The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vineyard with a view
Just off the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway in the Upstate region, Victoria Valley Vineyards (1360 S Saluda Road, Cleveland. 864-878-5307, victoriavalleyvineyards.com) sits cradled in the Blue Ridge foothills. The winery produces European-style wines on a 47-acre estate that has the look and feel of a French chateau — no muscadine wine here. The tasting room and cafe are open until 5 or 6 p.m. every day except Tuesday and Wednesday. Next door to the vineyards, you’ll find Table Rock State Park, one of the most scenic locales in South Carolina and a popular hiking spot.
AIKEN
Aiken doesn’t normally show up on the radar as a craft beer destination, but a couple of places stand out, and they’re less than a block from each other. The Aiken Brewing Company (140 Laurens St., Aiken. 803-502-0707, www. aikenbrewingcompany.com) serves a wide selection of house-made beers, including an English IPA and a German Kolsch that are spot-on in taste for their styles. Down the Alley — a pedestrian-only zone downtown — you’ll find, appropriately enough, the Alley Downtown Taproom (214 The Alley, Aiken. 803226-0344, www.thealleydowntowntaproom), where patrons serve themselves from a long bank of taps and are charged by the ounce. Nothing like the Taproom exists in Georgia because current state law doesn’t allow for a drinksonly establishment like this. Kombucha and wine are also on tap.
GREENVILLE
Greenville has become a craft beer lovers nirvana over the past few years. The city is home to eight breweries, with two more slated to open soon. That doesn’t include all the craft beer pubs, markets and growler shops in town. One of those markets, the Community Tap, hosts a craft beer festival at Fluor Field each spring. The best way to get an overview of the vibrant beer scene is to take a brewery tour with the Brewery Experience (tours start at $54, non-drinkers $29; 828-216-1343, www.thebreweryexperience.com). This expert guided tour includes transportation in a passenger van to five different breweries for tastings; snacks and bottled water also provided.