Best Places for Wine Tasting in North Georgia
A visit to the North Georgia Mountains always makes for a lovely weekend getaway or day trip from the bustle of city life. But there’s something magical about the fall- the cool crisp temperatures in the air, the vibrant colors of the leaves and the delicious apple cider donuts that make autumn season my favorite time to go. I like to use Leaf Watch a travel guide that lets you know when it’s peak leaf season in Georgia, typically in late October and early November.
The wine destinations in North Georgia are concentrated in two main areas: Ellijay, which I like to call the northwest side (I-75/I-575 north) and Dahlonega which is center north, taking GA 400 north until it ends. Most of the wineries within each destination are located just minutes from one another, which makes it convenient to visit a few in the same day.
Happy travels and bonne dégustation!
Ellijay
Ellijay is officially known as the apple capital of Georgia. Most orchards (and also cideries) are located here or just a little further north in the town of Blue Ridge. Ellijay hosts the widely popular annual apple festival where you can go to the orchards and pick your own apples, enjoy live demonstrations, see the parade, an antique car show and other festivities. I like to start my visit here by going into town for breakfast at Ellijay Coffeehouse. Then I stop by the square for the weekly Farmers Market held on Saturday mornings and not-to-be-missed is a quick trip to Hillcrest Orchards because their apple cider donuts are amazing! With a stomach plenty full, I’m ready to make my way to the vineyards for wine tasting.
Cartecay Vineyards
Cartecay Vineyards is located on an old farm that dates back to 1890. The barn that was built in that era was refurbished using the original wood and today is used as the tasting room. My go-to wine at Cartecay is the Vidal Blanc, a white hybrid grape that was first created by Frenchman Jean Louis Vidal to grow in the Cognac region in France. But since then, the grape has become widely used in Canada to make ice wine. Cartecay is one of my favorite wineries because it feels relaxed and homey. The outdoor patio is pet friendly and invites wine enthusiasts to sit and enjoy live music on the weekends by the old fireplace that sits on the same spot as it did when it was first constructed in 1890!
Address: 5704 Clear Creek Rd, Ellijay, GA 30536
Buckley Vineyards
About five minutes from Cartecay is Buckley Vineyards , a winery with a modern and lively atmosphere. The tasting room has a large bar area with plenty of seating in the interior, and the outdoor seating has lovely mountain views. There’s live music and a food truck on the weekends. There’s also a cabin available for lodging that can be reserved on their website. Just fyi for those who have dogs, Buckley Vineyards does not allow pets on their property (because they have a resident dog that may not react well to other dogs). The vibe is definitely worth checking out when visiting the Ellijay area.
Address: 708 Henry Evans Rd, Ellijay, GA 30536
Ott Farms and Vineyard
Down the road from Buckley is Ott Farms and Vineyard (they’re practically neighbors). This place also has gorgeous mountain views and has a gift shop, food truck, and live music. Ott Farms specializes in French-American hybrid grapes such as Seyval Blac, Traminette, Vidal Blanc, Chambourcin, Lenoire and Cabernet Franc. Like most wineries you can try these wines by the flight or by the glass. Well-behaved pets are welcome on the outdoor patio.
Chateau Meichtry
Chateau Meichtry (five minutes from Ott Farms) is named after Swiss winemaker Stephan Meichtry, who came to New York in 1921 and devoted his life to making wines. A vine stock from Mr. Meichtry’s vineyard was later brought to North Georgia and planted at this winery. The Chateau Meichtry estate is beautiful and over the years has become more popular, now attracting wine enthusiasts by groups. In fact during the pandemic they’ve expanded their tasting areas and now have three different bars on site that offer wines by the glass. I like that there’s a lot of different seating options. Some are in more bustling and lively spaces particularly where the music is, and other areas are more private and quiet. Chateau Meichtry also has a resident dog that is very sweet and has been welcoming fur-friends and their humans for years.
Address: 1862 Orchard Ln, Talking Rock, GA
Fainting Goat Vineyards
Fainting Goats refers to the four goats at the winery, Ronnie, Reagan, Dolley and Mamie and yes, they really do faint! The vibe here is convivial where guests are invited to picnic in the vines, check out the live music scene featuring local artists or cozy up by the fireplace to enjoy the fall season. Pets are totally welcome here.
Address: 201 Vineyard Wy, Jasper, GA 30143
B.J. Reece Orchard
For those who enjoy cider and have the time, Reece’s Cider Co. has cider flights offering a wide variety of flavors, ranging from dry to sweet. The cidery is owned by the same family who runs B.J. Reece Orchards, located just across the street where you can go for apple cider donuts, fried pies, apple picking in the orchard, and they even have a petting zoo for the kiddos.
Mercier Orchards
Mercier Orchards is outside of the Ellijay area, about twenty-five minutes north. But if you have the time, this is worth the drive for their ciders alone. Mercier’s continues to be my favorite for both hard cider and regular apple and peach ciders, as to me theirs is the best. Mercier Orchards has been featured on the Food Network and in many travel guides which means be ready for the crowds, especially during peak season (October/November) when out-of-towners line up for the famous fried pies. Not to be missed is the apple bar, a counter where you can taste the variety of apples grown and harvested on the farm and where you can have apple slushies too. The wine bar towards the back offers hard ciders and local wines by the flight or by the glass. Pets are welcome on the outdoor patio.
Dahlonega
The Cottage Vineyard and Winery
The Cottage Vineyard is located in Cleveland, Georgia. But because it’s so close to Dahlonega, only seven minutes away, it makes for a convenient first stop when visiting wine country in this area. What I like about the Cottage is the chilled vibe with the beautiful views of rolling hills. They have tours where visitors can see the vineyards and the cellar, and of course taste the wines.
Address: 5050 US-129, Cleveland, GA 30528
Kaya Vineyard and Winery
What used to be Blackstock Vineyards, one of the first and largest vineyards in Dahlonega, is now Kaya Vineyard and Winery. One of the highlights here is the exquisite mountain and vineyard views from the 12-foot windows in the tasting room. Kaya Winery host events including blending your own wine, live music and member-only hors d’oeuvres and cocktail hours. For visitors who wish to savor the experience a little longer, check out the Kaya cottages available for rental.
Address: 5400 Town Creek Rd, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Frog Town Vineyards
Native Atlantans, the Kritzers, started Frogtown in the late nineties, planting a variety of French and Italian grapes including Merlot, Chardonnay, Viognier, and Sangiovese. Have you ever heard of Cynthiana, also called Norton? This grape varietal is indigenous to the southeast U.S. and is blended with Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon to create the signature Frogtown Norton red wine. The Italian bistro offers lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. Reservations are recommended.
Address: 700 Ridge Point Dr, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Three Sisters Vineyards
Next door to Frogtown is Three Sisters Vineyard named after Lumpkin County’s Three Sisters Mountain. Many people, including Dahlonega residents don’t know that this was the county’s first legal winery since prohibition. Three Sisters also holds the distinction of being Dahlonega’s first family run winery. Pets are welcome, but picnics are not allowed. However, they have snacks and slushies and of course plenty of wine available for purchase. The live music in the barn makes for a festive atmosphere every Saturday afternoon!
Address: 439 Vineyard Way, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Cavender Creek Winery
Raymond and Donna Castleberry, two former Gwinnett County school teachers, share their story of how Cavender Creek Vineyards first started. It was one year that Donna gave a winemaking kit to her husband Raymond as a gift, just for him to have as a hobby. Little did she know that this “hobby” would turn out to be a winery featured as a destination on Georgia’s official wine map. Pets and outside food are no longer allowed. There are plans to offer a small food menu in the near future. Meanwhile snacks are available and occasionally they will have a food truck.
Address: 3610 Cavender Creek Rd, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Wolf Mountain Vineyards
My first visit to Wolf Mountain Vineyards was with my friend Sue Jones in the early 2000’s when it was a one man show at tasting bar. I remember the guy stood in what used to be the kitchen of the family home (now the winery), pouring the different estate grown wines and chatting with us like old friends. Those were the days of “Sunset Sippers”, a weekly event where on Thursday evenings a few guests would gather on the deck to watch the sunset while sipping wine. Of course now things are totally different where finding space at the tasting counter or even a parking spot can be a bit of a challenge. But it makes sense because the wines here are award-winning, high quality wines that taste really good!
Since the late seventies, owner and winemaker E. Karl Boegner has been the president of Hospitality Operator’s, Inc, a consulting company for restaurants, hotels and private clubs. Before opening Wolf Mountain Vineyards, he managed the golf course, resort, and winery at Chateau Elan in Braselton, Georgia.
Today, the Boegner family welcomes guests to their beautiful property for experiences including wine flights, tastings by the glass, cellar tours and Sunday brunch. The winery includes an antique bar, a fireplace and dining room with lots of windows, as well as a large deck overlooking the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. The underground cellar houses handcrafted Estate, Reserve, and sparkling wines which by the way, their bubbly is delicious. Reservations are needed for the Vineyard Café and the Sunday brunch. The tasting room is open without reservations and welcomes leashed pets on the lower level patio.
Address: 180 Wolf Mountain Trail, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Montaluce Winery and Restaurant
Montaluce Winery is one of those destinations where you feel as if you’re on vacation. As the name suggests, the theme here is Italian and you see that represented mainly at the restaurants at the estate and in a few of the red wine selections. The chef proposes house-made pastas, cheeses, brick-oven pizzas, and other hand-crafted ingredients that exemplify the farm-to-table culinary approach. Montaluce offers tasting flights, dinners, wine hikes, fly-fishing experiences and villa rentals (see website for reservation details). Pets are welcome outdoors in the designated areas.
Address: 501 Hightower Church Rd, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Accent Cellars
For Dahlonega, Accent Cellars is one of the newer wineries on the scene. It’s a small family run vineyard that specializes in drier styles of wine. I like the modern and light, airy feel of the tasting room. Here they invite guests and their pets to have picnics, enjoy the scenery, listen to music while enjoying a glass of wine.
Address: 215 Auraria Rd, Dahlonega, GA 30533
