You may have gotten the idea that I love running. I also love wine (and dogs, baseball, purple, ‘90s rap, turtles, Elvis, Kansas State … but, let’s focus on the wine — those words are like ‘90s rap to my ears).
So when I got the opportunity to tour Keel & Curley Winery in Plant City, Florida, I said “YES” without hesitation.
Plant City is just east of Tampa and home to some serious agricultural production.
I met up with some other fabulous Tampa Bay blogging ladies (and guests) on Saturday afternoon. We hopped on a tractor-pulled tour wagon to check out the fields of blueberries and the winery.
Blueberries?, you ask. Yep, blueberry wine.
Keel & Curley Winery began in spring 2003 when Joe Keel, a central Florida blueberry farmer wanted to find a use for his end-of-crop blueberries. When the market price reaches a price that is lower than harvest and sale commissions, farms stop harvesting their crops. (Whoa. Seriously felt like I slipped back into my old job — editor of a Florida agriculture magazine — there.) Keel decided blueberry wine would be interesting to dabble in, and Keel & Curley wines were born.
We got the inside scoop on the winery from our tour guide, Sam.
I thought it was pretty interesting that harvest to finished product takes only six weeks. No further aging is necessary for blueberry wine.
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| Yum, wine! |
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| Chloe listened politely to the tour guide; Eric did not. Just kidding. |
After the tour, it was tasting time! We had the opportunity to try 12 wines.
Keel & Curley Winery produces three types of blueberry wines, all made from 100% blueberries. They also produce two blackberry wines, both made with 100% blackberries. In addition, Keel & Curley produces seven fusion wines (blended wines; part grape blended with fruit juices).
I love the atmosphere at Keel & Curley. We sat out on a large patio area with a live band and an amazing view.
My boyfriend and I came up with a rating system based on hearts (0 hearts = worst, 3 hearts = best) because wine is love.
Here are my verdicts. You may be able to determine my favorite.
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| Note: We did not try Wine Makers' Reserve. Apparently, I was really enjoying the wine at this point, and I got confused. I wrote "Entry error" and signed and dated it. Apparently, this is the appropriate way to notate this, according to my chemist boyfriend. |
We all had a great time.
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| Me, Caroline, Caitlyn, Genna, Kat, Chrissy, Denise and Lisa |
Here are the same folks, a little more contained.
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| Thanks for a more sophisticated photo, Caroline. |
I loved visiting Keel & Curley. I love wine, but that's not all I loved. I love the atmosphere and that I can step into the country a few minutes from my city home.
We had so much fun that we stayed into the night (Chloe insisted).
Keel & Curley has a Blueberry Festival each year to celebrate the blueberry harvest. This year it is April 27-28 on the Keel & Curley grounds. Come out to pick blueberries (while supplies last — an inside tip from our tour guide: arrive at 8 a.m. on April 27 to have a chance at the blueberries; they go fast), listen to entertainment, and check out more than 100 food and craft vendors. Oh, you can also try the wine ... my favorite part.
Disclosure: I was invited to a complimentary tour and tasting at Keel & Curley Winery in exchange for helping to promote the Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival. All opinions are my own.
Are you a wine lover like me? Do you like dry or sweet wines? Have you ever been on a winery tour? Have you ever tried blueberry wine?
