The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wine country is just an hour away in Dahlonega
It’s hard to believe that rolling hills of vineyards are located a little over an hour from Atlanta. But, that’s exactly what you’ll find in Dahlonega, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where unique wineries and tasting rooms pour a host of varietals and blends. Gas up the car and check out these standouts:
Accent Cellars
At this urban farm winery, you can enjoy a bottle of wine while you picnic on the grounds. Accent Cellars sources fruit from Georgia farms, as well as around the country, to craft unique varietals, like Insider — Winter Harvest, a sparkling apple wine made with fruit from Blue Ridge’s Mercier Orchard. 215 Auraria Road, Dahlonega. 706-867-0123, accentcellars.com.
Cavender Creek Vineyards & Winery
An old family farm is the theme at Cavender Creek, which is modeled after a circa 1820 log cabin from Tennessee that now resides on the property. As Dahlonega’s smallest family farm winery, Cavender Creek takes a handcrafted approach to winemaking, experimenting with small batches of different varietals and grape blends. The loft of the barn houses the tasting room, with a deck extending over the crush pad below. On occasion, live music accompanies the tastings.
3610 Cavender Creek Road, Dahlonega. 706-867-7700, cavendercreekvineyards.com.
Frogtown Cellars
Located on 57 acres at the foot of the mountains, Frogtown boasts striking views. Twentyfive different grape varieties are planted on 44 acres, and Frogtown adheres to French winemaking rules, not adding any sugar to dry wines (except dessert wines). If you work up an appetite, the panini bar in the Dahlonega tasting room is open Fridays through Sundays, and there’s also Sunday brunch.
700 Ridge Point Drive, Dahlonega. 706-865 0687, frogtown.us.
Kaya Vineyard and Winery
Built atop a ridge, Kaya offers panoramic mountain views from its tasting room, with 12-foot windows and a 2,000-square-foot covered deck. Wines are made exclusively from estate-grown grapes planted with classic European, Italian and American varietals.
5400 Town Creek Road, Dahlonega. 706-219-3514, kayavineyards.com.
Montaluce Winery & Restaurant
Sip wine while pretending you’re in Tuscany at Montaluce, where Italian architecture and rolling hills bolster the Tuscan vibe. The on-site restaurant, Le Vigne, dishes up brunch, lunch and dinner, and guided wine hikes are offered on weekends for an additional fee (reservations required). The winery often closes early for private events, so call in advance to be safe.
501 Hightower Church Road, Dahlonega. 706-867-4060, montaluce.com.
Three Sisters Vineyards & Winery
A laid-back tasting awaits you at Three Sisters, Lumpkin County’s founding wine grape grower. Inside the tasting room, step up to a large cherry wood bar to sample a variety of wines, ranging from merlot and cabernet sauvignon to vidal blanc and pinot noir.
439 Vineyard Way, Dahlonega. 706-865-9463, threesistersvineyards.com.
Wolf Mountain Vineyards and Winery
Wolf Mountain offers commanding views of the surrounding foothills, and a popular Sunday brunch at its restaurant. The tasting room has a large, four-sided stone and cedar bar, where you can belly up for a pour, Napa-style. The European-style wines are aged in French, Hungarian and American Oak barrels, for rich fruit flavors without excessive oak.
180 Wolf Mountain Trail, Dahlonega. 706-867-9862, wolfmountainvineyards.com.
If you don’t want to venture as far as Dahlonega, Roswell will welcome the debut of Deep Roots Wine Market &
Tasting Room in May. Owner Dana Gurela (a certified California wine appellation specialist via the San Francisco Wine School, with a Wine and Spirits Education Trust Level 2 certification from the Napa Valley Wine Academy) plans to bring a little Napa Valley to Roswell in the form of a relaxed space for enjoying wine with friends or grabbing a bottle on the way home for dinner.
Deep Roots will feature wines exclusively from California, with a wide range of price points. You’ll also be able to do a self-guided wine tour via Napa Technology wine pouring stations, sampling 1-, 3- or 6-ounce pours of 24 wines with a reloadable, pre-paid swipe card. And, if you work up an appetite, you can order some snacks thanks to a partnership with neighbor Plum Cafe. 1055 Canton St., Roswell. 770925-5124, deeprootswine.com.