About Loftus Family Farm Muscadine Vineyard

Come Pick Muscadines at Our Vineyard

Our gates open this Saturday, September 7th, and afterward we return to our usual hours: Saturdays 9am to 6pm and Sundays 1pm to 5pm. You can reach us at 386-462-1227 or 352-214-1028.

U-pick muscadines run $1.25 per pound, cash only. Kindly leave dogs and other pets at home — our insurance does not cover bites. There are no restrooms on the property, so keep that in mind when planning your trip. We hand out 5-quart buckets for picking, and each holds about 7 pounds of grapes.

Would you like a heads-up before the season opens? Drop us a note through our contact page and we'll put you on our notification list.

Planning Your Picking Trip

Throughout U-pick season we spend the work week tending the vineyard or running errands, so please call ahead if you'd like an appointment — a day or two of notice gives us time to arrange our schedules.

Finding the Farm

We're located at 15585 NW 29 St., Gainesville, FL 32609. Some GPS units and Google Maps may route you into the Gainesville city limits, so enter "LaCrosse, FL" instead of Gainesville. You'll find a map on our map page.

How the Vineyard Began

Our vineyard started in 2004 with only three rows. Each year we added more until we reached 14 — three Ison rows and 11 Supreme rows. The idea was to establish the vines while I was still working, so the vineyard would be ready by the time I retired. Because a vine isn't considered in full production until its fifth year, getting an early start mattered.

Since I worked full time, I added just a few rows each year to keep the workload manageable, and that approach served us reasonably well. Once every vine was in the ground, the demands multiplied and other activities and hobbies fell by the wayside. Running the vineyard felt like holding down two jobs: holidays, vacations, most weekends, and even time after work went into pruning, weeding, fertilizing, irrigating, building trellises, pulling wire, and repairing whatever broke. There were moments when I wondered if I had taken on more than I could handle.

Pan shots of the vineyard from its earliest days to the present are posted on our Photos page, and a photographic record of the work is archived in the photo gallery.

View Archived Photos

Retirement and Looking Ahead

It felt like an eternity, but I finally retired in July 2010 and can now give the vineyard the attention it deserves. I plan to replant vines lost to freezing weather and to add some of the golden muscadines visitors have asked about. There's also an intriguing new variety from the University of Florida called Southern Jewel — its grapes ripen as a cluster rather than individually, which should make harvesting easier.

With more free time, I can work at a more relaxed pace and truly enjoy the sunshine, the clouds, the wind, and yes, even the heat and rain. Hope to see you out at the vineyard. — Don Loftus

Explore More

Our vineyard history and how the rows were planted
Muscadine varieties grown at the farm
Recipes for using fresh muscadines
Articles and resources about muscadines
Directions and map to the vineyard

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Loftus Family Farm start growing grapes?

The vineyard started in 2004 with three rows, and more rows went in each year until there were 14 in total.

What grape varieties are grown at the vineyard?

There are three Ison rows and 11 Supreme rows. The owner has also mentioned interest in adding golden muscadines and the University of Florida's Southern Jewel variety.

Why were the vines planted a few rows at a time?

The vineyard was started while the owner still worked full time, so adding a few rows each year kept the work manageable and let the vines reach production by retirement.

How long does it take a vine to reach full production?

A vine is not considered in full production until its fifth year.

Where can I see photos of the vineyard over the years?

Pan shots from the beginning to now are on the Photos page, and archived photos are available through the linked photo gallery.

Back to Home

Whether you're planning a first U-pick outing or returning for another season, our About page gathers the essentials in one place: current hours, pricing, directions, and the story behind our rows. Browse the Photos page for a look at the vineyard through the years, or check the Recipes page for ideas on using fresh muscadines at home.