The Newest Wine Region in the U.S. Has Great Wine and No Crowds

Georgia may be the Peach State, but in Dahlonega, grapes rule.

When planning awine nation getaway , the state of Georgia may not be top - of - mind . Yet , just over an minute northeastward of Atlanta , the Dahlonega Plateau — one of only two recognize American Viticulture Areas in the land — offers expansive chateaus , luxury vineyard cabins , and solid vino . Here , vines are scattered across lush tramp Benny Hill fence in by the majestic North Georgia Mountains . The almost 2,000 feet of height creates a cool clime than other percentage of the state , and the unique power to successfully develop Europeanvitis viniferavarieties . From Tuscan - dash villa to back - country cabins , this wine realm offers something for everyone , and an easy safety valve from the fuss of metropolis life . Here are the wineries to visit .

Chateau Élan

BraseltonPerhaps the most sensational winery in Georgia , the long drive up to the pristine lily-white chateau takes your breath away . If driving around wine-coloured area is n’t your cup of tea , Chateau Élan offers everything you involve in one post — a tasting room , spa , five eating place , and elegant lodgment . bug out at the winery for a casual , walk - up taste or a more structured Sommelier Choice experience with house physician sommelier Matias Henriquez . Vineyard and winery tours are offered every afternoon for a behind - the - scene look into production . The winery is one hour in the south of the Dahlonega Plateau , and its warmer mood causa the local Muscadine grapevine for promiscuous drinking sweet wines . But Italian winemaker Simone Bergese also crafts tasty , well - made wines from French and Italian varieties using California grape . Try his Mameli , a portmanteau word of Nebbiolo , Montepulciano , and Barbera ; its earthy , cerise - berry flavors and integrated tannins make it a great fellow traveler to the melt - in - your sassing ribeye at Marc Restaurant — the winery ’s fine dining steak theater .

Under the direction of Executive Chef Frederic Boldron , the nutrient and potable program glitter throughout , also tender an Irish taphouse , Bourbon bar , and upscale casual restaurant , Versailles , located at the centerfield of the inn ’s spyglass top atrium . Here , the team of chefs creates thoughtful , bold sapidity with dish antenna like sea bass in livid vino pick and truffle risotto , or seared scallops in cultivated carrot puree . In the morning , go to the health club at the south close of the dimension to loosen up with a massage treatment . Finish with brunch at its eating place , Fleur de Lis , for wellness - conscious options like egg white vegetable frittata . Swim at the syndicate , joint s’mores by the fireplace , or fall in a morning yoga class … all with a glass of wine-colored . “ It ’s like Disneyland for adults , ” quips Versailles manager Cameron Arnett . By cable car from Atlanta : About an hour

Three Sisters

DahlonegaTucked off the road behind Frogtown Cellars , is a quaint white farmhouse cottage ; its cragged vineyard offset by the aloof Three Sisters Mountains . Laid - back and unpretentious — Pink Floyd and the Beatles play in the background and artistic clay moonshine green goddess adorn the wooden bar — settle in at outing table and try 100 per centum estate grown Georgia wine . Sharon and Doug Paul bought the property back in 1995 , making it the oldest in Lumpkin County . While other wineries source grapes from California to add on their offerings , the syndicate - run endeavor — Sharon ’s brother Ken VanDusen is the vineyard manager — farms 100 percentage of their own . Sharon assists winemaker Hezzie Patrick in making wines from French varieties like Cabernet Franc , Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay , as well as American varieties like Cynthiana — which most people in the area call Norton . Not Sharon . “ Norton is something I put in my computer to keep the bugs away , ” she tell matter - of - factly .

That to - the - degree wit make this winery and Sharon ’s VIP tasting experience a must do . The Unoaked Chardonnay is casual in its clean , frizzly minerality and mouthwatering acidity , while the oaked variation is exuberant and creamy with a hint of flintiness to balance the oak spiciness . Sharon shares gems of knowledge — like they develop Cabernet Franc but not Cabernet Sauvignon because it ends up tasting like green beans — along with her best-loved pairing : the Blood Mountain Red with Cheetos , which she provides for all to examine . “ If you require to call me a cracker , call me a redneck . But I did hours of exhaustive enquiry , ” she insists with a laugh . The wine is right than most in the arena , while not taking itself too badly . Hula Hala - Kahiki pineapple flavour Chardonnay is offered for fresh fans . It ’s a fun wine , not a fine wine-coloured , but as Sharon says , “ when match with fish tacos topped with pineapple plant salsa , the heavens open and the angel babble out . ”By car from Atlanta : About an hour and a one-half

Wolf Mountain

DahlonegaNestled richly into the North Georgia Mountains , this wine maker sit on 30 - acres of striking ruby-red the Great Compromiser amidst pine trees and dense forest at about 1800 substructure . It ’s also the place to go for particular effervescent wine-colored and serious reds . Wolf Mountain is the first Georgian wine maker to win Best of Class at the San Francisco International Wine Competition for its traditional method acting Blanc de Blancs , a crisp sparkler with racy acidulousness and bright stinker citrus fruit . render the sparkling flight which include the Reserve Cuvee Brut , barrel fermented in newfangled French Oak for three month , result in a rounder , layered champagne full of ripe pineapple and vanilla spicery flavor . The Reserve Red Wine flight showcases wines like Instinct , a blend of estate turn Touriga Nacional , Tannat , Cabernet Sauvignon , and Syrah , and their Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon — a wine with dark cocoa and grim currant spirit , structured with full-bodied tannins and the capableness to age for 10 years or more .

Brannon Boegner is the Winemaker and Vineyard Manager who meticulously craft these standout wine . He only grows red grapes on the property — source the Chardonnay for his sparkler from Frogtown — and pinpoint the cooler climate and unique facial expression of Wolf Mountain , with side confront SW for more sunlight hours , to help their Cabernet Sauvignon thrive . He and his begetter , Karl , buy the land for the wine maker in 1999 ; Karl , now the Winemaker Emeritus , was previously the initiative manager at Chateau Élan . That cordial reception background runs in the sept ’s blood . Karl ’s daughter Lindsey tend the food and beverage programme at Wolf Mountain and the Sunday brunch is not to be missed . It ’s a urban sprawl of savory French toast and egg Benedict among southern favorites like fried chicken and BBQ pull pork . lave it down with their bubbly and the spectacular position . By car from Atlanta : About an hr and a half

Kaya

DahlonegaIf you wish adventure mate with your vino , visit Kaya , Dahlonega ’s heavy winery with 91 Acre under vine — many of which are 30 age former . Bill and Andrea Werkheiser grease one’s palms what had been Blackstock Vineyards in 2016 and worked to renovate it , create an expansive tasting room with stunning views of Yonah Mountain . select from a sort of tasting tours , like traverse the vines on a 4x4 or the winemaker ’s immingle experience to create your own wine . Stay put in one of the six opulence cottages onsite and ascertain the sun originate and set up over the vine . The family also own the nearby Dahlonega Resort & Vineyard .

Winemaker Dominic Mantei aptly creates two trade name , the estate grown Kaya and Twisted — which the stave jokingly calls the misrepresented sis of Kaya , made with California and Washington grapes . The Georgia grown Estate Viogniers particularly shine . The unstained - brand version has great minerality , like thrash a wet stone from the nearby mint , with lemongrass oil and fruit cup flavors ; the oaked version adds a creamy texture and skin senses of balanced yellowish brown spice . If you like gravid , bluff reds , examine the 8th Anniversary Blend from estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon , Merlot and Sangiovese , or the Touriga Nacional which savour a little like an earthy blackberry Proto-Indo European . Above all , the faculty — led by Managing Partner Tom Higgins — is welcoming , friendly , and eager to bring you the best experience potential . By gondola from Atlanta : About an hour and a half

Cavender Creek

DahlonegaThis charming rural area tasting room offers easy leather armchair , checker games , cover to nest around the fire Hell , and a vast , fluffy white winery dog named Tucker greeting you upon arriver . It ’s not hoity - toity — the water post is a sight of charge plate cups define over a water fountain — but that ’s part of the appealingness . Owner Claire Livingston succeed in create an inviting , friendly air where you may grab a flight of stairs of wine-colored and a flatbread pizza and slack up under the terrace ’s twinkly Light . The wine-colored are n’t excessively complex ; they put up sweet , fruity Petit Manseng and Norton grown at the estate , or easy imbibing Riesling made from Washington grapes . Even less serious , but nonetheless delicious , are their infamous wine slushies . As a fillip , visit the three donkeys out back or stick around overnight in their 200 - twelvemonth - old log cabin update with central tune and two king seam . By car from Atlanta : About an minute and a half

Frogtown

DahlonegaCraig and Cydney Kritzer opened Frogtown in 1999 . As one of the earlier property in the Dahlonega Plateau , they helped create recognition for the area and the development of the AVA . Frogtown has gain accolades from the San Francisco International Wine Competition in its own right , but also grows the chardonnay grapes Brannon Boegner utilise for his awarding - winning Blanc de Blancs . Craig is a boisterous 76 - yr - old with big opinions — he spent the first thirty eld of his career as a lawyer and loves to lecture about the AVA rules and regulations almost more than the actual wine . By law , winery only need to use 90 % Dahlonega Plateau grapes to label it as such ; but to Craig , that ’s cheating . He only label his wines with Dahlonega Plateau if they are 100 % Georgia turn . His Disclosure line — in which he blends in grapes from his vineyard in Paso Robles , California — is label as American wine even if he only uses 5 % of those California grapes . Other than ethics , the winery , known for its Pinot Chardonnay and rich ruddy blends , has a beautiful tasting room on rolling hills surrounded by Koi pond and a service department of classic machine . By car from Atlanta : About an time of day and a half

Montaluce

DahlonegaIf you desire to feel like you ’re in Italian wine-colored country without leave the United States , chew the fat Montaluce . Its Tuscan - style Francisco Villa , with arciform stone walls and cyprus - like manicure Tree , sits proudly among the vine . The belongings offers wine-coloured hikes and fly fishing as well as a guided tour of the production room and vineyard . There are two restaurant on web site : the fooling Trattoria featuring Sir Henry Joseph Wood - fired pizzas and the upscale Winery Restaurant — try the holibut in parentage orange beurre blanc and lamb chop shot dressed in a pomegranate and cherry glaze . The wine , like the sweet ashen Primaluce and fruity red Centurio , are n’t as memorable as the sundown from the restaurant patio but if you ’re looking for a quixotic atmospheric state for a date Nox , or even a proposition , Montaluce save . By car from Atlanta : About an time of day and a half

The Cottage

ClevelandThe Cottage is a countryfied , pot taste elbow room sport striking views , hot music and a heavy , exposed - air patio . This is Dahlonega ’s local hang , pop out by Jim and Sandra Penner in 2013 . It ’s a lay - back spot to stop at the end of your day to unwind , take in the invigorated Georgia aura and catch a game on one of the TVs . Pre - packaged charcuterie and cheese corner are offered along with the wine flights . The wines are n’t ones to remember too hard about — one staff member referred to the Merlot as “ party wine ” and the rosé is called Baby Doll Legs — but the relaxed atmosphere and dog - friendly attribute make it worth the trip . If you ’re a devotee of sweet , you may try an authentic Georgia blab out wine dearly appoint Southern Sass . By automobile from Atlanta : About an hour and a one-half