I love going to wineries when I travel. It gives me a chance to try something new. When I was visiting the beautiful city of St. Augustine I came across the San Sebastian Winery. I had arrived just in time for their winery tour, and to my surprise this tour and the tasting that followed was free.
The tour started off with a video talking about the history of the winery and how they were able to get a hybrid grape to grow in the Florida climate. I also learned that there is a native grape in Florida called the muscadine grape. They also have a sister winery in Central Florida where many of the grapes are grown.
After the video we took a quick walk through the tank room. Here they explained how many gallons of wine the metal tanks hold.
After the tour we headed downstairs to their tasting room. We were going to get to try pretty much everything they make. Our tour guide did a fantastic job describing the wines as we tasted. I tried the best I could to make notes about everything I tried. I ended up buying 6 bottles to take home.
Here are the wines I tired, all in order.
- Pinot Grigio – this was not a sweet wine nor was it dry. I felt this was mild. It was recommended to enjoy this wine with some fresh Florida seafood.
- Chardonnay – Now I am not usually a fan of Chardonnay because they tend to be really dry to me. I was willing to try this one. It was smooth and not that dry. I could see someone drinking this with a nice chicken dish.
- Rosa – This was a sweet wine that is made with the native Florida muscadine grape. I felt this was perfect for sipping, no food is needed to enjoy this wine.
- Cabernet Sauvignon – This is a very classic dry red wine. It did have some oak flavor. It had a great aftertaste. When I tasted this, I could see myself eating some pasta while enjoying a glass.
- Vintner’s White – This was another sweet wine. It was sweeter than the Rosa. It had a fruity taste. It is recommended that this wine be drunk within 2-3 days after opening the bottle. This wine is also made with the Florida muscadine grape.
- Vintner’s Red – This is the red version of the white wine I wrote about above. They make the red version from the Noble variety of the muscadine grape. They served this wine chilled. It would be perfect to make a sangria out of this wine.
- Proprietor’s Reserve – This is a special blend of the Vintner’s Red and sherry. This is a true sipping wine that is sweet. It would be good after dinner with some cheese.
- Cream Sherry – This is the perfect dessert wine. It had almost a caramel taste to it. It was recommended to enjoy this sherry with an assortment of cheeses. This is good for 8-10 months once it has been opened.
- Ruby Port – The port I got to try had been aged 6 months. It was fresh and had a hint of nuttiness. It was light and the perfect dessert wine. This port is also good for 8-10 months once the bottle has been opened.
- Blanc de Fleur – This is their sparkling wine. The create these by the traditional method called Methode Champenoise. This means that each bottle is fermented individually, aged and rotated by hand until it is ready to be sold. This bubbly wine was sweet and full of fruity flavor. It would be perfect for any special occasion.
- Mulled Wine – This was a special treat right at the end. They have a blend of spices that include cinnamon and cloves that they let simmer in their Vintner’s Red wine. They do this until the flavors are amerced into the wine. The smell and the taste of the mulled wine feels like Christmas in a glass. It would be perfect to serve on a cold winter night. You can buy their bag of spices and make it with any red wine.
The wine tour and tasting was a fabulous experience. Now it was time to head upstairs to their roof top bar. There you can order some food, enjoy a cocktail or a bottle of wine, and look out over the city of St. Augustine.
I decided to order a sangria. They used the Vintner’s Red wine, chilled it and added some fresh slices of fruit. It was very refreshing and sweet. It was perfect for a warm Florida afternoon. My friend got a glass of port since he enjoyed it so much during the tasting. The roof top was a fun place to hang out. We left before the band arrived but I am sure everyone there had a blast.
If you are in St. Augustine and you enjoy wine, then stopping by San Sebastian Winery is a must. And the good thing is they can ship the wine to you.
Visit their website at www.sansebastianwinery.com
Enjoy!
T
