A Guide to Georgia Wineries and Vineyards

I wouldn't call myself a connoisseur by any stretch, but I do enjoy a nice occasional glass of wine and love to wine taste. Since moving from Northern California, the Bay Area, I really felt that I was at a wine disadvantage here in Georgia. Georgia law prevents alcohol/wine shipments for personal consumption, so I couldn't even order my favorites from Napa or Sonoma valleys. However, more recently, I decided to do a little researching and found that Georgia, yes Georgia, has its own "wine country" of sorts and has several wineries. Here's a complete list of what I've found on my wine quest here in Georgia:

Habersham Winery
7025 S. Main Street
(Ga Hwy 75)
Helen, GA 30545
Tel 706.878.9463/ Tel 770.983.1973
Fax 706.878.8466
Website: www.habershamwinery.com

Habersham Vineyards and Winery has been producing award winning Georgia wines since 1983 and is one of Georgia's oldest and largest wineries. It's located ½ mile south of Alpine Helen in Nacoochee Village.

To its credit, Habersham Vineyards & Winery has been awarded over 150 medals since 1983, in both national and international competitions.

Habersham includes the two vineyards, Mossy Creek and Stonepile. Mossy Creek is an eight acre vinifera vineyard acquired in 1994. It is planted with cabernet sauvignon, merlot and chardonnay and yields about 25 tons of grapes annually. Stonepile Vineyard is located north of Clarkesville, and is Habersham's original and oldest vineyard with plantings dating to 1980. Current plantings of about 30 acres yield 125 tons yearly on average. Varieties include cabernet sauvignon, merlot, chardonnay, riesling and French-American varieties seyval, vidal and chambourcin.

The wines: Creekstone wines utilize their best grapes and oak barrels to produce their premium, vintage dated, varietal Creekstone wines. Habersham Estate wines are very popular and include varietal vinefera wines as well as blended wines using both vinefera and French-American grapes. Southern Harvest wines utilize the native muscadine grape as well as fruit flavors. These wines are nostalgic for many Southerners.

Habersham even offers complimentary wine tasting. While visiting the Winery, you can also watch the wine production process through viewing windows. There is even a Gift Shop with shelves of wine selections, specialty gift items from around the world and a large inventory of unique and gourmet foods, including imported cheeses. The Winery is open to the public from Monday-Saturday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm and Sunday 12:30 - 6:00 pm.

1810 Country Inn & Winery
254 N. Seymour Drive
Thomson, GA 30824
Tel 706-595-8311
Fax 706-595-8266
Website: www.1810countryinnandwinery.com

1810 Winery is located on a 66 acre historic plantation, with over 5 acres of vineyard consisting primarily of Chambourcin, Black Spanish, Blanc DuBois, Suwannee, and Vidal Blanc.

The wines: The Chairman Reserve and Mattox Creek brands offer an array of distinctive varietals and native wine genres: Chairman Reserve Mattox Creek, Chardonnay Rose, Viognier Camellia Red, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese.

1810 has wine tasting tours on Tuesday - Thursday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, Friday and Saturday 11:00 am - 7:00 pm, and even has a Swirl Wine Club!

While visiting the winery, make sure to visit their little gift shop. The have mementos, gourmet items, a connoisseur's corner that offers wine related supplies, giftware and gourmet wine accompaniments.

Boutier Winery
4500 S. Main Street
Suite 1041
Acworth, GA 30101
Tel 770.529.0490
Fax 678.290.8613
Website: www.boutierwinery.net

Boutier Vineyards is located in the Piedmont Region of Georgia. The vineyard plants nearly 32 acres with Vinifera and French American grape varietals, with the oldest vines about 13 years old. The current crop includes Charadonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Viognier, Syrah, Chambourcin, and Vidal Blanc and will be expanded to include Mourvedre and Grenache.

Boutier has to its credit gold, silver, and bronze awards for its French American
Hybrid Varietals, DeChaunac and Baco Noir, and its Chardonnay. Also, silver and bronze for its Peach Chardonnay and Chambourcin.

The winery is open to the public on Tuesday - Saturday 11:00 am - 5:30 pm, and it's closed on Sunday and Monday.

Chateau Elan Winery
100 Tour De France
Braselton, Georgia 30517
1-800-233-WINE - Extension 6354
Website: www.chateauelanatlanta.com

The 16th century style French Chateau surrounded by lush opened in 1985. The full-production Winery inside the Chateau is the largest producer of premium wines in Georgia, and recognized by Wine Spectator for exceptional vintages.

Approximately 75 acres are currently planted in Vinifera French and French-American hybrid grapes. The 22 varietals produced include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Viognier and several popular Muscadine wines.

The Wines: There are White, Red, Rose, Summer and Fortified wines produced by Chateau Elan. White Wines include: Founder's Reserve Georgia Chardonnay, American Chardonnay, Founder's Reserve Georgia Viognier, Founder's Reserve Georgia Pinot Grigio, Georgia Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. Red Wines include: Founder's Reserve Georgia Essence de Cabernet, American Essence de Cabernet, Founder's Reserve Georgia Merlot, American Merlot, American Pinot Noir, American Sangiovese and Founder's Reserve Georgia Chambourcin. Rose Wines include: American White Zinfandel, Georgian Muscadines and Specialties and Spring Blossom. Summer Wines include: Sweet Muscadine, Autumn Blush, Duncan Creek and Winter Spice. The Fortified Wine is their American Port.

The Winery has two restaurants, Café Élan, a bistro and Le Clos, an art gallery, a Wine Market and they give Winery tours and tastings. The Winery is 42,000 sq. ft. and is the centerpiece of Chateau Elan Winery & Resort, a 3,500 acre Four Diamond, Four Star, resort and conference destination. The Winery is Open 10:00 am - 9:00 pm daily.

Frogtown Cellars
3300 Damascus Church Road
Dahlonega, GA 30533
Tel 706-865-0687
Website: www.frogtownwine.com

Frogtown is a 57 acre wine estate located at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains. It encompasses 32 acres of vineyards and plants 15 different wine grapes varieties, both red and white. The Winery produces wines under the 'Frogtown' and 'Thirteenth Colony' labels.

To its credit, Frogtown has been awarded countless awards:

2005 San Francisco International Wine Competition
Silver Medal - 2002 Propaganda
Silver Medal - 2002 Touche
Bronze Medal - 2002 Tannat

2006 L.A. Wines of the World Competition showcases the finest vintages from America and countries throughout the world. This wine tasting competition is widely considered to be one of the most prestigious in the United States.
Silver Medal - 2004 Inclination
Silver Medal - 2004 Cabernet Franc
Bronze Medal - 2004 Sangiovese
Bronze Medal - 2004 Roussanne

2006 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition hosted 55 professional wine judges who examined 3,318 wine entries from the United States. This is the biggest all American wine competition.
Bronze Medal - 2004 Chardonnay
Bronze Medal - 2004 Vineaux Blanc
Bronze Medal - 2004 Roussanne
Bronze Medal - 2004 Inclination
Bronze Medal - 2004 Cachet

2006 Dallas Morning News Wine Competition
Silver Medal - 2004 Vineaux Blanc
Bronze Medal - 2004 Inclination
Bronze Medal - 2004 Viognier
Bronze Medal - 2003 Marsanne

The Winery has two tasting rooms. The first is located at the Winery itself in Dahlonega. It is open to the public on Friday from 12:00 - 5:00 pm, Saturday from 12:00 - 6:00 pm and Sunday from 12:30 to 5:00 pm. There are 13 wines currently available for tasting.

Frogtown's new tasting room is at Corks & Crumbs, 5 Southside Square, Ellijay, GA 30540. You can reach them by calling 706.698.9463

Georgia Winery
Battlefield Parkway
Ringgold, GA 30736
Tel 706 937-2177
Website: www.georgiawines.com

For over 20 years the Georgia Winery has been producing award winning wines that capture the fresh fruity flavor of the fruit.

They feature Red, Rose & Blush, White and Fruit wines. The Red wines include: Concord, Rosetta, Tailgate Red, Sweet Honey Red, Bulldog Red, Scarlett and Napoleon. The Roses & Blush collection includes: Blackberry Muscadine, Raspberry, Blueberry Blush, Chattanooga Blush, Southern Blush and Lookout Mountain Rose. The
White wines include: Georgia On My Mind, Muscadine, Muscadine Gold, Niagara, Catoosa County White and Chenin Blanc. Their Fruit wines are Blueberry and Blackberry.

Touring is available upon request, during the Winery's normal business hours, which are Monday - Saturday from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm, and closed on Sundays. The cost for tour is $5.00, but includes a free Georgia Wines wine glass.

Three Sisters Vineyards & Winery
439 Vineyard Way P.O. Box 3
Dahlonega, GA 30533
Tel 706-865-9463
Website: www.threesistersvineyards.com

Three Sisters Vineyards & Winery is located in the "Heart of Georgia Wine Country," and is situated on 184 acres of beautiful North Georgia mountain property

The Winery has three brands-Three Sisters Vineyards, Chestatee and Walasiyi Wine Company. The wines include: Chestatee Rose, Chestatee White, Chestatee Red, 2001 Chardonnay, Dahlonega Gold, 2000 Meritage, 2000 Cynthiana, 2001 Chardonnay Reserve, 2001 Pinot Blanc, 2002 Pinot Blanc, 2002 Cynthiana, 2002 Cabernet Franc, 2003 Vidal Blanc, Blood Mountain Red, Walasiyi White and the newest to their collection, Fat Boy Red.

Three Sisters is open to the public for wine tasting of its three brands from February to Christmas, Thursday - Saturday from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm, and Sundays from 1:00 pm - 5:00pm. The tasting room is open by appointment only Monday-Wednesdays for group tours, special events and private parties.

Here's a list of the other Georgia wineries:
Beca Farms & Vineyard
402 Caldwell Drive
Cleveland, GA 30528
Tel 706-348-1529

Blackstock Vineyards & Winery
5452 Town Creek Road
Dahlonega, GA 30533
Tel 706-219-2789

Butterducks Estate Winery
3332 Blue Jay Road
Guyton, GA 31312
Tel 912-728-9463

Chesser Island Winery
3940 Chesser Lane
Tel Folkston, GA 31537

Courson's Winery
Hwy 22
Sparta, GA 31087
Tel 706-444-0616

Crane Creek Vineyards
P. O. Box 95
Young Harris, GA 30582
Tel 706-379-1236
Fax 706-379-0607

DeBarge Vineyards
21058 Hwy 193
LaFayetta, GA 30728

Fox Vineyards & Winery
225 Highway 11 South
Social Circle, GA 30279
Tel 770-787-5402

Mars Hill Vineyards
3770 Mars Hill Rd
Cumming, GA 30040
Tel 70-781-8841

Meinhardt Vineyards & Winery
305 Kennedy Pond Road
Statesboro, GA 30458
Tel 912-839-2458

Millstone Vineyards
342 Luttrell Lane
Ringgold, GA 30736
Tel 423-580-6596

Paulk Vineyards
1786 Satilla Road
Wray, GA 31798
Tel 877-583-2880

Persimmon Creek Vineyards
81 Vineyard Lane
Clayton, GA 30525
Tel 706-546-4884

Serenity Cellars
303 Laurel Ridge Road
Cleveland, GA 30528
Tel 706-219-4213

ShakeRag Cellars
10695 Bell Road
Duluth, GA 30097

Sharp Mountain Vineyards
110 Rathgeb Trail
Jasper, GA 30143
Tel 770-735-1210

Still Pond Vineyard & Winery
1575 Still Pond Road
Arlington, GA 39819
Tel (800) 475-1193
Fax (229) 792-3944

Tiger Mountain Vineyards
2592 Old Highway 441
Tiger, GA 30576
Tel 706-782-9256

Tilford Winery
126 Berrypatch Lane
Kathleen, GA 31047
Tel 478-987-0565

Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery
180 Wolf Mountain Trail
Dahlonega, GA 30533
Tel 706-867-9862

Besides the listing of local wineries, here are some interesting wine facts that I discovered on the Georgia Wine Country website:

ONE ACRE OF LAND (Averages):
Five tons of wine-grapes is 10,000 pounds.
13.51 barrels of wine at 7,552 oz./ea.
797 gallons of wine at 128 oz./ea.
3,958 bottles of wine at 25.6 oz./ea.
15,940 glasses of wine at 6.4 oz./ea.

ONE BARREL OF WINE CONTAINS:
740 pounds of grapes and 59 gallons.
24.6 cases of wine.
295 bottles of wine.
1,180 glasses of wine.

ONE CASE OF WINE CONTAINS:
30 pounds of grapes or 468 oz.
307.2 ounces of wine.
12 bottles of wine.
48 glasses of wine.

ONE STANDARD BOTTLE OF WINE CONTAINS:
750 ML of wine.
2.4 pounds of grapes or 39 oz.
25.6 ounces of wine or 4/5 quart.
4 glasses of wine.

Again, I found that we don't have to travel all the way to the Napa or Sonoma Valley to find great wines. You can visit the Dahlonega Area Wine Brochure and Georgia Wine Country State Map to plan your visit. Happy wine hunting!