A Day in the Georgia Wine Country

Just about an hour and 15 north of Atlanta lies the lush country town: Dahlonega, Georgia.  It is widely known for it’s famous gold rush – but these days the focus has been on it’s wine.  The Dahlonga Plateau, shadowed by some of Georgia’s highest mountains, offers cool temperatures and excellent grape-growing conditions for the city’s four wineries.

Georgia Wine Country

I’ve been on dates and to bachelorette parties in the Georgia Wine Country – and I have to tell you, it is heaven.  You feel like you are in Napa, but really, you are only a little over an hour from Lenox Mall!

We made the trek to Dahlonega this past weekend for Anjali’s bachelorette party and it was a perfect choice for a laid back Saturday afternoon.  We arranged for a party bus to pick us all up in Midtown, drive us to Dahlonega and cart us around from winery to winery all day.  We just have to be the most responsible alcoholics ever.  FYI: Paddy’s Taxi offers great rates: 706.300.7143.

Paddy's taxi

pretty little bride-to-be

we = responsible

We only had time to visit two wineries, but because I like you, I will give you information on all four.  If you have more time, I recommend making a night out of it and going up early on a Saturday, tasting all day at the four wineries, dinner in downtown Dahlonega and staying at one of the city’s adorable B&Bs.  (Come on guys - it’s not THAT girlie.  Even T.O. stays at B&Bs!)

Dahlonega = heaven on earth

Frogtown Winery
Named after the Frogtown area of Lumpkin County, this particular winery is notable both for the wine, and the building itself, built with no nails and every piece cut by hand. The winery serves as both the tasting room, and a location for weddings amidst the Georgia mountains. Owner Craig Kritzer is proud that the winery has garnered 18 medals in just over 2 years of wine competitions. But as gorgeous as it is, it is a winery first, he says. We designed the winery and then designed the building on top.  With 22,000 grape vines encompassing about 17 different varieties, it is clear this is indeed a serious winery. Frogtown produces dry wines, described by Kritzer as “food wines” that “cleanse the palate.” They also have a secondary label, 13th Colony, as well as the Frogtown Cellars label. The tasting room is currently open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Plus on selected Sundays visitors can enjoy Winetaster Brunches – 3 courses with wine pairings and desserts.

Frogtown Winery

Tasting @ Frogtown Winery

BlackStock Vineyards
BlackStock Vineyard, planted in 1997, was the first to grow grapes in the Dahlonega area. Oddly enough this vineyard is in White County which is dry but owner David Harris was able to get permission for the farm winery to make and sell wine. Their open airy tasting room overlooks the mountains and approximately 90 acres, with 40 planted in vineyards. BlackStock and the Harrises are also suppliers of grapes for other southern vineyards. In fact, it is only in the last few years that BlackStock has started to make its own wine. They also make an unusual White Merlot that is based on the merlot grape, but the grapes are grown somewhat differently, with the red skin is removed early in the processing allowing the clear juice to ferment into a delicious light and fruity wine. Enjoy their live music on Saturday afternoons and their Barbeque Seminars, as well as other special events. BlackStock offers two levels of tasting at different prices.

BlackStock Vineyards

Outdoor tasting @ BlackStock Vineyards

Wolf Mountain Vineyards
In addition to their tastings, Wolf Mountain Vineyard is also a place for a wedding, as well as delicious gourmet lunch with a beautiful view of the mountains. Wolf’s wines are all blends, enabling them to adjust their wine slightly from year to year to take advantage of the natural ups and downs of wine growing. They focus their vineyard on red wine grapes and buy BlackStock whites for their white wine blends. In addition to tasting Thursday through Sunday they have an educational cellar tour and tasting Saturday and Sunday. Their Vineyard Café also Thursday through Saturday is in their elegant spacious dining area overlooking the vineyards and mountains. They also have special events involving music, wine and food.

Georgia Wine Country

Three Sisters Winery
Named after the mountain known as the Three Sisters, this vineyard sits on 180 acres in the Frogtown District. Established in 1996, it’s one of the original vineyards in the burgeoning wine region. Owners Sharon and Doug Paul have planted over 8000 wine grape vines covering thirteen-plus acres. They also grow a grape indigenous to America called Norton that is hardy in colder temperatures. It’s sometimes called by the more lyrical name Cynthiana-Norton. Open for tastings Thursday through Sunday, they offer a complimentary tasting of three of their wines, or a 5-wine sampling that comes with a keepsake wine glass for a charge. This is a warm friendly welcoming place and a wonderful way to learn about wine. And to enjoy a bit of Georgia folk art which decorates the tasting room. If your passion for wine includes ice wine, their Vidal Blanc icewine is wonderful. In addition to European style wines, they also have the Walasiyi Wine Company that features traditional southern style wines described as “sweet & fruity.” It is certainly both.

Georgia Wine Country

A visit to the Georgia Wine Country needs to be at the top of everyone’s bucket list.  With the economy in the tubes and work/ life pressures becoming increasingly more stressful and demanding, it is sooooo nice to spend a day in a relaxing, peaceful and alcohol-induced ABSOLUTELY heavenly dream-land.

xx, L