Area wineries?

[hmp2z]

Has anyone been to the area wineries (Lakeridge, Mount Dora Winery, Ridgeback Winery)? Just curious to hear any reviews of these - we'd like to check them out one weekend.
Cheers!
Heather W

 

[madcoco]

Have visited Lakeridge Winery in Clermont. Worth a trip imho. Check out their website. They host numerous events there throughout the year. Primarily a big dry red drinker here which understandably they are short on, but like to try different things. They have their own "bubbly" cave and a unique slightly sweet chilled Noble red wine that has won them acclaim. Would have liked to have seen them at the Food and Wine Festival touting their local product.
If you decide to go and driving from the Disney area Take 535 up to 50. Go straight across 50 at the light into downtown Winter Garden. It's like stepping back into time. Only a few blocks long. Brick main street lined with some unique shops and little cafes and coffee bars. One place has 99 kinds of beer. Not many places where you can find Monty Python's Holy Ale. Tempered over burning witches. Its a nice little sidetrip as well if you have time.(Note: on Sunday the town closes up early and is like a ghost town by 2PM except for the numerous bicyclists on the trail through the middle of town) 50 will take you right over to 27 up to the winery. Have fun if you go.

 

[hmp2z]

Thank you! I will have to check out Winter Garden. I really liked downtown Mount Dora when I was up there last week, which is what made me think I'd like to go back & do the winery thing.

We just moved here in September, so are still familiarizing ourselves with the area. Any other recommendations for cute places to visit would be greatly appreciated. Our apt complex is right off of 192, and I am SICK to death of touristy things. We chose this location b/c it's convenient to my husband's work place, but it has gotten very old, very fast

Cheers!
Heather W

 

[crjack]

I have to add this to my list of places to visit on our next trip! Thanks so much for the info.

 

[crjack]

Forgot to add....love your pictures! Our dog is from a rescue here in MA that brings dogs up from WV, TN, etc. He was also listed on petfinder and is the best family dog you could ask for.

 

[hmp2z]

Forgot to add....love your pictures! Our dog is from a rescue here in MA that brings dogs up from WV, TN, etc. He was also listed on petfinder and is the best family dog you could ask for.

Thank you! Our dog Hannah is a little sweetheart. We adopted her this past April; she was 9 years old & heartworm positive. We've gotten the heartworms cleared up, and she is doing much, much better.

We went to Lakeridge today. We did the tour, which was nice, because we got to find out a bit about the winery & then got a semi-private tasting, instead of having to slug it out with the crowds in the main tasting room.

Neither of us was a fan of the wines themselves. Muscadine wine isn't our favorite, and it seemed like everything there had an exceedingly short finish. We are big Cab fans and like a dryer, more complex California style wine. But, though we didn't enjoy the wines, we did enjoy the overall experience. I loved Mount Dora the one time I drove through, so I'm excited to do the tastings there, either next weekend or the one after.

Cheers!
Heather W

 

[madcoco]

Glad you enjoyed the winery at least it got you out to see some of the local countryside up that way. Sorry about the wines. Hats off to big dry reds.
Have you done any of the wine seminars at the F&W festival this year? PM on the way.