Thirteen of the Best Wineries in Georgia, USA
by
Mary
Ann Anderson
From
the red clay hills and mountains of Georgia - rich with
just the right minerals for growing grapes - have sprung
forth a wide variety of vineyards that produce everything
from crisp golden chardonnays to intense ruby-hued merlots
to slightly quirky fruit and berry blends.
Georgia's winemaking history goes back to the late 19th
century, probably even before moonshine became the drink
of choice for most good ol' boys, when immigrating Hungarians
began the cultivation of grapes for the purpose of winemaking.
The naturally rolling terrain of northwest Georgia provide
well-drained soils and steep hillsides idyllic for growing
the verdant vines, and the wine industry here flourished
until 1907, when Georgia-right smack in the heart of the
Bible Belt-voted on full alcohol prohibition and the wineries
were forced to shut down.
The wonderful winemaking traditions brought over
from the Old World were soon abandoned and essentially
forgotten as Hungarians moved to seek their livelihoods
elsewhere. By that time, other wineries had also
sprung up across Georgia, and their vine-yards
also withered away just as fast as the ink dried
on the new prohibition laws. Winemaking simply
disappeared.
Moonshine then became a permanent fixture in Georgia for
the next fifty or sixty years or so. Very few people drank
wine, much less became wine connoisseurs or wine snobs.
Instead they drank beer, whiskey, and 'shine, and for a
time, bootlegging became more of an industry than winemaking.
But today a renaissance of sorts is taking place in the
winemaking industry, brought on by the passage of national
farm bills in the 1970s and 1980s that allowed wineries
to flourish once more.
When Georgia passed its own farm bills, almost immediately
two of the oldest wineries, Chateau Elan in Braselton and
Habersham Vineyards & Winery, kick-started the grape-growing
and wine-production industry that has grown into the multi-million
dollar success it is today.
Now a major farm industry, Georgia's wine trails stretch
mainly across the northern mountainous section of the state
- with one slight anomaly in South Georgia - where years
of cool weather, rain, wind and other elements have helped
to create ideal conditions for growing vitis vinifera, which
are native European bunch grapes, and French-American hybrids,
which are European bunch grapes crossed with American bunch
grapes.
The anomaly, a small winery named Still Pond near
the South Georgia community of Arlington, grows only muscadine
varieties of the fruit, as the more hot and humid conditions
of the area won't allow the cooler weather vinifera or French-American
hybrids to flourish in the area.
But it doesn't matter where in the state the grapes are
grown, or whether or not they are muscadine, vinifera, or
hybrid, the fact remains that there are now 100-percent
Georgia-produced vinos popping up in the finest restaurants
and wine boutiques across the state from vineyards such
as these:
BlackStock Vineyards in Dahlonega
BlackStock is solely a vineyard that produces only vinifera
grapes, with 24,000 vines including Merlot, Viognier, Chardonnay,
and Cabernet Sauvignon varietals. BlackStock also offers "pick your own" opportunities from late summer
into autumn.
Telephone: 770-983-1371
Chateau Elan in Braselton
Languidly rolling across 3,500 acres, this resort, modeled
after a 16th century French Chateau winery, is full service,
offering not only award-winning wines, but also bountiful
vineyards, a luxurious inn, a European-style spa, a conference
center, golf courses, and several restaurants that feature,
naturally, Chateau Elan wines. Visit chateauelan.com
Crane
Creek Vineyards and Winery in Young Harris
Located high in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the shadows
of Brasstown Bald and Brasstown Valley Resort, Crane Creek
offers tours and tastings, special activities throughout
the year. Visit cranecreekvineyards.com
1810 Country Inn and Winery
Located in Thomson, the winery and restaurant, the perfect
complement to the circa-1810 inn, recently opened in the
fall of 2004 (the inn originally opened in the 1990s). Visit 1810countryinnandwinery.com
Fox Winery in Social Circle
Open for tours and tastings, the focus here is on special,
almost ambrosial wines, including Antebellum Rose, a blend
of French-American hybrid and vinifera grapes; Strawberry
Shortcake, made from 100-percent strawberries; and Bonny
Blueberry, an amusing blueberry-based wine.
Telephone 770-787-5402.
Frogtown Cellars in Dahlonega
From outstanding wines to outstanding views to outstanding
vineyards, the relatively new Frogtown Cellars in Lumpkin
County has become a destination all its own. Visit frogtownwine.com
The Georgia Winery in Ringgold
As the first established
farm winery in Georgia-it has been around since 1983-the
winery produces a host of award-winning varieties with unusual
names like Tailgate Red, Bulldog Red, Chattanooga Blush,
and Georgia On My Mind, a crystal-clear white wine. Visit georgiawines.com
Habersham Winery in Helen
Habersham boasts several
labels of vino that have won dozens and dozens national
and international wine competitions.
Visit habershamwinery.com or nacoocheevillage.com
Persimmon Creek Vineyards in Clayton
At one time, this vineyard was an old "homeplace" for moonshine stills located near Lakes Burton, Seed, and
Rabun. Now it is a stunning wine estate reminiscent of the
French countryside. Visit persimmoncreekwine.com
Still Pond Vineyard and Winery in Arlington
Still Pond once produced peach brandy for weary, exhausted
Confederate soldiers returning home from "The War." Located near Albany, the winery produces muscavdine (also
known as scuppernong or swamp grape) wines full of robust
taste. isit stillpond.com
Three Sisters Vineyards & Winery in Dahlonega
Also located in the Frogtown Community in Lumpkin County,
this small, stylish, award-winning family operation offers
a number of boutique wines.
Visit threesistersvineyards.com
Tiger Mountain Vineyards in Tiger
This farm winery that began with simple apple wines dates
back to five generations in the same family. While it has
remained small, it produces a number of fine handcrafted
award-winning wines. Visit tigerwine.com
Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery in Dahlonega
Besides offering premium, high quality wines such as estate
reds and blended whites, you can join the winemaker for
Sunday brunch in the beautiful fieldstone cottage winery. Visit wolfmountainvineyards.com
If
You Go: |
There are a number of inns and resorts along Georgia's
Wine Trail, including Brasstown Valley Resort - its
wine list includes almost all of Georgia's wines for
one-stop tasting opportunities.
For additional information on Georgia's wine industry
and other accommodations, visit the Winegrowers Association
of Georgia at www.georgiawine.com.
Visit Brasstown Valley Resort at www.brasstownvalley.com
or call (800) 201-3205. |
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