If you've been to Dahlonega and experienced the North Georgia mountain town's gold mining attractions and historic town square, but haven't visited its vineyards and wineries, you haven't really been to Dahlonega.
And if you think all wine made in Georgia is sweet muscadine, this June would be a good time to tour the Dahlonega Wine Trail's six wineries to discover the classic varietals and blends now grown and bottled in the area. The climate and terrain of the Lumpkin County area make it one of the best places in Georgia to grow European- and French-style wine grapes.
The Georgia Fine Wine Festival takes place June 9 and 10 at BlackStock Vineyards and Winery, and the Georgia Wine Country Festival each Saturday and Sunday in June at Three Sisters Vineyards. Both festivals spotlight Georgia wineries and Georgia chefs and feature live musical entertainment from regional acts.
Your first stop should be at the Dahlonega Visitors Center on the town square to pick up a map of the wine trail. Don't limit yourself to the two wineries where the festivals are held. Give yourself a full weekend, or longer, to experience all of them. Each winery is different from the next in feel and character. Some exude homespun family farm charm, while others come off more like big resort operations. At one stop, you'll find yourself sampling the latest vintage inside a barn building next to a log cabin; at another, inside a large villa with a 20-foot-long marble-top bar. All of the wineries offer tours and tastings, some complimentary, others costing a small fee for a tasting flight.
Three Sisters Vineyards
Named after the three-peaked mountain visible from its vineyards, Three Sisters is a true family farm operation, situated on 184 acres at the end of a long gravel driveway through the woods. The main building contains a tasting room filled with Southern folk art and a long cherry wood tasting bar. Live folk, bluegrass and jazz acts are featured on the adjoining patio on most weekends. Site of the Georgia Wine Country Festival on June 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 and 24. www.threesistersvineyards.com.
Frogtown Cellars
Around the bend from Three Sisters, Frogtown Cellars has a multilevel main building with special event space, a tasting bar and a large deck overlooking the rolling vineyards, a small lake and the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance. On weekends, panini sandwiches are served for lunch, with the occasional Sunday brunch offered. The owner's lovable dogs roam the property and also serve as unofficial greeters from time to time. www.frogtownwine.com.
BlackStock Vineyards and Winery
Some of the best views to be had along the Dahlonega Wine Trail are from the covered deck and inside the tasting room at BlackStock. Deli selections and fresh-baked goods are available daily, and live folk music is featured on most weekends. BlackStock is the site of the Georgia Fine Wine Festival on June 9 and 10. Tickets are $30 per person and include lunch, a tasting glass and unlimited samples. There's no charge for children, and a petting zoo will be on hand. www.bsvw.com.
Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery
Wolf Mountain has a large main building and outbuildings for special events -- it's a popular wedding spot -- and an impressive four-sided tasting bar and tasting room lined with racks of oak barrels. A rarity along the wine trail, Wolf Mountain also has a full-service kitchen with a chef serving lunches Thursday through Saturday, Sunday brunches and the occasional Gourmet Winemaker Dinner. They also offer on-site overnight lodging at the Vineyard Cottage for members of their wine club. www.wolfmountainvineyards.com.
Montaluce Winery and Estates
Driving into Montaluce, it feels like you're entering the grounds of a grand Tuscan villa. This isn't just a winery, people actually live here. The main winery building contains a long tasting bar adjacent to Le Vigne, a full-service restaurant serving lunch Tuesday through Saturday, dinner Friday and Saturday and Sunday brunch. If you want to feel like you're in Europe without leaving Georgia, this is the place. www.montaluce.com.
Cavender Creek Vineyards and Winery
The latest addition to the Dahlonega Wine Trail, Cavender Creek is a smaller operation than the other wineries along the trail. It conjures up visions of an old family homestead, complete with a log cabin and farm animals that are sure to be a hit with the kids. Complimentary tastings are offered on weekends. home.windstream.net/ccvw/.
If you go
Dahlonega is just over an hour's drive from downtown Atlanta, 45 minutes or less from the northern suburbs up Ga. 400.
Stay & Eat
The Smith House. Well-appointed accommodations in a historic locale just off the town square. Even if you don't stay here, come for a meal at the inn's family-style restaurant, where platters of Southern-style meats and veggies are brought to the table and passed around. And don't miss a peek at the recently discovered illegal gold mine shaft in the basement. 84 S. Chestatee St., Dahlonega. 706-867-7000, www.smithhouse.com.
Plenty of other dining and lodging choices are available in the area. Visit the Dahlonega website for a full range of options.
Visitor info
Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Visitors Center. 13 S. Park St., Dahlonega. 706-864-3513, www.dahlonega.org.
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