Exploring North Georgia Wine Country

Did you know that north Georgia is home to a number of different wineries? Of course, my wine-loving nose sniffed out the closest wine region after moving to Alabama from Texas. I’ve been thinking about planning a trip to try the north Georgia wineries for a couple of years, but never pulled the trigger. So when my gal pal (Ashley) decided to fly in for a weekend, we decided to explore!

We based out of Roswell (north Atlanta) and Ashley’s cousin, Anna, graciously agreed to host us. We agreed that hitting two wineries closer to Atlanta would be the best strategy; however, I’d love to plan another weekend and spend more time in Dahlonega, Georgia. A lot of the wineries are spread throughout the northern part of Georgia and could end up being 1-2 hours apart.

FUN FACT: This area of Georgia (known at the Dahlonega Plateau) was designated the newest viticultural area in the US. This means that 85% of the grapes are locally grown (varietals to include Norton, Touriga, Nacional and Tannat).

As you drive north and approach the Tennessee border, the greenery intensifies and the mountains start to pop up. And it is GORGEOUS. Imagine sitting on the side of a mountain, enjoying the sunshine and sipping on a glass of wine. So lovely!

Our first stop? Chateau Meichtry. Chateau Meichtry is a family owned (third-generation!) and operated winery + vineyard that offers tastings, tours, live music, a food truck and villa rentals! We tried a couple of their wines (the Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio were great!) and fell in love with their Alpine Red. They have a great patio area (covered and uncovered options), a food truck for when you get the munchies and live music. We could have sat and sipped here all day. Definitely a more laid-back, enjoy the mountain views and sip our wines kinda vibe.

Our second stop was Fainting Goat Vineyards. Fainting Goat is located on the side of Burnt Mountain and offers breathtaking views of the north Georgia countryside. And yes, they actually have goats that live on the estate! Ashley, Anna and I tried a flight of their wines called the “Crowd Pleaser”. It was a fun way to sip and experience the wines on your own while enjoying the views. You can even bring your own picnic to enjoy along with the wines. I could have enjoyed the views all day long!

After getting my first taste of north Georgia wine country, I’ll definitely be back.