Winery tours, tastings beckon
tourists to North Georgia
Photo: Kaya Vineyard and Winery in Dahlonega. Suzanne Van Atten/AJC
Once upon a time, if you were sipping a wine made in Georgia, your beverage most likely was made from fermented peaches, apples or blackberries. If it were made from grapes at all, scuppernongs or muscadines would have been the fruit of choice.
My, how times have changed.
The North Georgia mountains are now home to more than 20 wineries crafting cabernets, sauvignon blancs, merlots and chardonnays from vinifera and French-American hybrid grapes, at least 40 percent of them grown in Georgia soil.
Some of those Georgia-made wines are gaining a reputation among oenophiles, too. Tiger Mountain Vineyards near Clayton won three silver medals this year in the Los Angeles International Wine Competition for its 2015 Sweet Petit, 2014 Tannat and 2016 Rosé. Meanwhile, Travel & Leisure magazine named Cottage Vineyard & Winery in Cleveland one of the top 25 wineries in the country, based on data collected from Yelp reviews.
And it is a rapidly expanding industry.
“We’re getting new wineries every year,” said Emily DeFoor, the general manager of Habersham Winery and vice president of the Winegrowers Association of Georgia.
Amanda Martin Andres works in the vineyard at Kaya Vineyard & Winery in Dahlonega.
Photo: Erika Gombosova, Queens, N.Y., smells her wine before tasting it at Frogtown Cellars in Dahlonega.
Georgia has 57 wineries today, and that number is expected to double in the next five years, she says.
All that winemaking has had a big impact on the tourism industry in the North Georgia mountains. You can hardly throw a stone in Lumpkin, Rabun or White counties without hitting a winery.
On weekends, visitors flock to the area to sample wines and nibble on cheese while taking in the breathtaking beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Each winery has its own appeal. Some are elegant, others are quite casual and some are in between. The only way to know which one suits your style is to pay them a visit. Here are a few to get you started.
Alina Sanchez snaps a selfie with family and friends during a visit from Florida for some wine tasting at Frogtown Cellars in Dahlonega.
Three North Georgia wineries
Approaching from the east on Damascus Road, Frogtown Cellars makes quite an impression. The bright white Victorian tasting room sits high up on a hill overlooking 57 rolling acres of vineyards. The view from the top is equally impressive once you take in the matching white pavilion and 3-acre lake surrounded by vineyards below. It’s no wonder this is a popular spot for hosting weddings. Tastings are $14-$22 for five wines, and a café serves paninis and cheese plates on the weekends, as well as Sunday brunch.
Debb Brooks and Brad Dryden of Blue Ridge sample Sauvignon Blanc and Vineaux Rose at Frogtown Cellars in Dahlonega.
Info: Noon-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m-6 p.m. Saturday, 12:30-5 p.m Sunday. Bistro Café open until 3:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Sunday brunch, 12:30-2:30 p.m. 700 Ridge Point Drive, Dahlonega. 706-865-0687, www.frogtown.us. A second tasting room is at 7495 Union Road, Hahira. Noon-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon-1 p.m. Friday, noon-6 p.m. Saturday, 12:30-6 p.m. Sunday. Paninis available daily.
At Frogtown Cellars in Dahlonega.
Speaking of views, the stunning 180-degree panorama of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the wide stone terrace and covered patio at Kaya is hard to rival. One of the area’s newest wineries, Kaya has breathed new life into Blackstock Vineyards, which closed in 2012. Future plans include building a 22-room hotel with a restaurant, 15 cottages and a 300-person-capacity event venue. For now, the winery hosts weddings, winery tours ($35) and group tours ($25). Tastings are $12-$15 for five wines, available Wednesdays-Sundays, as is a small menu of sandwiches and cheese plates. The Spirit of Harvest Festival and Concert Weekend will be held Sept. 23-24, featuring the music of Bryan White, James David Carter, Jason Michael Carroll and Ashley McBryde. Tickets, $65-115.
Bottles of award wining wines bearing Georgia Trustees Wine Challenge Medals line a wall at Kaya Vineyard & Winery in Dahlonega.
Info: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 12:30-5 p.m. Sunday. 5400 Town Creek Road, Dahlonega. 706-219-3514, www.kayavineyards.com
Bernardo Coranado works on a massive stand of grape-bearing vines at Frogtown Cellars in Dahlonega.
Joanne and Les Stuart of Mobile, Alabama, take turns tasting wines before picking out a bottle to take home at the Kaya Vineyard & Winery in Dahlonega.
Please confirm the information below before signing in.