The Vineyard at Florence

The Vineyard at Florence is located in Florence and is owned by Kris Davis and Kambrah Garland. 30 acres of vineyards were planted in the spring of 2007 and include such varieties as Norton, Lenoir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Blanc du Bois. In 2009, winemaker Dan Gatlin of Inwood Estates Vineyards produced their first commercial wines named Aura, Aurelia, and Forte.

The first time we visited The Vineyard at Florence, we found them out in the country and had two large buildings so we followed the signs to find The Vineyard at Florence. As it turned out, the winery on the right was the Florence location of Inwood Estates Vineyard which was previously discussed. The building, called Villa Firenze is a very impressive building and we looked forward to entering the tasting room.

When we entered the tasting room, we weren’t disappointed. The interior is decorated in an Italian style and has a large rectangular tasting bar. Also included in Villa Firenze is a Café, Spa, Art Gallery, and event spaces. There are also a couple private rooms with fireplaces and comfortable leather sofa and chairs. Beautiful works of art and sculptures exist throughout the main building. The rear of the tasting room overlooks the vineyard and polo field.

The first time we visited, we began a tasting while standing at the tasting bar. There is a tasting fee and you can select from two different flights which contain three wines each. The higher priced tasting includes the Estate wines and the lower price is the value line called Bell’Amore. There are four Estate wines made 100% from their vineyards and seven wines from their second label wines. They use grapes from out of state for their blended wines. The wine bottles use corks and the tastings are poured with measured pourers.

During our tasting we heard how people come just to eat Sunday brunch. Unfortunately the timing wasn’t right but we remembered that for the next time we visited. The Café is open for lunch and early dinner. The next time we visited The Vineyard at Florence we arrived on a Sunday ready for brunch. As we were previously told, it was very good in a nice intimate setting in the Café.

The Villa Firenze also hosts a series of educational programs, cultural exhibits, and performing arts events. One example of an event held is wine and art painting. A new event facility called Villa Ell’Amore will open at the end of June. This will house such events as fine dining and live music. Until then, live music is held in the Villa Firenze for an intimate setting or larger outdoor musical festivals are held in their amphitheater. Weddings are very popular and can even include a horse drawn carriage. There is a wine club called the Veritas Wine Club.

Luxury rental villas overlook the panoramic hill country and the vineyard. Some friends of ours, Mike and Carol, have stayed at The Vineyard at Florence and loved it. They stayed in the Villa da Vinci and the accommodations were very well appointed and very comfortable. They stayed in a one bedroom villa which had a good sized open living area. There was a small refrigerator stocked with water and juices. A complimentary basket of meat, cheese, and crackers was provided in their room. They said everything from the architecture of the shower, the solid heavy doors in the villa, the beautifully appointed lighting fixtures, and the fresco on the wall in the bedroom shouted of quality.

If you love The Vineyard at Florence and wish you could live there, you can! Behind the winery overlooking the vineyard is a residential area where luxury homes with custom builders are available. What a nice setting it would be to live in a house overlooking a vineyard and walk down to the winery, actually two wineries counting Inwood Estates Vineyards, for a glass of wine whenever you want.

Our friend Carol had a good statement. She said, “If you want a taste of Tuscany without hopping on an airplane, I would suggest a day or two at The Vineyard at Florence.”

The Vineyard at Florence is on the Thirsty Oaks wine trail.