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 a wine country getaway, the state of Georgia may not be top-of-mind. Yet, just over an hour northeast of Atlanta, the Dahlonega Plateau—one of only two recognized American Viticulture Areas in the state—offers expansive chateaus, luxury vineyard cabins, and solid vino. Here, vines are scattered across lush rolling hills surrounded by the majestic North Georgia Mountains. The almost 2,000 feet of altitude creates a cooler climate than other parts of the state, and the unique ability to successfully grow European vitis vinifera varieties. From Tuscan-style villas to back-country cabins, this wine region offers something for everyone, and an easy escape from the bustle of city life. Here are the wineries to visit.
Braselton
Perhaps the most stunning winery in Georgia, the long drive up to the pristine white chateau takes your breath away. If driving around wine country isn’t your cup of tea, Chateau Élan offers everything you need in one place—a tasting room, spa, five restaurants, and elegant lodging. Start at the winery for a casual, walk-up tasting or a more structured Sommelier Choice experience with resident sommelier Matias Henriquez. Vineyard and winery tours are offered every afternoon for a behind-the-scenes look into production. The winery is one hour south of the Dahlonega Plateau, and its warmer climate suits the local Muscadine grape for easy drinking sweet wines. But Italian winemaker Simone Bergese also crafts tasty, well-made wines from French and Italian varieties using California grapes. Try his Mameli, a blend of Nebbiolo, Montepulciano, and Barbera; its earthy, red-berry flavors and structured tannins make it a great companion to the melt-in-your mouth ribeye at Marc Restaurant—the winery’s fine dining steak house.
Under the direction of Executive Chef Frederic Boldron, the food and beverage program shines throughout, also offering an Irish pub, Bourbon bar, and upscale casual restaurant, Versailles, located at the center of the inn’s glass top atrium. Here, the team of chefs creates thoughtful, bold flavors with dishes like sea bass in white wine cream and truffle risotto, or seared scallops in carrot puree. In the morning, go to the spa at the south end of the property to unwind with a massage treatment. Finish with brunch at its restaurant, Fleur de Lis, for health-conscious options like egg white vegetable frittatas. Swim at the pool, roast s’mores by the fireplace, or join a morning yoga class… all with a glass of wine. “It’s like Disneyland for adults,” quips Versailles manager Cameron Arnett.
By car from Atlanta: About an hour
Dahlonega
Tucked off the road behind Frogtown Cellars, is a quaint white farmhouse cottage; its hilly vineyards offset by the distant Three Sisters Mountains. Laid-back and unpretentious—Pink Floyd and the Beatles play in the background and artistic clay moonshine pots adorn the wooden bar—settle in at picnic tables and taste 100 percent 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 supplement their offerings, the family-run endeavor—Sharon’s brother Ken VanDusen is the vineyard manager—farms 100 percent 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 says matter-of-factly.
That to-the-point wit makes this winery and Sharon’s VIP tasting experience a must do. The Unoaked Chardonnay is effortless in its clean, crisp minerality and mouthwatering acidity, while the oaked version is lush and creamy with a hint of flintiness to balance the oak spice. Sharon shares gems of knowledge—like they grow Cabernet Franc but not Cabernet Sauvignon because it ends up tasting like green beans—along with her favorite pairing: the Blood Mountain Red with Cheetos, which she provides for all to try. “If you want to call me a redneck, call me a redneck. But I did hours of exhaustive research,” she insists with a laugh. The wine is better than most in the area, while not taking itself too seriously. Hula Hala-Kahiki pineapple flavored Chardonnay is offered for sweet fans. It’s a fun wine, not a fine wine, but as Sharon says, “when paired with fish tacos topped with pineapple salsa, the heavens open and the angels sing.”
By car from Atlanta: About an hour and a half
Dahlonega
Nestled high into the North Georgia Mountains, this winery sits on 30-acres of striking red clay amidst pine trees and dense forest at about 1800 feet. It’s also the place to go for exceptional sparkling wine and serious reds. Wolf Mountain is the first Georgian winery to win Best of Class at the San Francisco International Wine Competition for its traditional method Blanc de Blancs, a crisp sparkler with racy acidity and bright lemon citrus. Try the sparkling flight which includes the Reserve Cuvee Brut, barrel fermented in new French Oak for three months, resulting in a rounder, layered bubbly full of ripe pineapple and vanilla spice flavors. The Reserve Red Wine flight showcases wines like Instinct, a blend of estate grown Touriga Nacional, Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, and their Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon—a wine with dark chocolate and black currant flavors, structured with robust tannins and the capability to age for 10 years or more.
Brannon Boegner is the Winemaker and Vineyard Manager who meticulously crafts these standout wines. He only grows red grapes on the property—sourcing the Chardonnay for his sparklers from Frogtown—and pinpoints the cooler climate and unique aspect of Wolf Mountain, with slopes facing southwest for more sunlight hours, to help their Cabernet Sauvignon thrive. He and his father, Karl, bought the land for the winery in 1999; Karl, now the Winemaker Emeritus, was previously the opening manager at Chateau Élan. That hospitality background runs in the family’s blood. Karl’s daughter Lindsey runs the food and beverage program at Wolf Mountain and the Sunday brunch is not to be missed. It’s a sprawl of savory French toast and eggs Benedict among southern favorites like fried chicken and BBQ pulled pork. Wash it down with their bubbly and the spectacular view.
By car from Atlanta: About an hour and a half
Dahlonega
If you like adventure paired with your wine, visit Kaya, Dahlonega’s largest winery with 91 acres under vine—many of which are 30 years old. Bill and Andrea Werkheiser bought what had been Blackstock Vineyards in 2016 and worked to renovate it, creating an expansive tasting room with stunning views of Yonah Mountain. Choose from a variety of tasting tours, like traversing the vines on a 4x4 or the winemaker’s blending experience to create your own wine. Stay put in one of the six luxury cottages onsite and watch the sun rise and set over the vines. The family also owns the nearby Dahlonega Resort & Vineyard.
Winemaker Dominic Mantei aptly creates two brands, the estate grown Kaya and Twisted—which the staff jokingly calls the twisted sister of Kaya, made with California and Washington grapes. The Georgia grown Estate Viogniers particularly shine. The stainless-steel version has great minerality, like licking a wet stone from the nearby mountains, with lemongrass and fruit cup flavors; the oaked version adds a creamy texture and touch of balanced caramel spice. If you like big, bold reds, try the 8th Anniversary Blend from estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese, or the Touriga Nacional which tastes a little like an earthy blackberry pie. Above all, the staff—led by Managing Partner Tom Higgins—is welcoming, friendly, and eager to bring you the best experience possible.
By car from Atlanta: About an hour and a half
Dahlonega
This charming country tasting room offers comfortable leather armchairs, checker games, blankets to cuddle around the fire pit, and a huge, fluffy white winery dog named Tucker greeting you upon arrival. It’s not hoity-toity—the water station is a stack of plastic cups set over a water fountain—but that’s part of the charm. Owner Claire Livingston succeeds in creating an inviting, friendly atmosphere where you can grab a flight of wine and a flatbread pizza and relax under the patio’s twinkly lights. The wines aren’t overly complex; they offer sweet, fruity Petit Manseng and Norton grown at the estate, or easy drinking Riesling made from Washington grapes. Even less serious, but nonetheless delightful, are their infamous wine slushies. As a bonus, visit the three donkeys out back or stay overnight in their 200-year-old log cabin updated with central air and two king beds.
By car from Atlanta: About an hour and a half
Dahlonega
Craig and Cydney Kritzer opened Frogtown in 1999. As one of the earlier properties in the Dahlonega Plateau, they helped create recognition for the region and the development of the AVA. Frogtown has won accolades from the San Francisco International Wine Competition in its own right, but also grows the chardonnay grapes Brannon Boegner uses for his award-winning Blanc de Blancs. Craig is a boisterous 76-year-old with big opinions—he spent the first thirty years of his career as a lawyer and loves to talk about the AVA rules and regulations almost more than the actual wine. By law, wineries only need to use 90% Dahlonega Plateau grapes to label it as such; but to Craig, that’s cheating. He only labels his wines with Dahlonega Plateau if they are 100% Georgia grown. His Disclosure line—in which he blends in grapes from his vineyard in Paso Robles, California—is labeled as American wine even if he only uses 5% of those California grapes. Other than ethics, the winery, known for its chardonnay and rich red blends, has a beautiful tasting room on rolling hills surrounded by Koi ponds and a garage of classic cars.
By car from Atlanta: About an hour and a half
Dahlonega
If you want to feel like you’re in Italian wine country without leaving the United States, visit Montaluce. Its Tuscan-style villa, with arched stone walls and cyprus-like manicured trees, sits proudly among the vines. The property offers wine hikes and fly fishing as well as a guided tour of the production room and vineyard. There are two restaurants on site: the casual Trattoria featuring wood-fired pizzas and the upscale Winery Restaurant—try the halibut in blood orange beurre blanc and lamb chops dressed in a pomegranate and cherry glaze. The wines, like the sweet white Primaluce and fruity red Centurio, aren’t as memorable as the sunset from the restaurant patio but if you’re looking for a romantic atmosphere for a date night, or even a proposal, Montaluce delivers.
By car from Atlanta: About an hour and a half
Cleveland
The Cottage is a rustic, mountain tasting room boasting spectacular views, live music and a large, open-air patio. This is Dahlonega’s local hang, started by Jim and Sandra Penner in 2013. It’s a laid-back spot to stop at the end of your day to unwind, take in the fresh Georgia air and catch a game on one of the TVs. Pre-packaged charcuterie and cheese boxes are offered along with the wine flights. The wines aren’t ones to think 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 property make it worth the trip. If you’re a fan of sweet, you can try an authentic Georgia peach wine affectionately named Southern Sass.
By car from Atlanta: About an hour and a half