Lakeridge Wineries - Chablis @@@ (3 corks)

Retails: $6.99 (Total Wine)

I discovered Lakeridge Wineries when I was still on the road as the producer for a traveling road crew producing tourism videos for the beautiful state of Florida. Located in Clermont, Florida, just outside of Orlando, Lakeridge Wineries produces a series of wines in collaboration with their sister winery, San Sebastian, in St. Augustine, Florida. Primarily, they use muscadine grapes to create their varietals, producing some really unusual flavors.

Lakeridge Wineries is a charming, family owned operation out in what has traditionally been an orange producing area of Florida. A brief half hour drive outside of Disney, Lakeridge offers free tours and wine samplings. They make 7 different wines and two varieties of sparkling wine which you can order from their website: http://www.lakeridgewinery.com/
SPOILER ALERT: Look for future reviews of their other varietals -- their Southern Red is an especially good DESSERT RED (yum!)

Chablis is typically grown in northernmost wine district in Burgundy, France, so I'm certain Lakeridge is borrowing the title a bit from the French. It does not hold the same characteristics as the chardonnay grapes grown under the same title -- dry with moderate acidity.

This chablis, upon first sniff, smells like motor oil. Unlike the first sip, it envelopes your tastebuds in a smooth sweetness that requires a bit of swishing in the mouth to achieve its full taste potential. The finish has quite a bit of acidity which makes this only a "3 cork" rating in my book, however for its unusual qualities I would give it a "4 cork" rating. If you're looking for something really different, I would give this one a sample.


Each taste brings me back to that year in my life when I lived out of a suitcase and experienced all of the best (and worst) that Florida has to offer. I'm now a desk monkey, managing the video production and loving being home and having a routine again--for a while, it seemed my fridge was filled with condiments and expired milk. Every once in a great while, duty calls, I get back out on the road and experience another adventure.