'No place has atmosphere like this': Davenport couple shares journey into the wine business

Breanna A. Rittman, The Ledger
·2 min read

DAVENPORT — For 17 years Howard and Fatima Gill had been blueberry farmers, but then came the idea to make wine from their harvest.

But how?

Fatima asked a friend who made peach wine if he would show her how to make blueberry wine. The friend showed her the supplies she would need and enlisted someone to help her make it.

On Father's Day in 2010 she tried the wine out on her family and they loved it.

Fatima wanted to make more - but legally.

“I thought ‘oh my God I’m going to get in trouble.’" said Fatima, joking about being arrested for bootlegging. "My sister is a bail bondsperson in Bartow and she's not going to bail me out.”

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Howard and Fatima Gill with some of their blueberry wine at their True Blue Winery in Davenport Fl. Tuesday May 17, 2022. ERNST PETERS/ THE LEDGER
Howard and Fatima Gill with some of their blueberry wine at their True Blue Winery in Davenport Fl. Tuesday May 17, 2022. ERNST PETERS/ THE LEDGER

After a two-year journey working out logistics and getting the necessary licenses to open a business, the True Blue Winery's grand opening was October 7, 2012. And nearly 10 years later, they are still Polk County’s only winery.

With National Wine Day being May 25, the True Blue Winery in Davenport continues to have a welcoming feel with a personalized décor.

When visitors stop in they're welcomed by a chandelier designed with Fatima’s love for butterflies in mind and can see a Howard’s father’s BMW, which has been converted into a table.

“When we started the winery, we had to have something representing each other here,” said Fatima, 65.

Fatima also personalizes the bottle labels represent a Pakistan flag by including a moon and star because of her Pakistani origin.

The Gills allow consumers to pick their own blueberries once a year during the blueberry season and have a total of nine wines that include semi- sweet, semi-dry and sweet blueberry wine that is made from fruit and not concentrated juice.

"What people like about this place is the atmosphere," said Howard, 75. "They like the food, they like the wine but no place has atmosphere like this.”

Howard and Fatima Gill have a brick pizza oven at their True Blue Winery in Davenport Fl. Tuesday May 17, 2022. ERNST PETERS/ THE LEDGER
Howard and Fatima Gill have a brick pizza oven at their True Blue Winery in Davenport Fl. Tuesday May 17, 2022. ERNST PETERS/ THE LEDGER

While Fatima is running the business Howard said he likes to socialize with customers.

“Hanging with people is more fun than anything,” Howard said.

In addition to True Blue's charm, visitors can enjoy a nice meal from the bistro while tasting their wine.

The bistro menu includes Shepherd's pie, chicken salad, chicken pot pie, Cuban and Reuben sandwiches - all made by Fatima.

“Most wineries people come in taste their wine and get out," she said. "I wanted people to sit down, relax and enjoy themselves.”

True Blue Winery is located across from the Davenport Post Office at 604 Pink Apartments Road. For more information on the winery and events hosted there visit truebluewinery.com.

Breanna A. Rittman writes news features for The Ledger. Send your feature ideas to BRittman@gannett.com. 

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Davenport blueberry farmers share journey into the wine business