Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards

Specialties

Lakeridge Winery is situated among the rolling hills of Clermont. You will find it a delightful place to enjoy while you are visiting central Florida. Free tours and wine tasting are offered seven days a week. Monday — Saturday, 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Sunday — 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tours usually run every 15 – 20 minutes and begin in the upstairs theater to view a 12 minute video presentation which shows the growing of the Florida grapes to the wine making process and the finishing with the bottling and labeling. Your personal Tour Guide will then show you along a cat walk to view the production area and then outside to the balcony to see the spectacular view of the vineyards where the grapes are grown and harvested. The Wine Tasting is held downstairs at the large tasting counter. 5 – 6 varieties of award winning wines ranging from dry to sweet are usually offered. The winery tour and wine tasting lasts approximately 45 – 50 minutes. Afterwards, browse the Wine Shop for wine accessories.

History

Established in 1989.

Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards officially opened in Clermont, Florida in 1989 headed by Gary Cox, as General Partner, and a small group of investors based out of Tallahassee ‘s Lafayette Vineyards and Winery. The winery has grown significantly in its wine production over the past years, which has allowed the Cox’s to open a very successful second location in St. Augustine, Florida, San Sebastian Winery, which has proven itself as an industry leader. The wineries are now structured as a private corporation with Gary Cox as president, Charles Cox as vice-​president, and Gary’s wife Carole as secretary. The family has always had a strong commitment to produce a quality product, with possibly an even stronger commitment to their customers. The Cox family invites you to either of their wineries for a free tour and wine tasting, whether a first time or repeat visitor, you are assured to have a wonderful time, as well as learning about the great wines Florida has to offer.

Meet the Business Owner

Gary C.

Business Owner

In 1988 an opportunity came the way of Gary Cox when some investors out of Orlando were interested i n opening a winery in the Central Florida area. The thought soon came to fruition when the group, along with Cox purchased land in the Clermont, Florida area, which soon became the home of Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards. Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards officially opened in Clermont, Florida in 1989 headed by Gary Cox, as General Partner, and a small group of investors based out of Tallahassee ‘s Lafayette Vineyards and Winery. It became difficult however, to run both of the operations simultaneously, therefore Cox was forced to close the Lafayette Vineyards in Tallahassee and merge everything to the Lakeridge facility in Clermont, and now has total of 65 employees.