Rosa Fiorelli Winery and Vineyard
Located along the beautiful countryside on 10 acres of Bradenton, Florida is Rosa Fiorelli Winery and Vineyard. This winery was started in 1986 when Antonio Fiorelli and his wife Rosa bought the property on County Road 675. Mr. Fiorelli learned the craft of wine making at the young age of 11 in his native home of Sicily. Rosa Fiorelli’s would become the first winery in Manatee County. With the assistance of plant scientists from the University of Florida, Mr. Fiorelli discovered which grapes would flourish in the Florida climate. The Muscadine grape became the star of their vineyard and has produced several varieties of white and red wines. These wines have also won awards in international wine competitions.
Once a year, Fiorelli Winery holds its annual Harvest Festival. This event allows folks to sample wines, stomp grapes, pick grapes and enjoy a day in the vineyard. We had the wonderful opportunity to spend a Saturday afternoon tasting wines and taking in the magnificent scenery. Rows of grape trees line the property creating the perfect backdrop for such a festival. These grapes are harvested to create wines like the red hybrid Conquistador and the white hybrid Blanc du Bois. There are several varieties to choose from, some dry and crisp and some that are as sweet as honey like the Red Dessert Wine, our favorite. So if you love wine, take a country trip to this vineyard. Sampling is offered every day except Tuesdays; Hours of Operation.
This winery also participates in the going green campaign. If you bring in your empty Fiorelli bottles, you will receive a 5% discount on wine purchases. They also have their own building for fermenting and bottling so you know this wine is made 100% locally and your dollars are spent to support a local business.
It is with sadness that in December of 2013, Mr. Antonio Fiorelli passed away. His son, Salvatore will continue the legacy of creating delicious wines in Manatee County.
For more information please visit www.fiorelliwinery.com or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rosafiorelliwinery
Comments(1)