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Agriculture Press Release |
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November 2, 1998 Florida Winery Wins International Recognition TALLAHASSEE Lakeridge Winery and Vineyard of Clermont recently took top honors for its Blanc Du Bois at the Indiana International Wine Competition. The wine was among 40 of the 2,147 wines from 19 countries to be judged a double-gold winner, a distinction signifying that the panel of five judges was unanimous in its opinion of the wines quality. "This is a real accomplishment for Lakeridge and the wine industry in Florida," Florida Agriculture Commissioner Bob Crawford said. "It demonstrates that the wines produced in Florida can compete with the best of those from around the world." Blanc Du Bois was produced from a grape of the same name that was bred in Florida and released for production in 1987. It is one of a number of varieties of grapes released in recent years that have enabled Floridas grape and wine industry to grow. But grapes are not new to Florida or the Southeast. As long ago as 1565, colonists arriving in the New World noted Muscadine grapes growing abundantly in the wild. The very first table wines in America were made from these grapes. A renewed interest in commercially grown grapes began in the early 1960s. Florida now has six wineries, which have become tourist attractions in addition to producing fine wines. Florida has a per capita wine consumption of 1.9 gallons a year, compared to a national average of 1.7 gallons. The Florida wineries are: Chautauqua Vineyards and Winery Dakotah Vineyards and Winery Inc. Eden Vineyards and Winery Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards San Sebastian Winery Three Oaks Winery For more information: George Demetree |
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