Southeastern Roundup: North Georgia's wine country
By Blake Guthrie
In the early 1980s, an article about wineries in Georgia could have included all of them, as there were only a handful. Today there are nearly 50 farm and commercial wineries and vineyards in the state, the majority of them located in North Georgia. This explosion in Georgia wine production owes a lot to the success of Habersham Vineyards & Winery in Helen, The Georgia Winery in Ringgold and Chateau Elan Winery in Braselton. Traditionally, wine making in Georgia focused on sweet muscadine and other fruit wines, but in the 1970s these pioneers began planting vineyards in the northern hilly regions of the state that yielded more European-style winegrapes from the soil. It isn't Napa, Sonoma or the Rhone Valley, and the area doesn't pretend to be, but this region of Georgia is coming of age as a serious producer of fine wines. Tours and tastings are offered at plenty of operations, most of them located down winding country backroads. Dahlonega sits at the heart of North Georgia's wine country and two local wineries are hosting wine festivals in June.
Georgia Wine Country Festival
June 4-5, 11-12, 18-19
The 10th Annual Georgia Wine Country Festival takes place at Three Sisters Vineyards, named after nearby Three Sisters Mountain which provides a scenic backdrop to the grounds. The festival at this 184-acre family-run farm winery has become so popular that it is expanding from one to three weekends this year. Wines from multiple area wineries will be available for tasting in the Wine Garden section of the fest for $20; general admission to the rest of the festival is free. Bottles and wine by the glass will be available. This year's festival will feature folk, bluegrass and acoustic artists including Route 66 (June 4-5), The Mossy Creek Gypsies (June 11-12) and Erik Brace and Peter Cooper (June 18). Farm exhibits, folk art, and food vendors will also be a part of this family-friendly event. Hours are Saturdays from 10 a.m. -- 6 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. -- 6 p.m.
Three Sisters Vineyards. 439 Vineyard Way, Dahlonega (call or check the website for specific directions; don't use aGPS or online map services because they will lead you astray in this mountainous region). 706-865-9463, www.threesistersvineyards.com.
Georgia Fine Wine Festival
June 4-5
BlackStock Vineyards, the pastoral site of the Georgia Fine Wine Festival the first weekend in June is a nod to the booming agri-tourism industry in Georgia, t The festival will feature over 60 Georgia-grown wines from wineries such as Frogtown Cellars, Tiger Mountain, Sautee-Nacoochee, Wolf Mountain and many others. Chefs from area restaurants will be on hand to offer ufreshly cooked fare, and a plethora of musical acts will perform blues, bluegrass, jazz and folk music under a large covered deck throughout the weekend. Tickets are $40 and advance purchase is highly recommended. Festival times are 11 a.m. -- 5 p.m. on Saturday June 4, and 12:30 p.m. -- 5 p.m. on Sunday.
BlackStock Vineyards & Winery. 5400 Town Creek Road, Dahlonega (Call or use the directions. 706-219-2789, www.bsvw.com.
A few other North Georgia wineries open to visitors include:
Frogtown Cellars
Frogtown is a Dahlonega area winery with a tasting room open seven days a week that offers a panini lunch menu in addition to its tasting flights. The Frogtown Cellars Winetaster's Brunch -- a three-course meal with chef-inspired wine pairings and desert -- occurs on select Sundays. In June Frogtown will open a second tasting room in Helen. 706-865-0687, www.frogtownwine.com.
Tiger Mountain Vineyards
South of Clayton in extreme northeast Georgia, Tiger Mountain Vineyards' tasting room is open seven days a week May-November and on weekends December-April. Be sure to try the Rabun Red -- named after the county where the vineyards are located -- a medium-bodied peppery wine made from a blend of traditional French and American grapes. 706-782-4777, www.tigerwine.com.
Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery
Along with a tasting area that includes a large four-sided bar and a veranda, Wolf Mountain is also known for its focus on food. The seasonal Sunday brunch buffet has a different theme each month. Gourmet food pairings are offered for lunch in The Vineyard Cafe (reservations required) and the Gourmet Winemaker Dinners are special six-course events with the winemaker present to discuss the characteristics of each wine with the paired course. 706-867-9862, www.wolfmountainvineyards.com.
Montaluce Winery and Estates
The closest you'll get to Tuscany without leaving Georgia, Montaluce is a community built around a winery. This is a place where you can dine, stay overnight or even live if you want. Complimentary guided tours of the winery are offered at 2 p.m. every day except Monday. 706-867-4060 www.montaluce.com.
For more info on these and the many other wineries in Georgia visit the website of the Winegrowers Association of Georgia (www.georgiawine.com) and Georgia Wine Country (www.georgiawinecountry.com).
About the Author
