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Winery Has Mild Aspirations

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By JOYCE McKENZIE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 4, 2008

TEMPLE TERRACE - Whenever she sips on a glass of Tropical Riesling from Aspirations Winery, Janet Mixon feels as though she were watching a Florida sunset.

"It's light, it's refreshing, and it takes me to a space and time that's beautiful and a wonderful way to end my day," said the owner of Mixon Farms in Bradenton, whose 14,000-square-foot gift shop is stocked with varieties of fruit-infused wines from the winery on the edge of Temple Terrace.

Aspirations Winery's owner, Michael Rice, along with full-time University of South Florida student and part-time helper Patrick Mitton, makes all 22 of the winery's selections on-site with crushed grapes harvested and shipped from vineyards around the world.

The process involves fermenting the juices in three 300-liter tanks, where yeast begins to break down the grapes' sugar to produce alcohol. In about two weeks, the juices are transferred into individual buckets that each hold 23 liters (about 6 gallons), equivalent to six standard-size wine bottles.

Oak planks, chips or sawdust are added, and the juices continue to ferment for four to six more weeks.

During this period, the contents also go through a racking process, in which the wines are pumped from one plastic bottle into another several times until all unwanted solids settle at the bottom. A hydrometer is used to test each container's specific gravity, a measure that shows its fermentation level.

"We want it to get to the point where the sugar is gone and it turns to alcohol," Rice said. "If we ferment too long, it's not a problem, but if it's too short, we still have sugar."

At the end of the fermentation and filtering process, fruits are added to create the winery's signature fruit-infused wines that include Tropical Riesling, Strawberry Riesling, Blackberry Merlot and Raspberry White Zinfandel.

"These wines are lighter, sweeter and have less alcohol than our other wines," Rice said. "They are unique products that have a Florida feel to them."

Aspirations also produces a classic wine series - Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Merlot - and two dessert wines, a white ice style and a chocolate port.

Rice generally keeps an inventory of about 10,000 bottled but unlabeled wines. In that way, they are ready at a moment's notice to be tagged with names and/or logos he is also able to create for businesses or groups that opt to give them as holiday or customer appreciation gifts for clients.

"Once your own custom label is designed, it's as easy as sending us your list of recipients and we'll take it from there," he said. "It's effective, effortless and surprisingly affordable."

Prices start at $11 per bottle, though there are volume discounts and specials.

Steve Freedman, owner of Freedman's Office Furniture, often takes advantage of the service.

"I've purchased thousands of dollars worth at Christmastime, and I've been very impressed with everything Michael does," said Freedman, who oftentimes selects fruit-infused wines as gifts. "They are different, and they really taste pretty good."

Rice also designs and sells private-label wines to customers who are planning weddings and other special occasions.

Steven Specter, associate dean of student affairs at the University of South Florida College of Medicine, has purchased custom-labeled wines from Rice on a couple of occasions. His latest was for the college's precommencement banquet.

"I like his wines, and Michael has done a very nice job in working with the university on several different events," Specter said. "I've also been to the winery and purchased some wines to take home."

The winery recently introduced its wine-of-the-month and wine-of-the-quarter programs in which custom-labeled wines are routinely shipped to cherished clients, special friends and loved ones.

"Custom-labeled wines are also perfect for business promotions, marketing and sales incentives," said Rice, who also sells his wines through his Web site and wholesalers that distribute them to area businesses and restaurants. They include Sabal Park's Residence Inn in Brandon, Polo's Italian Grill in Tampa Palms and CDB's Pizza and Italian Restaurant in Tampa.

Rice, a former business consultant and longtime wine connoisseur who has an assortment of more than 800 bottles of wines in his South Tampa home, purchased the business in January 2006 from one of his clients. He changed its name from Wine Not to Aspirations Winery.

"Being in the wine business is a good fit because collecting wines is also a hobby of mine," he said.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Aspirations Winery
WHERE: 5116 E. Fowler Ave.

WHEN: Open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday

INFORMATION: Go to www.aspirationswinery.com or call (813) 988-2010.

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849 or jmckenzie@tampatrib.com.

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