Central Florida residents with grape-stained feet and competitive spirits explored Florida’s largest winery during Lakeridge Winery & Vineyard’s 31st annual Harvest Festival.
The three-day festival from Aug. 21-23 marked the end of Florida’s grape season and Lakeridge Winery’s harvest of its muscadine grapes that include noble, Carlos and welder. Lakeridge is one of three local wineries in Lake and Sumter counties that is hosting events for the fall season. Whispering Oaks Winery is hosting its monthly tribute concert, while Wildwood Vineyard and Events is planning its Halloween Bash at the Vineyard.
Christian Slupe, chief operating officer of Lakeridge Winery and Vineyard, said although the family-owned winery has continued to host its cherished annual grape stomping tradition, this is the first year it will host the full festival, including games and live music, since 2020 when COVID-19 pandemic canceled the event.
Slupe said he, his family and patrons are excited for the festival’s return to the 127-acre estate in Clermont, 19239 U.S. 27 North, Clermont.
“For the past couple of years, we did a grape stomp, but it wasn’t as big of a celebration as we are used to,” he said. “This is always a very stressful and busy time for us. We want it to also be a big celebration with the community of getting that fruit off the vine.”
During the festival, attendees played corn toss, listened to live music and browsed 65 vendors who sold arts and crafts and baked goods. But the main attraction was the 31st annual grape stomp.
“It’s a really cool experience,” Slupe said. “A lot of kids like to get out there and we have a bunch of little prizes for them. We really like to focus this festival as a family event.”
Attendees also explored behind-the-scenes at the winery, sampling six to eight wines along the way. The winery hosts free guided 30- to 40-minute tours and tastings from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week.
“We are processing a lot of the fruit that we get from our vineyards up in the Panhandle throughout the day so people can see that,” Slupe said. “They can see the fruit get dumped and pressed. To see it at scale is super cool. There’s not a lot of wineries throughout the world that showcase the entire process of bottling wine. We pride ourselves on that and like to show people how it’s actually made.”
Slupe said the fun will continue as Lakeridge Winery will host its first Corks and Forks on Oct. 17-18, before ending the year with the return of the Lakeridge Lights interactive drone experience, which doesn’t have an official date yet.
“The drone experience is a pretty cool new thing,” he said. “We’ve never been able to have fireworks at the vineyard, so that is a cool alternative we’ve done over the past few years.”
For more information about the Lakeridge Winery and Vineryard, visit lakeridgewinery.com or call 1-800-768-WINE.
Blueberry Wine and MusicEvery weekend, Whispering Oaks Winery pairs live music with a glass of its signature blueberry wines.
Local musicians perform live from 1 to 4 p.m. every Saturday, karaoke is available from 1 to 4 p.m. every Sunday and the winery works with a third-party promoter to bring tribute bands to the 60-acre property, 10934 County Road 475, Oxford.
“We do all kinds of stuff out here and everything we do is a trick to just get people out here to have a great time while learning about and trying our award-winning wine,” said Darryl Siemer, owner of the family-owned winery that’s been open since 2014.
“Wine is a personalized and subjective experience,” he said. “Guests can come here, enjoy our locally grown and crafted wines while listening to live music in a relaxed, welcoming farm under our covered barn. Our concerts are a great way for people to get together and enjoy great music with great friends.”
Maremil Music organizes the tribute concert series for the winery. Its next shows will be the Motowners at 7 p.m. Thursday, Tribute to Pink Floyd at 7 p.m. Sept. 17, Tribute to Doobie Brothers/38 Special at 6 p.m. Oct. 8 and Tribute to Chicago at 6 p.m. Oct. 22.
Siemer said his rule with the tribute concerts is that only the best quality bands are brought to the stage.
“We don’t care what genre is booked, but the musicians have to be A+,” he said. “Our goal is for people to come out, enjoy themselves, discover how great our wines really are and be convinced to support local.”
For more information about Whispering Oaks Winery, visit whisperingoakswinery.com or call 360-878-3474.
Film, Food and WineThe Wildwood Vineyard and Events pairs fine-dining, film and wine for its monthly Indulge In The Film event.
During the interactive movie experience, patrons enjoy a seven-course meal and wine that complements the film.
Keisha Doak, owner of the winery, said the event was inspired by a similar event she attended in Orlando and her background as a chef.
“I’ve been a chef for over 30 years and we owned a restaurant, so the food aspect comes naturally,” she said. “The first Indulge In The Film we hosted, six people attended. Last month, we sold out. “
Upcoming screenings include “The Taste of Things,” a 2023 French historical romantic drama, at 2 p.m. Sept. 20 and “The Menu,” a 2022 culinary thriller about an internationally renowned chef looking for revenge, at 2 p.m. Oct. 11 and Oct. 18. While the Oct. 11 event is sold out, tickets are still available for the Oct. 18 showing.
The 10-acre winery also will host its Halloween Bash at the Vineyard from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 23-24. The event will include local vendors, food trucks, live music from DJ Jeffery from Ocala and a performance from Thrill The Villages.
“Last year, within the first hour we were out of parking,” Doak said. “I encourage people to carpool and get there early. There was so many people, it was standing room only. People were having so much fun and enjoying themself,” Doak said.
The Wildwood Vineyard and Events, 1945 County Road 462, Wildwood, offers 14 different wines and live music and is open from 3 to 8 p.m. on Friday and from 1 to 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Tickets for Indulge In The Film range from $75 to $100. The Halloween Bash at the Vineyard is free, but parking is $5 per car.
For more information about the Wildwood Vineyard and Events, visit wildwoodvineyardandevents.com.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
