Vineyards are few and far between in South Florida, but there’s one nestled in Fort Pierce that attracts a loyal following year-round: Summer Crush Vineyard & Winery. The winery came to fruition in 2012 after owner Gary Roberts discovered a love for muscadine wine—the oldest wine in the New World that was first recorded in Fort Caroline near Jacksonville in 1565—and decided to build a vineyard on his land.
The 10-acre “sun and fun boutique winery” blends Roberts’ love of history and surfing (his prolific collection of classic surfboards and memorabilia is displayed in the tasting room and pavilion) with Noble, Carlos, and Doreen varieties of muscadine grapes to create flavorful wines. The grapes are harvested and crushed in the summer, hence the name behind the vineyard. You’ll find bottles of Old Florida Red made from native Noble grapes as well as other fun specialty flavors such as Marlin Monroe, Rated Arr, and Mango-Tiki. “All of our wines have won medals, including an unprecedented four straight gold medals at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition (the second-largest competition in the country),” says Roberts. The wine has also won Best of Show at the Florida International Wine Competition.
Stop by Tuesday through Sunday for tastings and family-friendly lawn games like giant Jenga and checkers and live music. “Summer is a perfect time to visit the winery,” says Roberts. “The wine slushies we are famous for taste better than ever.” Summer Crush will host an anniversary event July 18 featuring beach/surf music, a car show, a collectible surfboard show, and more.
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