Florida Guide > Places to Visit
San Sebastion Winery - St Augustine
We first saw San Sebastian Winery on a trolley bus tour on our first trip to StAugustine. From the outside it does not look very inspiring but friends of ours who had visited it the previous year urged us to try a visit to it.
Unlike much of St Augustine it was only founded in1996. It is located at King Street, just a few blocks from historic downtown. According to historians, this area is the birthplace of American wine.
San Sebastian is today one of Florida' s premium wineries, and “remains a pioneer in the development of table, sparkling and dessert wines from hybrid and muscadine grapes. ”
Vintage wines are sold as well as blended and sparkling wines from native muscadine grapes. Port and Cream Sherry dessert wines are also produced by and sold under the San Sebastian brand. Their labels have won over three hundred awards for wine so far and these awards increase each year.
Apparently every year more than 100, 000 people are expected to visit the winery’s extensive tasting room and wine shop, it was busy when we were there. Here they produce nearly a million bottles a year and as well as selling them at the winery they also sell them in major supermarkets and wine shops throughout Florida.
Be sure to visit for the Complimentary Winery tours and Wine Tasting which take place seven days a week; Monday - Saturday, 10 a. m. – 6p. m. and Sunday, 11:00 a. m. - 6 p. m.
Located ion the roof you can find “The Cellar Upstairs” this is a wine jazz and blues bar that is not heavily publicized. It is open at weekends with live music from local and regional bands. There is no cover charge and opening times are:
Friday 4 pm – 11 pm
Saturday 1 pm – 11 pm
Sunday at 1 pm – 9 pm
While you listen to the music and look at the fantastic view overlooking the St Augustine skyline you can enjoy San Sebastian Wines, as well as imported and domestic beers. When we went we did not think the charges were excessive with beer at $3 and wine $6 or $7 a glass.
We were also impressed with the food. Initially we ordered and enjoyed tortilla chips with black bean, corn and tomato salsa; this as were some other dishes on the menu was for two people.
We then ordered Bistro Meat and Cheese Platter, this also served two. When it came we were amazed at its contents of salami, pepperoni, ham and sopressata, aged cheddar, swiss, monterey jack and jalapeno, cheddar jack, smoked gouda, served with black olives, whole grain mustard and a baguette, who could ask for anything more and all that for $14!
San Sebastian Winery was well worth a visit but I am not sure if I would have gone if it had not been recommended, it just proves that appearances can be deceptive.
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