If you want Dom Perignon Champagne …

Try Wolf Mountain Blanc de Blancs Brut. OK, so Karl Boegner has not reached the pinnacle of sparkling wine production, but he does use the same grapes and the same methods practiced in Champagne to make a delicious sparkling wine. While delicate palates may taste the difference, price-sensitive wine lovers will love saving $250 per bottle over the more famous French variety.

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Louie Favorite/lfavorite@ajc.com

With relaxed shipping regulations and an increased interest in wine, wine writer Gil Kulers says consumers can find out for themselves how much better Georgia wines have become.

Georgia Wines with Dinner
• Story: Georgia's vineyards strive for wider acceptance
• Wine tips: A guide to Georgia wines
• Recipes: Three Atlanta restaurants share recipes to enjoy with a Georgia wine


Related links
• Calendar: Wine events
• Georgia vineyard makes strides in sweet science of sparkling wine
• Travel: Wine is the new gold in Dahlonega | Photo gallery
• More wine articles by Gil Kulers

If you want to drink Domaine Drouhin Montrachet …

Try Frogtown Cellars Chardonnay. Same French oak barrels, same winemaking techniques, same attention to detail, nearly the same results. Chardonnay from the Montrachet Vineyard is considered among the finest wines in the world, but the Benedictine monks did get a 1,000-year head start. Craig and Cydney Kritzerhe started making chardonnay only 10 years ago, but aspire to similar greatness.

If you want to drink Opus One …

Try Wolf Mountain Claret. Once mocked as a folly, the joint effort between the Robert Mondavi Winery and Château Mouton Rothschild that produced Opus One proved the doubters wrong. Most people believe fine bordeaux-style wines cannot be made in North Georgia, until they try Karl Boegner’s wines.

If you want to drink Tiger Mountain Petit Manseng …

Try Tiger Mountain Petit Manseng. A benefit to making wine in less-established regions is the freedom to try different varieties to see what works best. Tiger has made a name for itself by propagating atypical grapes, such as touriga nacional and tannat. Perhaps its greatest success has come with this obscure grape from the Jurançon region in southwest France.

If you want to drink Antinori Brunello di Montalcino …

Try Montaluce Estates & Vineyards Sangiovese. You’ll have to wait for this varietal inspired by the wines of northern and central Italy. The Beecham family is growing Italian varietals on its 400-acre estate in Dahlonega, and winemaker Stefano Salvini, who comes to Montaluce from Bertinoro, Italy, will release his first Georgia wines in late 2009.

If you like President Carter’s Muscadine …

Try Habersham Muscadine. Former President Jimmy Carter and his late father have made wine in Plains for most of the previous century. Like the Carters, Southern farmers have made the most of this native American grape, and many wine lovers appreciate its musty, sweet flavors. Carter offers his wines as gifts or by auction for as much as $8,000 per bottle, so your best bet is to head to Helen’s Habersham Winery for one of the state’s best interpretations of this grape.

[Comment on this story:] What is your favorite regional wine?