Wine Tasting in Jacksonville: Local Spots & Northeast Florida Winery Day Trips

By American Winery Guide Staff on 2025-10-03

Jacksonville offers a different wine experience than traditional wine regions. Florida's largest city by area has no wineries within city limits, but it does feature several quality wine bars and tasting venues where enthusiasts can explore wines from around the world. More importantly, Jacksonville serves as an excellent base for visiting actual wineries scattered throughout northeast and central Florida, most within a 90-minute drive.

The city's wine scene centers on knowledgeable wine shops, upscale restaurants with extensive wine programs, and tasting venues that bring curated selections to local wine lovers. For those seeking the full winery experience—vineyard tours, production facilities, and estate-grown wines—several distinctive Florida wineries make for excellent day trips from Jacksonville.

Jacksonville Wine Bars & Tasting Venues

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant on Big Island Drive combines a contemporary American restaurant with an in-house tasting room. The national chain produces wines at its Illinois facility and ships them to locations nationwide, including Jacksonville. Daily wine tastings run walk-in only, while dining reservations are recommended. The wine club offers monthly selections and members earn dining rewards.

Congaree and Penn operates as a working farm and restaurant on Old Kings Road, about 20 minutes north of downtown. While not a winery, the farm-to-table destination features an extensive wine list carefully selected to pair with seasonal menus sourced from their own gardens and local farms. Dinner service runs Friday through Sunday from 4 PM (Friday) or 5 PM (Saturday-Sunday) until close, with reservations required via Resy. The adult-focused dinner atmosphere centers on fine dining and wine appreciation.

The Wine Bar in Jacksonville Beach provides a relaxed coastal setting with an extensive wine list featuring boutique selections. Located in the heart of Jax Beach, the venue offers daily happy hour specials, house-crafted sangrias, and live music four nights weekly. The handmade tapas menu sources ingredients locally and pairs well with wine flights.

Several specialty wine shops throughout Jacksonville offer regular tastings and knowledgeable staff guidance. Bernie's Wine Stop in Murray Hill hosts Friday evening tastings from 5-7 PM, while Total Wine & More locations and ABC Fine Wine & Spirits stores schedule regular tasting events throughout the week.

Day Trip: St. Augustine Wine Country (40 Miles South)

San Sebastian Winery anchors St. Augustine's wine scene at 157 King Street in the historic district. Established in 1996, Florida's oldest continuously operating winery specializes in Muscadine wines made from grapes native to the southeastern United States. The historic tasting room opens Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 6 PM. Guided tours showcase the winemaking process and vineyard heritage, while tastings feature the full range of Muscadine varietals from dry to sweet expressions.

The 40-mile drive from Jacksonville via Interstate 95 takes approximately 45 minutes. Combine the winery visit with St. Augustine's historic attractions, including the Castillo de San Marcos, colonial quarter, and numerous restaurants along St. George Street. Plan three to four hours for a full winery experience including tour, tasting, and exploration of the surrounding historic district.

Day Trip: Coastal Florida Wineries (60-90 Miles)

Flagler Beachfront Winery offers oceanfront wine tasting at 611 N. Oceanshore Boulevard in Flagler Beach, 75 miles south via Interstate 95 and Highway A1A. The unique venue features interactive wine dispensing machines, wine slushies, and full ocean views from the tasting room. Winter hours run noon to 7:15 PM Monday through Thursday, with extended hours Friday and Saturday until 9 PM. The casual beach atmosphere makes this an ideal stop when combining wine tasting with coastal activities.

Log Cabin Farm Vineyard and Winery in Satsuma produces quality Muscadine wines on a scenic family farm 65 miles southwest of Jacksonville via Highway 17. The winery opens Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 11 AM to 4 PM (Saturday until 3 PM), offering tastings in a rustic setting with harvest celebrations and community events throughout the year. The farm atmosphere provides an authentic Florida agricultural experience alongside wine tasting.

Day Trip: Central Florida Wine Trail (90-120 Miles)

Island Grove Wine Company in Hawthorne crafts unique fruit wines and sangrias at 24703 SE 193rd Avenue, approximately 70 miles southwest via Interstate 295 and Highway 301. The winery operates Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 3 PM, offering engaging tours and tastings of their distinctive fruit wine portfolio. The rural location provides a peaceful escape from urban Jacksonville.

Lakeridge Winery & Vineyard near Clermont represents Florida's largest winery operation, located 150 miles south via Interstate 95 and Florida's Turnpike. The 127-acre estate features 80 acres of Muscadine vineyards and offers comprehensive tours Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. Guided tours include a video presentation, production facility walkthrough, and vineyard views, followed by tastings of award-winning wines ranging from dry to sweet styles. Weekend entertainment features live music and outdoor bar service on expansive vineyard grounds.

Planning Your Wine Tours

Northeast Florida's wineries focus primarily on Muscadine grapes, a native variety well-suited to the region's warm, humid climate. These wines offer distinctively different flavor profiles compared to traditional vinifera grapes, with fruit-forward characteristics and natural sweetness. Many Florida wineries also produce tropical fruit wines from mango, passion fruit, and other regional fruits.

Summer months (June through September) bring intense heat and humidity, making spring (March through May) and fall (October through November) ideal for winery visits. Winter offers comfortable temperatures but some wineries operate reduced hours. Always call ahead or check websites for current hours, as seasonal schedules vary significantly.

Designate a driver for winery day trips, as distances between venues and from Jacksonville require highway driving. Most wineries welcome visitors without reservations for standard tastings, though tour groups should call ahead. Tasting fees typically range from complimentary to $15 per person, often waived with wine purchases.

Getting Around Northeast Florida

From downtown Jacksonville, Interstate 95 provides the main route south to St. Augustine (40 miles, 45 minutes), Flagler Beach (75 miles, 80 minutes), and connections to central Florida wineries. Highway 17 runs southwest toward Palatka and provides access to rural wineries in the region. Most winery day trips require 90-180 minutes of round-trip driving plus winery visit time.

Plan full-day excursions to visit multiple wineries or combine wine tasting with other regional attractions. St. Augustine pairs well with historic sightseeing, while Flagler Beach combines wine tasting with coastal recreation. Central Florida winery visits can include stops at other agricultural attractions or theme park areas.

Related Resources

Florida's wine industry extends beyond the Jacksonville region to include distinctive wineries throughout the state. Explore the complete Florida wine scene to discover additional tasting opportunities. The state's warm climate and unique Muscadine grape cultivation create wine experiences found nowhere else in America, making Florida wine country an unexpected destination for adventurous wine enthusiasts.