The Vineyard Alternative
| July 23, 2009 | Posted by admin under Wine |
Growing up in North Florida has given me a great appreciation for beautiful undeveloped land. Since that is rapidly disappearing, I have quickly become a fan of the grape vineyards that are beginning to show up all over the state. Agricultural land once plentiful in Florida is being replaced by, well, you know. No use crying over already-constructed shopping venues.
Grape vineyards are a great alternative to buildings and they are a naturally renewable resource used to make wine, and many other value-added products. Wine making in Florida is steadily growing and
the wine makers regularly have to go out of state to meet all their muscadine and bunch grape needs. True to it’s agricultural heritage, Florida, through the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and in partnership with Florida’s Viticulture Advisory Council, offers a grant to potential grape growers. It is a reimbursement grant for the installation of at least five acres of muscadine grapes for which the grower can receive up to $1,000 per acre.
I finally made time to watch the wine movie Bottle Shock. Having to wait until the very end to enjoy the “Judgment of Paris” was excruciating, but the scenery of all the beautiful vineyards flowing over the land was a fair compensation and more than made up for the lacking portrayal of my beloved 70s. Maybe one day the Florida landscape will flow with the same volume and beauty of vineyards as some of our other wine producing states.
Growing grapes, increasing agriculture land, making wine, having harvest festivals and receiving a grant to help make it happen - is this a win win? I have all the information you need to get started.
Visit Florida Wineries Here for more Vineyard Pics:
http://www.florida-agriculture.com/consumers/wineries.htm
Today’s Quote:
“The wines that one best remembers are not necessarily the finest that one has ever tasted, and the highest quality may fail to delight so much as some far more humble beverage drunk in more favorable surroundings.”
From the wine list of Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, LA
Please forward me information on how I can apply for the grant to plant atleast 5 acres of grapes in florida.
Thanks
Alan
Hello, Tom
I am about to purchase 15 raw acres near Crestview, FL and am interested to plant grapes/vineyard. Can you forward the information to get started? Much thanks!
Michael Smith
850-687-7147