There were no Oompa Loompas running around Keel and Curley Winery, when owner Joe Keel announced Aug. 21, a Wonka-inspired contest, the Search for the Golden Cork. Wine drinkers will get a chance to find one of 10 golden corks stashed away inside of the winery’s 19 bottled options.
The Plant City winery is sponsoring the contest to celebrate its 10-year anniversary.
“No one’s going to know where the corks are except us,” Keel said. “Not even the stores will know.”
Keel is tracking the corks to make sure they get onto shelves as quickly as possible. The gleaming yellow stoppers will be hidden by a special wrapper. One cork already has been claimed in Clearwater.
Those lucky enough to find a golden cork will be asked to come to the winery Oct. 10, the night of the anniversary. There, they will compete in a blind taste test to win the grand prize.
The winner won’t be whisked away to a candy-filled wonderland. Instead, the ultimate prize is a trip for two to Napa Valley. It includes airfare and a train tour of 10 major wineries. The winners will fly into San Francisco.
“It really is a great trip,” Keel said.
The nine other winners also will take home prize packages.
The idea first came up as a promotion from a friend. Clinging to the idea, Keel decided it would be a perfect contest to celebrate the anniversary.
“We like the idea, and we like what it has evolved into,” Keel said.
The winery started in 2003, in Keel’s kitchen. A Central Florida blueberry farmer, Keel wanted to find a use for his end-of-crop blueberries. Rather than waste the harvest, Keel decided to make blueberry wine.
“I was single at the time; I didn’t want to waste my time on jams and pies,” Keel said.
Since then, Keel and Curley Winery has won more than 250 awards for excellence and has produced nearly one million bottles. In addition to its Plant City location, Keel and Curley’s wines are available in 1,500 Publix, Walmart and Total Wine & More locations.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
TWO HENRYS
Keel and Curley Winery has branched out to create its own beer label, Two Henrys. The beer is almost ready for its debut. Managing Partner Clay Keel said he hopes to have it available by Oct. 1, at the winery.
The label will be celebrated Oct. 19, at the winery’s first Biertoberfest. The festival will feature bands, a cornhole tournament, vendors and other home brewers.
“We also want to bring in craft brewers to come and share their art,” Joe Keel said. “Because it really is an art.”
Clay and Joe Keel have been traveling to conferences to get their beer right. They named the brewery Two Henrys after Henry Plant and Henry Flagler — the businessmen responsible for the local the railroad system. Later, they went on to open rival hotels.
Keel and Curley Winery
ADDRESS: 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City
PHONE: (813) 752-9100
WEBSITE: keelandcurleywinery.com