Two Wineries and a Distillery

7/19/25 UPDATE:
I drove out and spoke to Larry and Lenora today with Bunker Hill and they can take 20 of us at a time. Fiorelly I already know will be ok (They have an outdoor patio and dining area if we cannot all do the tasting room at the same time) and I spoke to the owner of Loaded Cannon and he is good with 20 of us, so I expanded the size and moved everyone currently on to going. See more in the discussion area for this event. Anyone wanting a Charcuterie Tray at Bunker Hill - They are available but you need to call ahead at least a day and pre-pay for it. They cannot make on demand. More info here: https://www.bunkerhillvineyard.com/

I posted a discussion and have had enough interest I'm setting up an event. This is a unique event that would require carpooling and I am limiting the size to about 12. This is not a hard limit, but rather a recommended limit. Please only sign up if you are sure you can attend, and let us know if you would be a driver or a ride in a car pool. I will be driving myself and could have (3) passengers.

The first stop would be Bunker Hill Vineyard & Winery located in Duette - South of Sun City and east of Parrish. Bunker Hill Vineyard & Winery is a small, family-owned farm winery-vineyard located in Duette, Florida, about 25 miles east of Tampa. It is owned and operated by Larry and Lenora Woodham, who have been producing wine since 2010. If you truly enjoy wine this is a must winery you must visit. They produce from a variety of items including Cherry tomatoes, Cucumbers, Muscadine grapes, Jalapenos, and other unique fruits. Their wines are pure natural wines and are made using traditional methods as our ancestors made - Unfiltered wines which are unique in Florida.

The second winery takes us 30 minutes south to Fiorelli winery in Bradenton. Fiorelly is another family owned winery started in 1998 by the Fiorelli family from Italy and purchased by the Hall family in 2016 and then to the Hokanson family in 2021. This is another farm winery with 10 acres of Muscadine grape wine and has a beautiful setting. They produce a variety of blended Fruit wines based on their own Muscadine grapes and a variety of styles of wines. They also have a restaurant on site which has a small variety of sandwiches and salads.

Finally, we will head ten miles west back towards Lakewood Ranch to Loaded Cannon distillery. Loaded Cannon Distillery is a pirate-themed craft distillery, the first of its kind in Manatee County, offering handcrafted spirits that reflect Florida’s heritage and materials—described as “grain to glass” with local ingredients. Established in mid‑2019 by chemical engineer Steve Milligan, who was inspired by his experience distilling alcohol in Saudi Arabia and adopted the playful name “Loaded Cannon” (a spin on a “loose cannon” nickname). The distillery produces a wide range of award-winning spirits, including vodkas, gins, rums, and bourbons—with standout flavors like jalapeño vodka and black cherry vodka, both customer-influenced and bestsellers.

Each winery charges a small fee for tastings as does the distillery for tastings. Each serves unique products produced on site with a variety of experiences. Estimate the cost of tastings to be around $15 per location, though some offer discounts upon purchasing something. I am setting the cap to 12 but will follow and expand if we get a waiting list. No shows will be frowned upon for future events I host myself. Life happens but dropping ahead of the event is a courtesy to the host (Me here) and others waiting to attend.

We would most likely meet somewhere in South Brandon - possibly at Cracker Barrel or somewhere for breakfast. Leave that location at about 1030 for the trip down to the first winery. We can work out details as we get closer to the event depending on who is coming from where.