For beautiful scenery, a relaxing atmosphere, fresh blueberries and delicious wine, the Island Grove Wine Company is the perfect destination. Located in Island Grove, Florida, amidst the large oak trees and quiet country roads, free wine tastings and tours of the state-of-the-art facility located on a 200-plus-acre blueberry farm are available weekdays from 10am to 4pm.
Island Grove Ag Products has been in the fresh blueberry industry for over 20 years, producing over 2 million pounds of fresh fruit a year. The founders were looking for a new way to use their excess fruit that usually goes to making juice, jams and other bakery products.
“After searching for the best possible way to use the fruit, a premier wine maker, Chase Marden, joined us in 2010. His extraordinary wine-making reputation in Florida preceded him, and he became a perfect fit for the IGAP family, and thus, the Island Grove Wine Company was born,” says Sarah Aschliman, director of marketing and creative at Island Grove Wine Company.
This month, Island Grove is offering its newest limited-edition wine: Holiday Pomegranate and Berry, available only at the winery.
“It is fruity and sweet with a beautiful arrangement of zinfandel grapes, mixed berries and pomegranate,” says Sarah.
Island Grove’s most popular wines are the 100 percent blueberry wines, both the Kinda Dry and Sorta Sweet varieties, but there is a flavor for every type of fruit lover, including Southern Strawberry Riesling, Rustic Raspberry Zinfandel, Crisp Green Apple Gewurztraminer and Bold Blackberry Merlot. Backporch Peach Chardonnay and Blueberry Muscato are a couple of brand-new flavors that will be available early next year.
Custom wine baskets, from one-bottle to an elaborate six-bottle arrangement, are also available and make perfect gifts for co-workers, friends and family.
Most of the freshly picked blueberries go to the fresh market or the Island Grove wines, but any fruit left on the bushes in May becomes available for picking one Saturday a year coinciding with the Island Grove Blueberry Festival.
Go on out for your free wine tasting and tour today, or order your favorite fruit wine online!
Island Grove Wine Company
24703 SE 193rd Ave, Hawthorne
(352) 481-WINE (9463)
