Travel Tips

Taste the best wines of Southwest Florida
One of my favorite parts about traveling the country is visiting vineyards in the area and tasting the wines. I always make sure to purchase my favorite flavor to enjoy when I return home. This is the best way to bring home a piece of that vacation to savor and reminisce about later down the road.

Eden Winery and Vineyard, near Fort Myers in a small town called Alva, is the southernmost vineyard in the United States. The Kiser family owns and runs the vineyard and winery and has been growing grapes and producing south Florida wines for over 30 years. The Eden wines are only sold in Florida, so if you enjoy their wines, be sure to purchase a bottle or two that you can enjoy once you return home. The primary grapes produced on the land are Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Sangiovese, making a wide variety of different smells, tastes and textures.

The vineyard offers an inviting atmosphere with an open wine reception room to indulge in wine tasting (if 21 years of age or older) and a wonderful lake area near the back of the 20-acres of land to take a relaxing late afternoon stroll. You can take home your favorite wine choices for between $10-$12 dollars. Right now Eden Winery offers 6 different varieties of wine. Two red selections, the Alva Rouge and the Eden Spice. Three white selections, Lake Emerald, Alva White, and Eden Stars and the blush flavored Coral Bell.

There is a small charge for visiting the vineyard or enjoy wine tasting. Eden Winery is close to Ft. Myers, but worth the trip away from the beach into the rolling hills of the Florida countryside.

To find Eden Winery and Vineyard, from Venice take Route 681 to I-75 S. Stay on I-75 all the way towards Ft. Myers, and get off at exit 141. Head east for 10 miles on State Highway 80 (Old exit 25). There will be a small green sign reading State of Florida with an arrow. Follow this sign south onto Little Lane and find the entrance to Eden Vineyards.