Are you looking for the best winery in Florida?
Well, we are on cloud wine to share with you all the details of Florida’s largest winery, the award-winning Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards.
So, grab your glass wine lovers! Because we are pouring out all the details in this ultimate guide to Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, Florida’s best-kept secret!
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Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards: Florida’s Best-Kept Secret at a Glance
- Visit Florida’s largest premium winery where over 1 million bottles are produced a year
- Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards is one of the best free things to do in Florida because the tours are complimentary
- FREE guided winery tours and tastings take place 7 days a week
- Florida’s largest winery is open Monday to Saturday from 10 am until 5 pm and on Sundays from 11 am until 5 pm.
- Get exclusive access and experience Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards VIP Tour & Tasting
- Don’t forget to check out Weekends at the Winery and their special events and festivals all year round!
Keep reading to find out why Lakeridge Winery in Clermont, Florida is the best winery in Florida!
What is Lakeridge Winery?
Lakeridge Winery is Florida’s largest premium winery producing over 1 million bottles a year, 100,000 cases annually.
With its festivals, enchanting vineyards, beautiful tasting room, and extensive tours this Florida winery continues to be a favorite for wine enthusiasts.
It’s no wonder over 160,000 people come out to wine and chill every year!
Between their premium and sparkling wines, they have taken home over 1,500 awards across the country.
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Brief History of Lakeridge Winery
1989 brought Lakeridge Winery & Vineyard to Clermont. But it was in 1988 that they began growing their grapes.
A portion of their grapes are grown and harvested right here on almost 80 acres of their beautiful vineyards. Back to the birthplace of American wine and the heart of Florida’s grape industry.
Here they grow the “super fruit of the south”, the native Muscadine grape varieties.
It is these anti-oxidant-rich and anti-inflammatory grapes that have helped create their awards of excellence.
Location
Just 25 miles outside of downtown Orlando is Florida’s best-kept secret, nestled within the countryside and rolling hills of Clermont.
Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards sprawls across a 127-acre estate and is one of the best free things to do in Florida.
It makes for a perfect day trip in Florida or a weekend getaway in the Sunshine State.
Address: 19239 US Hwy 27, Clermont, FL 34715
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Lakeridge Winery Tour Prices
This Florida winery tour is complimentary. Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards tour and tastings are FREE!
The winery is open on Monday to Saturday from 10 am until 5 pm and on Sundays from 11 am until 5 pm.
Do I need a reservation for a winery tour or wine tasting?
If you are heading out for a day of good friends and good wine for a group over 15 then Lakeridge Winery & Vineyard asks that reservations be made.
They just request that you send a quick email to them at info@lakeridgewinery.com and let them know the:
- name of event or tour group
- number of people
- date
- time of arrival
- arrival by bus or cars
What times do the tours and tastings take place?
It’s wine o’clock every day of the week at Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards. The complimentary guided winery tours and tastings take place all 7 days.
The first tour of the day starts at 10 am. But if you are working nine to wine and can’t make the first tour, don’t sweat it. There are plenty more throughout the day.
Wine tours and tasting run every 30 to 40 minutes at Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards.
And the last one for the day starts at 3:45 pm every day but it’s best to show up by 3:30 pm so you don’t have to rush through all the fun.
How long do the tour and tasting take?
You will want to plan for at least 45 minutes to an hour for the Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards tour and tasting. Then lots of time after for the gift and retail shop which closes at 5 pm.
The tour starts in the upstairs theater with a short video presentation where you are introduced to the wine-making process.
Here you will discover the history of how Florida grows its grapes and the journey to becoming the award-winning wine that’s ready for the shelves.
Then it’s time to see all the magic for yourself as you walk the catwalk!
This catwalk lets you see firsthand the winemaking production area and then leads you to the most beautiful part of the tour, the sights of the vineyards.
You won’t hear anyone wine-ing about this view!
Then it’s time for your day to go from super to sip-erb real quick. From their award-winning dry to sweet and sparkling it’s time to finish tasting your way through the vineyard.
They will often have a range of 7 different varieties to wine down the tour with.
VIP Tour & Tasting Experiences
For wine enthusiasts who want an exclusive experience Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards has the option of a VIP Tour & Tasting.
It’s the best winery tour in Florida if you want something a little more intimate and perfect for special occasions that you are celebrating with your besties.
They have a separate VIP tasting room dedicated to only those on the VIP Tour.
Bring a partner in wine since there is a $150 minimum booking fee for the VIP Tour & Tasting Experience at Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards. The price is $75 per guest.
The dedicated tour guide takes you on a specialty access tour of the winery to places that the complimentary tour would not.
Guests get guided through their famous vineyard, the wine cellar, and production facilities where much of the magic happens.
Some of the perks of the VIP Tour & Tasting are:
- Free glass of sparkling wine as a welcome to Lakeridge Winery & Vineyard
- Experience various specialty reserves that the free tour does not offer
- Expansive gourmet charcuterie platter that pairs perfectly with a wide variety of wines
- Then choose a glass of your favorite Lakeridge Winery wine to indulge in after
- Each guest receives a specialty gift bag and registration in the VIP loyalty program
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Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards – Events
Weekends at the Winery event rolls around every weekend with fun from 12 pm to 4 pm. It has become a tradition for 30 years.
Live entertainment plays out on their outdoor stage and you can check out Lakeridge Winery & Vineyard event schedule to see which top entertainer is set to perform. They also have festivals all year round!
An outdoor wine bar serves both wines and import and export beers. When the season is right they have wine slushies, sangria, and mulled wine!
The Lakeridge food court is open from 12 pm to 4 pm also on the weekends. Everyone is welcome to bring their lawn chairs or favorite picnic blankets and eat, drink, and be merry!
Does Lakeridge Winery Have a Restaurant?
If you are in the mood for food the weekends at Lakeridge Winery are when you want to visit.
They serve up tasty treats at their food court pavilion from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Parmesan truffle fries, sweet fire shrimp, gyros, and southwest jack chipotle burgers are just a sample of some of the yummy menu items you can dig into.
The dishes change throughout the year but they always have something scrumptious on the weekends so no outside food is permitted on Saturdays and Sundays.
During the week you won’t go hungry. They have their retail shop brimming with gourmet items. You can pick up some crackers, delicious cheeses, dried meats, and sweet treats.
Guests who purchase something from the wine shop can dine out on the picnic tables and are allowed to pack a small picnic to bring in.
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5 Beginner Tips for Visiting a Florida Winery
Now that you know what to expect at Lakeridge Winery, let’s go over a few tips for your trip!
1. Always have I.D. with you when visiting a Florida winery.
If you are a U.S. citizen then make sure to have either your state-issued driver’s license, military ID, or state ID card or they may turn away your sipping privileges.
For those that are visiting internationally then bring with you your original passport or valid government-issued photo ID that clearly states your birthdate.
2. Arrange for a designated driver.
Another glass? Wine not!
An important tip when visiting a Florida winery is to set up who will be the designated driver for the outing before you head out for the day.
Wine flies when you are having fun and we all want everyone to get home safely.
3. Make it a special weekend and book a hotel nearby.
Visiting a Florida winery is great for a girl’s getaway, a romantic night away, or a friend’s weekend escape. They do say wine pairs nicely with good friends!
Wineries are often in picturesque places. So get out to know the area and enjoy the charm of the town, local restaurants, and attractions.
Then you don’t need to give a sip what time it is and just wine down into the weekend!
4. Dress comfortably.
Typically, wineries are very casual and you may want to save that white outfit for another day.
5. Everyone can enjoy the visit, tours are open to all ages.
Visiting a Florida winery isn’t always just for adults. Many will still permit those under 21 years of age to join in on the tour. Just call ahead to confirm.
The only difference is that 21 years of age and under just can’t sample the wines but they can sip on the non-alcoholic grape juice alongside you.
Those under age can enjoy the tour, learn about the process, and enjoy the scenery of the vineyards.
My Final Thoughts on Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards in Clermont
All you need some days is a glass of wine and a pretty view and Lakeridge Winery & Vineyard serves up all of that.
With the sprawling gorgeous estate, weekends of music, good eats, and endless glasses of your favorite Lakeridge wine you will want to be sipping and swirling all weekend long.
The Florida Hipster Blog fell in love with Clermont’s Lakeridge Winery & Vineyard and we know you will too!
Until next time, Happy Florida Travels Hipster!
About the Author
Sarah Jordan is a solo traveler enthusiast, professional travel writer, and proud mama to her rescue dog Coconut.
With a love for destinations across the globe, she made Epcot her first theme park and still treasures her EPCOT World Showcase passport to this day.
After finally following her inner wanderlust, she discovered the freedom and empowerment that solo travel brings.