the Muscadine family, a native variety that is well-adapted to the climate and requires fewer chilling hours than the better known vinifera varietals. Notably, muscadine grapes have the highest quantity of anti-oxidants ever measured in a natural product. For the past 20 years, Florida wineries have also experimented with wines made entirely from tropical fruit, introducing varieties such as mango, key lime, strawberry, blueberry, grapefruit and orange.

While the state of Florida currently does not have any designated American Viticultural Areas, its 24 independently-owned wineries are spread throughout the state, easily accessible from major cities such as Miami, Tampa, Orlando