It was a lazy weekend, and we had to make the long trip (okay – not so long….like 40 minutes!) to UTC for a bit of shopping we’d been putting off. But in typical VWE fashion, we figured this was the perfect opportunity to check out a couple of wine spots in Lakewood Ranch.
So off we went to the mall, made ever so much easier by the anticipation of a new-to-us wine spot at Waterside when we were finished.
After a short visit to UTC, we jaunted over to Waterside just after a rain shower—and just after the farmers’ market had wrapped up. Perfect timing for us, because there was almost no one there. We got to explore a bit before wandering into Florida Provisions Co. to check out this wine shop/wine bar/retail spot.
As we strolled in, football was playing on the TVs, with plenty of folks at the high tops watching the game and sipping mostly brews. It’s definitely a beer-and-wine spot, set in a casual, industrial-style space. You can buy wine or beer by the bottle to take home, grab a to-go cup, or settle in with a real glass and stay awhile. If inside isn’t your thing (or football isn’t your thing), you can enjoy seating on the sidewalk, or carry your beverage of choice to go.
They also offer breakfast on the weekends and food in the afternoons and evenings. When we arrived around 2 p.m., though, the kitchen had just stopped serving—with the promise of offering later hours once they’re fully staffed.
Quick Facts
Location: Waterside Place, Lakewood Ranch
Website: Florida Provisions Co.
Vibe: Casual wine-and-beer spot meets neighborhood provisions shop, with a little sports bar, pizzeria and modern bodega mixed in. My Partner in Wine may have described it best: sports bar meets casual retail with a pizzeria and bodega flair.
Food: The menu looked great, and the food smelled even better—we just missed our chance to try it. Breakfast is offered Saturday and Sunday, including bagels flown in from New York. The rest of the menu leans heavily toward pizza, and based on what we saw coming out of the kitchen, it’s well worth a return visit. Sign us up, Florida Provisions!
Why Visit
- The location: It’s an easy Waterside stop before or after lunch, shopping or simply strolling around. In addition to wines by the glass, you can pick up a bottle and a few provisions to take home.
- Wine + sports: If your S.O. loves sports and you love wine, there’s something here for both of you. They can watch the game while you browse the attached retail shop, where you’ll find a curated selection of clothing for both guys and gals. And yes, there were some very cute finds.
- It’s casual and laid-back: There’s no need to dress up or make a big production of the stop, but you can still enjoy a nice glass of wine and something to eat. And with the rest of Waterside right outside the door, it’s easy to make Florida Provisions one stop in a leisurely afternoon.
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Our Experience
We strolled in and, while it took us a minute to orient ourselves, we quickly figured out that we could head to the register, order a glass of wine and then browse, sit or take it outside/to go.
We had originally planned to grab something to eat, too, but the kitchen had just closed, so we missed our chance to sample the pizza—which smelled amazing and looked pretty tasty, too, based on what we saw on some of the tables. If you’re going hungry, double-check the kitchen hours before you head over.
So we opted to select a couple of glasses and browse a bit. I chose the Wölffer Summer in a Bottle Rosé, which we’d first tried with one of our favorite wine reps, Nicole, during a tasting at Octovino. It was just as light, crisp and delightful as I remembered. My Partner in Wine went with the Avaline Pinot Noir and happily settled in with his glass.
And speaking of glasses: we chose to enjoy our wines there and were pleasantly surprised to have them poured into nice-quality, stemmed wine glasses. It was a welcome change from the stemless versions – or those heavy, thick-stemmed glasses – you find at so many casual venues. We were probably more excited about the stemware than we should have been! (The couple at the sidewalk table next to us after we sat down, who were sipping brews, even commented on our “fancy” glasses!)
Wine in hand, we browsed the provisions side of the store and found some “gourmet” gummy snacks to take home before we wandered into the clothing shop. There’s a nicely curated selection of both men’s and women’s clothing, making it surprisingly easy to spend a little time browsing.
Eventually, we settled outside at a sidewalk table with our glasses. It was a lovely way to enjoy the atmosphere at Waterside, and we ended up chatting with another couple doing exactly the same thing with their sweet Vizsla, Milo, along for the afternoon.
The Final Pour
Florida Provisions Co. was an easy, casual spot for a weekend sip. The wine selection was nice, and we loved having the option to enjoy a glass there – in proper stemware! – or take wine to go by the glass or bottle.
We would have loved to pair our wines with a low-key lunch, so that’s reason enough for a return visit.
If you’ve spent time at Waterside, you’ll probably understand why it feels familiar to those of us who frequent Wellen Park. There’s that same easy combination of restaurants, shops, outdoor spaces and places to simply wander.
And you know us: give us somewhere we can stroll with a nice glass of wine, and we’re pretty happy.
Salud to sipping on a Sunday afternoon Waterside style!
🌴 Looking for more curated wine spots in the Venice or Englewood areas? Check out our comprehensive Local Guide to Wine Spots and stay up-to-date on the latest tastings with our Monthly Wine Events Calendar and Happy Hour Guide.