It’s actually the correct term for a star fruit. Who knew? Well, I found out all about it during a trip to a special little winery in Homestead, FL (about 40 minutes south of Miami).
On a Sunday afternoon, my fellow dietitian pal and I went to visit the Schnebly Winery and Brewery to do a tour and tasting. Get this– they have not one grape on the premises. The winery was started by Peter and Dennisse Schnebly, who own and operate a produce company called Fresh King, Inc., growing 96 acres of exotic tropical fruits and gourmet vegetables. They started experimenting with making wines from the tropical fruits they had available, and Viola! One-of-a-kind wines made from mango, lychee, guava, passion fruit, starfruit, and avocado. Yes, I said AVOCADO. And yes, it tastes just as odd as it sounds.
The tour was mildly interesting, but it was the beauty of the grounds, the atmosphere, and the tasting (you get to pick 5 wines from a list of a dozen or so) that made the trip worth-while.
My two favorites were the “Category 3 Hurricane,” (a blend of lychee, guava, and carambola) and the CocoVino (coconut, lemongrass, and a mild hint of oak). They also have a brewery and a separate bar for beers, but I couldn’t tear myself away from the wine. Maybe next time. All-in-all, the tour, tasting, and complimentary wine glass was only $16 total. I also bought a bottle of the Category 3, which was $19. If I haven’t convinced you that it’s worth the side trip next time your in Miami, they also have live music on Friday and Saturday nights. Cheers!