Excursia | Jacksonville, FL, USA | Dining: San Sebastian Winery: A Toast to the Fruit of the Vine

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San Sebastian Winery: A Toast to the Fruit of the Vine

There is no way to tell when humans first began to make wine. No matter how far back in history we go, fermented beverages were known and enjoyed. On Florida's First Coast, the wild, native Muscadine grapes were plentiful in the area just north of St. Augustine all the way up to what is now Jacksonville. The French Huguenots of the ill-fated Fort Caroline and the Spanish who settled St. Augustine were the first to convert the plump Muscadine grapes to wine. Thus began the North American cultivation of grapes for wine production, a full century and a half before California would try its hand at it.

St. Augustine's San Sebastian Winery has returned to the cultivation of native Muscadine grapes. The vineyards of the winery are mainly in Central Florida, but the processing, aging and bottling of its wines take place right here in St. Augustine on the San Sebastian Inlet in one of the historic Florida East Coast Railway buildings designed by developer Henry Flagler.

This is a working winery, and visitors are invited to tour it. They are then escorted to the wine-tasting area, where a variety of wines are offered one by one. Each wine is introduced with information about its color, bouquet, aging, etc. For teetotalers and children, there are samples of Muscadine grape juice.

The winery's gift shop is stocked with its best wines and a wide assortment of host accessories, as well as some unusual gourmet food items that perfectly complement a good bottle of wine. With so many attractive items, from wire baskets to decorative wine stoppers, you'll easily find half a dozen gift ideas to suit anyone on your list.

San Sebastian Winery is in the midst of a major renovation and expansion project that will triple its space and transform it into a state-of-the-art operation. Plans include complete winemaking and bottling capacity with the ability to see the winemaking process, fermentation tanks, a winemaker's laboratory, a storage facility for aging and maintaining inventory, a wine shop and an expanded taste and retail area. Says General Manager Charles Cox: "In addition to the expanded facilities there will be a special event banquet room with two open air decks, and a wine and jazz bar where the public can drop in to relax and enjoy fine wine and fine music."

Also in store is a bigger and better tour experience for visitors. The new expansion is expected to be completed by early 2001 and will triple the winery's size. When you leave San Sebastian Winery, you might not be a viticulturist (an expert on making wine), but you'll certainly be a lot more wine-savvy than you were before. Bottoms up!