New to Gainesville and looking for something to do? Or perhaps, have you been here a while but want to find a new local spot for wine or beer? We’re here to help! At Ward’s Supermarket, we’re super proud to work with vendors from Alachua County to fill our local wine and beer shelves. Today, we’ll showcase a few of them to help you plan your next wine-tasting experience or brewery night!
Our Florida Winery Vendors
At Ward’s, we supply several local wine vendors who are from right here in Alachua County! Our two highlights today are Bluefield Estates and Island Grove.
Bluefield Estates
While Bluefield Estates is not your traditional winery experience, it is a delicious one! Most wines, whether they be reds, whites, dry, or sweet, are made of grapes. However, Bluefield Estates likes to put their own twist on local wine, and many of their bottles are actually made from blueberries!
That’s right—they specialize specifically in blueberry wines. During the season, they even offer blueberry You-Pick opportunities, so you can enjoy their blueberries right from their farm. They have both sweet and dry options and even a semi-sweet selection for those in between. This unique winery was too good to pass up, so we offer their delicious blueberry wine on our shelves! Try them for your next wine and cheese night!
Island Grove
Make a day with your friends to experience Island Grove’s wine-tasting room—but expect anything but a typical experience. Like our other highlight today, Island Grove began as a blueberry wine farm. But soon, they began experimenting with other fruits to make their selection. Do you like peaches? They have a wine for it. Maybe apple is more your speed? They have that too. Perhaps, you’d like a more traditional experience and love a good sangria—they’ve got you covered! With this vast and unique selection, we’re proud to serve this local winery’s bottles at Ward’s.
Our Gainesville Brewery Vendors
We can’t forget our beer lovers! We’re excited to offer two local breweries on our shelves: First Magnitude Brewing Company and Swamp Head Brewery.
Swamp Head Brewery
A staple in Gainesville for over 15 years, Swamp Head Brewery offers a variety of brews that locals have enjoyed! From ales and sours to IPAs and lagers, they’ve got it all. They have some brews on tap all year long, but much of their selection is new or seasonal.
If you’re more of a local beer lover, you may enjoy their hoppy or malty selections. If you’re new to the brewery scene, try a fruity selection or sour to start! Regardless of your preference, you can find your favorite Swamp Head brew at Ward’s!
First Magnitude Brewing Company
From unique brews to live music and even family nights, First Magnitude Brewing Company (affectionately referred to as First Mag in town) is a great spot for everyone. They love to present new, exciting local beer to their customers—in fact, they’ve created over 100 brews since opening!
From beers with soft serve to a traditional ale, there’s something for everyone. They even offer kombucha and non-alcoholic options if beer isn’t your speed. For their dedication to unique but delicious brews, we had to add them to our local beer selection!
Stay in & Enjoy Your Favorite Beer or Wine at Home with Ward’s
Whether you love wine or beer, we hope you enjoy these local wineries and breweries. We’ve chosen them as vendors for our store to further our dedication to local, farm-fresh options and sustainability in food. Found a brew or bottle you loved during your time visiting them? Enjoy it from the comfort of your home when you visit Ward’s Supermarket! We carry a variety of wines and beers for you to choose from, including from the locations we mentioned today. Check our weekly special to see if your favorite supplier is on sale!
