News Vine for Dec. 3-7

North Georgia Wine Country Weather:

-Dahlonega/Northeast Georgia weather: Click Forecast / Local radar / Regional radar

-Snow possible Friday night, Saturday.

What's new in Georgia's wine community:

-Tracking Georgia wine events: Another new idea we like is The Virtual Grape, "connecting Atlanta's wine lovers and foodies." Give it a sample by click Here.

- Naturally Georgia Tasting Room, Dahlonega, has a newly redesigned Web site. Naturally Georgia offers Dahlonega-based tastings from Tiger Mountain near Clayton and Crane Creek in Young Harris.

-Corks & Crumbs, a great combination bistro, cafe and wine tasting room on Ellijay's square, is now pouring BlackStock Vineyards Wine.

What's ahead at the wineries:

-December weekends, Three Sisters Vineyards, Saturday & Sundays until Christmas, annual open house holiday weekends. ll Free wine tastings for wine lovers 21 and older plus Christmas treats for the entire family.

-Dec. 5, Crane Creek Vineyards, Young Harris, 11a.m. to 6 p.m. Holiday Open House. "Christmas nibbles, mulled wine, and hot cider."

-Dec. 5, BlackStock Vineyards and Winery, Annual Holiday Party exclusively for Wine Club Members and their guests, Saturday, 2 p.m. Details

-Dec. 6, 13, 20, Wolf Mountain: Holiday Open House. Homemade soup, holiday hors d'oeuvres served around the Christmas tree. Seatings are available at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Wines available by the glass or bottle. Cost: $25.
-Dec. 11-13: Winter Wine Highway, $20 per person. Your weekend passport gets you tastings at nine participating wineries. Details: Click Here.

-Dec. 12, Wolf Mountain, Gourmet Dinner, 7 p.m. in celebration of the Holidays. The cost is $80 per person, all inclusive and includes a six-course gourmet dinner with wine pairings> Details

-Dec. 19, Chateau Elan Winery and Resort offers a special wine tasting package. Click Details

-Dec. 19-20, Tiger Mountain Vineyards in Rabun County: Christmas chocolates paired with Tiger Mountain Cabernet Franc and Tiger Mountain Norton, both dry wines with deep berry and cherry flavors - and hints of chocolate.

-Dec. 21, Crane Creek Vineyards, Young Harris, 6-8 p.m., winter solstice celebration of the year's longest night.

-Dec. 24, 25: Tiger Mountain will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Open again on Dec. 26-27.

-Jan. 23, The Georgia Winery, learn about wine and wine tasting. $15 per person. 7-9 p.m. Details

-March 20, 21: Spring Wine Highway Weekend dates set: Save the date for the fifth annual Wine Highway Weekend. The 2009 edition was a huge hit . Details

More events for Winter Wine Highway Weekend (Dec. 11-13)

-Overview: The key dates to remember are Dec. 11-13 as the first Winter Wine Highway comes together. For $20 per person, you get a weekend passport to tastings at participating wineries. Click Details: Click Here.

-What's new for that weekend:

>At BlackStock Vineyards and Winery: On Dec. 11 and 12, from 5:30 until 8 p.m., BlackStock is offering four Tapas-style pairings with wine, including samples from three library reserve wines, for $25 per person. You also get a discount on your wine highway passport. Reservations: 706-219-2789 x 223.

-At Tiger Mountain Vineyards in Rabun County: Friday, Dec. 11: Sweet Grass Dairy cheeses and wine tastings, 1 to 5 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 12: Soup and wine pairings, live music; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Music 1 to 3 p.m.); Sunday, Dec. 13: Classical violin music, artisan breads and cheeses.

-At Wolf Mountain, Gourmet Dinner, 7 p.m. in celebration of the Holidays, Dec. 12. The cost is $80 per person, all inclusive and includes a six-course gourmet dinner with wine pairings> Details

-At Yonah Mountain Vineyards' tasting room in Sautee-Nacoochee, visitors will taste the inaugural release of the 2008 Yonah Mountain Vinyards Chardonnay.

-For additional updates on events at the wineries and those affiliated with the Winegrowers Association of Georgia, please click Here.

Wine News Vine: Thanksgiving Edition

North Georgia Wine Country Weather:

-Dahlonega/Northeast Georgia weather: Click Forecast / Local radar / Regional radar

Special events this month:

>Nov. 26: Thanksgiving: Montaluce is offering a special Thanksgiving brunch buffet from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. A majority of the food will come from regional vendors. $30 per adult and $15 for children under 11. Click Details.

-Nov. 29: Santa Claus is coming . . . to Yonah Mountain Vineyards' tasting room (almost) from noon to 2 p.m. St. Nick actually will be next door at Elf Works. At the Sautee-Nachoochee tasting room, you can sample nine wines for $10 and get the Yonah Mountain glass.

What's ahead at the wineries:

>Wolf Mountain, closed Nov. 26-27.

>BlackStock, closed Nov. 26.

-Nov. 28. Special release at Yonah Mountain's tasting room (see below)

-Nov. 29 at Wolf Mountain: Seventh Annual Wild Game, Mushroom & Red Wine Festival: On the menu:
Wild Game Chili, Grilled Quail, Chicken Coupage, Venison Sausage and mushroom strudel. $30 per person. Seatings at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.

-Dec. 5, Crane Creek Vineyards, Young Harris, 11a.m. to 6 p.m. Holiday Open House. "Christmas nibbles, mulled wine, and hot cider."

-Dec. 6, 13, 20, Wolf Mountain: Holiday Open House. Homemade soup, holiday hors d'oeuvres served around the Christmas tree. Seatings are available at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Wines available by the glass or bottle. Cost: $25.
-Dec. 11-13: Winter Wine Highway, $20 per person. Your weekend passport gets you tastings at participating wineries. Details: Click Here.

-Dec. 12, Wolf Mountain, Gourmet Dinner, 7 p.m. in celebration of the Holidays. The cost is $80 per person, all inclusive and includes a six-course gourmet dinner with wine pairings> Details

-Dec. 19-20, Tiger Mountain Vineyards in Rabun County: Christmas chocolates paired with Tiger Mountain Cabernet Franc and Tiger Mountain Norton, both dry wines with deep berry and cherry flavors - and hints of chocolate.

-Dec. 21, Crane Creek Vineyards, Young Harris, 6-8 p.m., winter solstice celebration of the year's longest night.

-Dec. 24, 25: Tiger Mountain will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Open again on Dec. 26-27.

-March 20, 21: Spring Wine Highway Weekend dates set: Save the date for the fifth annual Wine Highway Weekend. The 2009 edition was a huge hit . Details

Latest wine release news:

-Nov. 28: Release party for the 2009 Serenity Cellars New Vogh, 1-4 p.m. Serenity Cellars, in conjunction with Yonah Mountain Vineyards, releases 2009 Serenity Cellars New Vogh. Limited to 60 cases, it is "a medium bodied, deep, dark red that is the perfect compliment to coming holiday festivities. The release is at Yonah Mountain Vineyards Tasting Room in Sautee-Nacoochee. Jazz crooner Monica Spears of Cornelia will perform. Customers will be offered a pour of four wines at no charge or a full tasting-- including a pour of nine wines and a Yonah Mountain Vineyards glass--for $10.

More events for Winter Wine Highway Weekend (Dec. 11-13)

-Overview: The key dates to remember are Dec. 11-13 as the first Winter Wine Highway comes together. For $20 per person, you get a weekend passport to tastings at participating wineries. Click Details: Click Here.

-What's new for that weekend:

>At BlackStock Vineyards and Winery: On Dec. 11 and 12, from 5:30 until 8 p.m., BlackStock is offering four Tapas-style pairings with wine, including samples from three library reserve wines, for $25 per person. You also get a discount on your wine highway passport. Reservations: 706-219-2789 x 223.

-At Tiger Mountain Vineyards in Rabun County: Friday, Dec. 11: Sweet Grass Dairy cheeses and wine tastings, 1 to 5 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 12: Soup and wine pairings, live music; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Music 1 to 3 p.m.); Sunday, Dec. 13: Classical violin music, artisan breads and cheeses.

-At Wolf Mountain, Gourmet Dinner, 7 p.m. in celebration of the Holidays, Dec. 12. The cost is $80 per person, all inclusive and includes a six-course gourmet dinner with wine pairings> Details

Wine News Vine: Nov. 17-22

North Georgia Wine Country Weather:

-Dahlonega/Northeast Georgia weather: Click Forecast / Local radar / Regional radar

Special events this month:

-Nov. 20: Holiday wine tasting in Cartersville: A 'Taste of Cartersville' is set for 6:30 until 9:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at the future home of the Bartow History Museum. Sample foods from downtown restaurants and wines as well as gifts available at downtown Cartersville shops. Tickets are $25 per person or $40 per couple. 21 and older, please. Lisa Poole will conduct the wine tasting; the Etowah Jazz Society will perform. Proceeds benefit the museum project and the Cartersville Downtown Development Authority.

-Nov. 21: Naturally Georgia and Bleu Gallery on the Dahlonega square welcome Tiger Mountain Vineyards’ wine makers & owners, John and Martha Ezzard for an evening of wine tasting. Click naturallygeorgia.

-Nov. 21, 22: "The Best of the Best: One Sweet Meet & Greet." So how does Three Sisters Vineyards live up to that lead-in? By offering rare tastings of " our finest dessert wines ... we offer tastings of 'Dahlonega Gold,' our special 'ice wine' made from frozen Vidal grapes, and Three Sisters 'Georgia Port,'-both wines voted the best of Georgia by 2008 & 2007 Ritz Carlton-Georgia Trend Tasting." On Saturday: Cakes, cookies and chocolates to sample and purchase. There's no admission fee.

>Nov. 26/Thanksgiving: Montaluce is offering a special Thanksgiving brunch buffet from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. A majority of the food will come from regional vendors. $30 per adult and $15 for children under 11. Click Details.

-Nov. 29: Santa Claus is coming . . . to Yonah Mountain Vineyards' tasting room (almost) from noon to 2 p.m. St. Nick actually will be next door at Elf Works. At the Sautee-Nachoochee tasting room, you can sample nine wines for $10 and get the Yonah Mountain glass.

More events for Winter Wine Highway Weekend (Dec. 11-13)

-Overview: The key dates to remember are Dec. 11-13 as the first Winter Wine Highway comes together. For $20 per person, you get a weekend passport to tastings at participating wineries. Click Details: Click Here.

-What's new for that weekend:

>At BlackStock Vineyards and Winery: On Dec. 11 and 12, from 5:30 until 8 p.m., BlackStock is offering four Tapas-style pairings with wine, including samples from three library reserve wines, for $25 per person. You also get a discount on your wine highway passport. Reservations: 706-219-2789 x 223.

-At Tiger Mountain Vineyards in Rabun County: Friday, Dec. 11: Sweet Grass Dairy cheeses and wine tastings, 1 to 5 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 12: Soup and wine pairings, live music; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Music 1 to 3 p.m.); Sunday, Dec. 13: Classical violin music, artisan breads and cheeses.

-At Wolf Mountain, Gourmet Dinner, 7 p.m. in celebration of the Holidays, Dec. 12. The cost is $80 per person, all inclusive and includes a six-course gourmet dinner with wine pairings> Details

What's ahead at the wineries:

--Nov. 21: Big Red Wine Release Dinner at Frogtown Cellars. $55 per person.

-Nov. 22, 29 at Wolf Mountain: Seventh Annual Wild Game, Mushroom & Red Wine Festival: On the menu:
Wild Game Chili, Grilled Quail, Chicken Coupage, Venison Sausage and mushroom strudel. $30 per person. Seatings at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.

-Nov. 22: Wolf Mountain release; please see below.

-Nov. 26: Thanksgiving. Here's how the day is shaping up with the wineries:

>Montaluce is offering a special Thanksgiving brunch buffet from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. A majority of the food will come from regional vendors. $30 per adult and $15 for children under 11. Click Details.

>Wolf Mountain, closed Nov. 26-27.

>BlackStock, closed Nov. 26.

>We suggest you check with the wineries you want to visit before leaving to ensure holiday hours; see winery guide to the right of this page.

-Nov. 28. Special release at Yonah Mountain's tasting room (see below)

-Dec. 5, Crane Creek Vineyards, Young Harris, 11a.m. to 6 p.m. Holiday Open House. "Christmas nibbles, mulled wine, and hot cider."

-Dec. 6, 13, 20, Wolf Mountain: Holiday Open House. Homemade soup, holiday hors d'oeuvres served around the Christmas tree. Seatings are available at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Wines available by the glass or bottle. Cost: $25.
-Dec. 11-13: Winter Wine Highway, $20 per person. Your weekend passport gets you tastings at participating wineries. Details: Click Here.

-Dec. 12, Wolf Mountain, Gourmet Dinner, 7 p.m. in celebration of the Holidays. The cost is $80 per person, all inclusive and includes a six-course gourmet dinner with wine pairings> Details

-Dec. 19-20, Tiger Mountain Vineyards in Rabun County: Christmas chocolates paired with Tiger Mountain Cabernet Franc and Tiger Mountain Norton, both dry wines with deep berry and cherry flavors - and hints of chocolate.

-Dec. 21, Crane Creek Vineyards, Young Harris, 6-8 p.m., winter solstice celebration of the year's longest night.

-Dec. 24, 25: Tiger Mountain will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Open again on Dec. 26-27.

-March 20, 21: Spring Wine Highway Weekend dates set: Save the date for the fifth annual Wine Highway Weekend. The 2009 edition was a huge hit . Details

Latest wine release news:

-Nov. 22, Wolf Mountain: "The release of our Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon . . . This limited vintage marks the first time we have bottled a single varietal wine and it won't be available for long! We will release the reserve to our Wine Club Members first and then the remainder to the public "

-Nov. 28: Release party for the 2009 Serenity Cellars New Vogh, 1-4 p.m. Serenity Cellars, in conjunction with Yonah Mountain Vineyards, releases 2009 Serenity Cellars New Vogh. Limited to 60 cases, it is "a medium bodied, deep, dark red that is the perfect compliment to coming holiday festivities. The release is at Yonah Mountain Vineyards Tasting Room in Sautee-Nacoochee. Jazz crooner Monica Spears of Cornelia will perform. Customers will be offered a pour of four wines at no charge or a full tasting-- including a pour of nine wines and a Yonah Mountain Vineyards glass--for $10.

Nov. 12-16/Wine News Vine; Clayton visit

North Georgia Wine Country Weather:

-Dahlonega/Northeast Georgia weather: Click Forecast / Local radar / Regional radar

On location/Clayton, Ga. Wineries, Tallulah Gorge, Goats on the Roof

No. 1/Top your winery visit list this Saturday with a trip to Tiger Mountain near Clayton.

We didn't know what to expect from this 10-year-old winery in the Northeast Georgia mountains. We've tasted some of the wines while at Naturally Georgia in Dahlonega and liked what we sampled. Plus co-owner Martha Ezzard (with husband John) and I have mutual ties and friends at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. So we were anxious to visit Tiger Mountain and return to Clayton for the first time in 12 years.

-The winery: It is tiny by comparison to some of the offerings in Dahlonega but what Tiger Mountain lacks in size is compensated for quickly by way of atmosphere, snacks and the wines (especially Burton Blanc). We visited during the first of two Leaflooker Saturdays and timed the trip perfected. This roadside winery (park on the east, sip on the west) has a wonderful patio area that was brimming with visitors Saturday. Select cheeses, excellent sausage (you've got to try the chicken and apple sausage) and the wines made for a perfect Saturday, especially at just $5 admission per person.

-The tasting room beyond the patio is perfectly sized. You can sample Tiger Mountain's wines, buy gifts and wine and get a quick read on the winery's history. It is a must visit if you're on that side of the state.

-We took home a couple bottles of Burton Blanc.

No. 2/Persimmon Creek Vineyards. We stopped by the tasting room in downtown Clayton but didn't make the tour of the winery. One tip if you want to see the winery: make reservations first. They do regular tours for $15 per person. We were a bit time crunched so we stayed downtown (it is about three miles from Tiger Mountain). The tasting room itself is very nice, done in an older, comfortable style. For $8, you get to try several wines including the Riesling and a very sweet dessert wine. Your tasting fee can be applied to a discount if purchasing wine at the shop as well. We brought home a bottle of the dryer Rei sling, having sampled a bottle over dinner the night before (see below). The tasting room or the winery pair great with a weekend trip to Clayton.

No. 3/So what else is there to do in Rabun County? Plenty. Some suggestions:

-Tallulah Gorge: This beautiful state park is a good three-hour stop if you see the sites on both rims, visit the excellent outdoors getaway. Start with a visit to the Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center. You truly start your hike to one of the many "stations" around the gorge inside the Yarn Center (park details). Come prepared to do some walking/hiking (i.e., no Crocs or flip flops). You can follow the paths and multiple steps to the suspension bridge and other points. You can chose between an aggressive hike or a passive one. Just remember: You have to climb back up all those stairs you descend. Think of it as an outdoor "Stairmaster." It is work the time and effort. $5 parking fee. Do the gorge before the wineries!

-Goats on the Roof: You want to scream "tourist trap" the minute you see it. So what? Go inside anyway; you'll find a wonderful selected of Amish furniture and foods. Plus, on the exterior: those very goats on the roof. The fun part is letting the kids fill a can with goat food and using the bicycle assembly to hoist the food to the waiting goats. Also on site: A wonderful fire pit and free marsh mellows to roast. This is a must if you have kids--or what a nice break from it all. Click Goats.

-The Stockton House restaurant: We didn't do our normal research before this trip. It was election week and a hundred of other excuses. So at 7:15 p.m. on a Friday, we were sitting in the Ingle's parking lot looking for dining spots via iPhone. Up popped Stockton House. We liked the quick reviews so we called and we're given easy directions from the store to the door. As we pulled up, a few remaining brain cells reminded us: we had dined here on New Year's Eve 1995. We had a great meal but some in our party were a little out of sorts that night. Not this time. We had a perfect meal including a wonderfully stuffed pork chop, Pecan Chicken Asiago, potatoes and asparagus plus bread. Our son had pasta and devoured every bit of it. As good as the food was, the service was even better. Excellent waitress. Several visits to the table by the owners. A great bottle of locally crafted wine (Persimmon's dry Reisling). With tip and all, we paid $90--and thought about returning the next evening but collapsed at the cabin after a day at the gorge, wineries and football. This is the restaurant to visit if visiting Clayton for the day or weekend. Click Web Site.

-Downtown Clayton: This is a very vibrant downtown so try to save a few hours to tour. One must: Reeves Ace Hardware. This one goes far beyond nuts, bolts and paint. You won't believe the furniture inventory under roof. Click Reeves

Special events this month:

-Nov. 20: Holiday wine tasting in Cartersville: A 'Taste of Cartersville' is set for 6:30 until 9:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at the future home of the Bartow History Museum. Sample foods from downtown restaurants and wines as well as gifts available at downtown Cartersville shops. Tickets are $25 per person or $40 per couple. 21 and older, please. Lisa Poole will conduct the wine tasting; the Etowah Jazz Society will perform. Proceeds benefit the museum project and the Cartersville Downtown Development Authority.

-Nov. 21: Naturally Georgia and Bleu Gallery on the Dahlonega square welcome Tiger Mountain Vineyards’ wine makers & owners, John and Martha Ezzard for an evening of wine tasting! Click naturallygeorgia.

-Nov. 21, 22: "The Best of the Best: One Sweet Meet & Greet." So how does Three Sisters Vineyards live up to that lead-in? By offering rare tastings of " our finest dessert wines ... we offer tastings of 'Dahlonega Gold,' our special 'ice wine' made from frozen Vidal grapes, and Three Sisters 'Georgia Port,'-both wines voted the best of Georgia by 2008 & 2007 Ritz Carlton-Georgia Trend Tasting." On Saturday: Cakes, cookies and chocolates to sample and purchase. There's no admission fee.

-Nov. 29: Santa Claus is coming . . . to Yonah Mountain Vineyards' tasting room (almost) from noon to 2 p.m. St. Nick actually will be next door at Elf Works. At the Sautee-Nachoochee tasting room, you can sample nine wines for $10 and get the Yonah Mountain glass.

What's ahead at the wineries:

-Nov. 13, Annual Truffle and Wine Dinner, Montaluce Winery and Estates. "Chef Steven Hartman will be pairing Piedmont's famous wines with a multicourse dinner ... This is an annual tradition in Italy and our most exciting wine dinner of the year. A cocktail reception will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. featuring the photography of Jill & Richard Ediger with a cash bar. The dinner will start at 7 p.m. The cost: $95 per person."

-Nov. 14: Leaflooker Saturdays at Tiger Mountain, Tiger, Ga. Visit the winery between 1:30 and 4 p.m. Nov. 7 and 14 for wine, music and grilled sausages. $10 per person.

-Nov. 14: 26th anniversary wine dinner at The Georgia Winery. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7. $35 per person, includes a glass of wine. Dancing afterward.

-Nov. 15, 22, 29 at at Wolf Mountain: Seventh Annual Wild Game, Mushroom & Red Wine Festival: On the menu:
Wild Game Chili, Grilled Quail, Chicken Coupage, Venison Sausage and mushroom strudel. $30 per person. Seatings at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.

-Nov. 21: Big Red Wine Release Dinner at Frogtown Cellars. $55 per person (

-Nov. 22: Wolf Mountain release; please see below.

-Nov. 26: Thanksgiving. Here's how the day is shaping up with the wineries:

>Montaluce is offering a special Thanksgiving brunch buffet from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. A majority of the food will come from regional vendors. $30 per adult and $15 for children under 11. Click Details.

>Wolf Mountain, closed Nov. 26-27.

>BlackStock, closed Nov. 26.

>We suggest you check with the wineries you want to visit before leaving to ensure holiday hours; see winery guide to the right of this page.

-Nov. 28. Special release at Yonah Mountain's tasting room (see below)

-Dec. 5, Crane Creek Vineyards, Young Harris, 11a.m. to 6 p.m. Holiday Open House. "Christmas nibbles, mulled wine, and hot cider."

-Dec. 6, 13, 20, Wolf Mountain: Holiday Open House. Homemade soup, holiday hors d'oeuvres served around the Christmas tree. Seatings are available at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Wines available by the glass or bottle. Cost: $25.
-Dec. 11-13: Winter Wine Highway, $20 per person. Your weekend passport gets you tastings at participating wineries. Details: Click Here.

-Dec. 12, Wolf Mountain, Gourmet Dinner, 7 p.m. in celebration of the Holidays. The cost is $80 per person, all inclusive and includes a six-course gourmet dinner with wine pairings> Details

-Dec. 21, Crane Creek Vineyards, Young Harris, 6-8 p.m., winter solstice celebration of the year's longest night.

-March 20, 21: Spring Wine Highway Weekend dates set: Save the date for the fifth annual Wine Highway Weekend. The 2009 edition was a huge hit . Details

Latest wine release news:

-Nov. 22, Wolf Mountain: "The release of our Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon . . . This limited vintage marks the first time we have bottled a single varietal wine and it won't be available for long! We will release the reserve to our Wine Club Members first and then the remainder to the public "

-Nov. 28: Release party for the 2009 Serenity Cellars New Vogh, 1-4 p.m. Serenity Cellars, in conjunction with Yonah Mountain Vineyards, releases 2009 Serenity Cellars New Vogh. Limited to 60 cases, it is "a medium bodied, deep, dark red that is the perfect compliment to coming holiday festivities. The release is at Yonah Mountain Vineyards Tasting Room in Sautee-Nacoochee. Jazz crooner Monica Spears of Cornelia will perform. Customers will be offered a pour of four wines at no charge or a full tasting-- including a pour of nine wines and a Yonah Mountain Vineyards glass--for $10.

Great fall weekend to visit wineries

North Georgia Wine Country Weather:

-Dahlonega/Northeast Georgiaweather: Click Forecast / Local radar / Regional radar

Special events set for this month:

-Nov. 21/Naturally Georgia and Bleu Gallery on the Dahlonega square welcome Tiger Mountain Vineyards’ wine makers & owners, John and Martha Ezzard for an evening of wine tasting! Click naturallygeorgia.

-Nov. 21, 22: "The Best of the Best: One Sweet Meet & Greet." So how does Three Sisters Vineyards live up to that lead-in? By offering rare tastings of " our finest dessert wines ... we offer tastings of 'Dahlonega Gold,' our special 'ice wine' made from frozen Vidal grapes, and Three Sisters 'Georgia Port,'-both wines voted the best of Georgia by 2008 & 2007 Ritz Carlton-Georgia Trend Tasting." On Saturday: Cakes, cookies and chocolates to sample and purchase. There's no admission fee.

-Nov. 29: Santa Claus is coming . . . to Yonah Mountain Vineyards' tasting room (almost) from noon to 2 p.m. St. Nick actually will be next door at Elf Works. At the Sautee-Nachoochee tasting room, you can sample nine wines for $10 and get the Yonah Mountain glass.

What's ahead at the wineries:

-Nov. 6, Dinner and a Movie, Montaluce. Showing: A Walk In The Clouds

-Nov. 7, 14: Leaflooker Saturdays at Tiger Mountain, Tiger, Ga. Visit the winery between 1:30 and 4 p.m. Nov. 7 and 14 for wine, music and grilled sausages. $10 per person.

-Nov. 8, 15, 22, 29 at at Wolf Mountain: Seventh Annual Wild Game, Mushroom & Red Wine Festival: On the menu:
Wild Game Chili, Grilled Quail, Chicken Coupage, Venison Sausage and mushroom strudel. $30 per person. Seatings at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.

-Nov. 14: 26th anniversary wine dinner at The Georgia Winery. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7. $35 per person, includes a glass of wine. Dancing afterward.

-Nov. 21: Big Red Wine Release Dinner at Frogtown Cellars. $55 per person (

-Nov. 22: Wolf Mountain release; please see below.

-Nov. 26: Thanksgiving. Here's how the day is shaping up with the wineries:

>Montaluce will be offering a special Thanksgiving dinner; details to come.

>Wolf Mountain, closed Nov. 26-27.

>BlackStock, closed Nov. 26.

>We suggest you check with the wineries you want to visit before leaving to ensure holiday hours; see winery guide to the right of this page.

-Nov. 28. Special release at Yonah Mountain's tasting room (see below)

-Dec. 5, Crane Creek Vineyards, Young Harris, 11a.m. to 6 p.m. Holiday Open House. "Christmas nibbles, mulled wine, and hot cider."

-Dec. 6, 13, 20, Wolf Mountain: Holiday Open House. Homemade soup, holiday hors d'oeuvres served around the Christmas tree. Seatings are available at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Wines available by the glass or bottle. Cost: $25.
-Dec. 11-13: Winter Wine Highway, $20 per person. Your weekend passport gets you tastings at participating wineries. Details: Click Here.

-Dec. 12, Wolf Mountain, Gourmet Dinner, 7 p.m. in celebration of the Holidays. The cost is $80 per person, all inclusive and includes a six-course gourmet dinner with wine pairings> Details

-Dec. 21, Crane Creek Vineyards, Young Harris, 6-8 p.m., winter solstice celebration of the year's longest night.

-March 20, 21: Spring Wine Highway Weekend dates set: Save the date for the fifth annual Wine Highway Weekend. The 2009 edition was a huge hit . Details

Latest wine release news:

-Nov. 22, Wolf Mountain: "The release of our Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon . . . This limited vintage marks the first time we have bottled a single varietal wine and it won't be available for long! We will release the reserve to our Wine Club Members first and then the remainder to the public "

-Nov. 28: Release party for the 2009 Serenity Cellars New Vogh, 1-4 p.m. Serenity Cellars, in conjunction with Yonah Mountain Vineyards, releases 2009 Serenity Cellars New Vogh. Limited to 60 cases, it is "a medium bodied, deep, dark red that is the perfect compliment to coming holiday festivities. The release is at Yonah Mountain Vineyards Tasting Room in Sautee-Nacoochee. Jazz crooner Monica Spears of Cornelia will perform. Customers will be offered a pour of four wines at no charge or a full tasting-- including a pour of nine wines and a Yonah Mountain Vineyards glass--for $10.

Wine News Vine, Oct. 30-Nov. 2

North Georgia Wine Country Weather:

Fall leaf watching continues in the heart of Georgia's wine country. Georgia LeafWatch 2009> Details

-Friday: Cloudy, high near 66.
-Friday night: 70% rain chance, low of 57.
-Saturday: 70% rain chance with a high near 65.

-Saturday night: 60% rain chance with a low around 50.
-Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. (Remember the time change: fall back an hour)

-Dahlonega weather: Click Forecast / Local radar / Regional radar

What's ahead at the wineries including Halloween-themed events:

-Oct. 31: Nevermore 2009 at Persimmon Creek. Edgar Allen Poe dinner and tasting. 7 p.m. dinner. $95 per person. Details: Click Here.

-Oct. 31: Halloween Party at BlackStock. Wear a costume and you might win a case of wine.

-Oct. 31: Call it 'HalloWINE' at Three Sisters, Dahloenga: The winery is sponsoring a free open house to celebate "Hallo-WINE." 12:30-5 p.m. Ghosts, music (Buzzard Mountain Boys), free tastes of "our wines, especially our 'Blood Mountain Red.' Plus: Check out the new Crush Pad Deck.

-Nov. 1/Rome Symphony's Fifth Annual Fine Wine Festival set: The Fifth Annual Rome Fine Wine Festival, benefiting the Rome Symphony Orchestra, is set for 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, at the Forrest Building Ballrooms on Broad Street in Rome. The event will feature wines from around the world, local distributors and local wine and liquor stores. Also, 11 area restaurants are participating. Rome Symphony Orchestra musicians will perform and there will be a silent auction. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $50 each or $60 at the door. Each guest receives a complimentary Riedel glass. A Patrons' Party is set for 2-3:30 p.m. with guest sommeliers; tickets for this event are $85. David Dohrmann is this year's chairman. Details: Rome Symphony office at 706-291-7967.

-Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 at at Wolf Mountain: Seventh Annual Wild Game, Mushroom & Red Wine Festival: On the menu:
Wild Game Chili, Grilled Quail, Chicken Coupage, Venison Sausage and mushroom strudel. $30 per person. Seatings at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.

-Nov. 6, Dinner and a Movie, Montaluce. Showing: A Walk In The Clouds

-Nov. 7, 14: Leaflooker Saturdays at Tiger Mountain, Tiger, Ga. Visit the winery between 1:30 and 4 p.m. Nov. 7 and 14 for wine, music and grilled sausages. $10 per person.

-Nov. 22. Wolf Mountain release (see below)

-Thanksgiving weekend note: Be sure to check with each winery before planning a Thanksgiving weekend visit. Some will be closed for the holiday. All the wineries are listed to the right.

-Nov. 28. Special release at Yonah Mountain's tasting room (see below)

-Dec. 5, Crane Creek Vineyards, Young Harris, 11a.m. to 6 p.m. Holiday Open House. "Christmas nibbles, mulled wine, and hot cider."

-Dec. 6, 13, 20, Wolf Mountain: Holiday Open House. Homemade soup, holiday hors d'oeuvres served around the Christmas tree. Seatings are available at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Wines available by the glass or bottle. Cost: $25.
-Dec. 11-13: Winter Wine Highway, $20 per person. Your weekend passport gets you tastings at participating wineries. Details: Click Here.

-Dec. 12, Wolf Mountain, Gourmet Dinner, 7 p.m. in celebration of the Holidays. The cost is $80 per person, all inclusive and includes a six-course gourmet dinner with wine pairings> Details

-March 20, 21: Spring Wine Highway Weekend dates set: Save the date for the fifth annual Wine Highway Weekend. The 2009 edition was a huge hit . Details

Latest wine release news:

-Nov. 22, Wolf Mountain: "The release of our Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon . . . This limited vintage marks the first time we have bottled a single varietal wine and it won't be available for long! We will release the reserve to our Wine Club Members first and then the remainder to the public "

-Nov. 28: Release party for the 2009 Serenity Cellars New Vogh, 1-4 p.m. Serenity Cellars, in conjunction with Yonah Mountain Vineyards, releases 2009 Serenity Cellars New Vogh. Limited to 60 cases, it is "a medium bodied, deep, dark red that is the perfect compliment to coming holiday festivities. The release is at Yonah Mountain Vineyards Tasting Room in Sautee-Nacoochee. Jazz crooner Monica Spears of Cornelia will perform. Customers will be offered a pour of four wines at no charge or a full tasting-- including a pour of nine wines and a Yonah Mountain Vineyards glass--for $10.

Wine News Vine for Oct. 22-26

North Georgia Wine Country Weather:

Fall leaf watching continues in the heart of Georgia's wine country. Georgia LeafWatch 2009> Details

-Friday: 80% rain chance, mainly after 2 p.m. High near 62.
-Friday night: 90% rain chance, low of 54.
-Saturday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64.

-Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
-Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.

-Dahlonega weather: Click Forecast / Local radar / Regional radar

On location/Biltmore's Winery, Asheville, N.C.

Details about the winery at Biltmore: Click Winery

Overview: The good news is a tour of the winery and complimentary wine sampling is included in your Biltmore day pass, which means you pay up to $50 per person to get inside the massive compound. And it is worth every penny, especially the expanded tours of the Vanderbilts' home. If you haven't been to Biltmore in a few years, go. The access to the estate home and gardens has been expanded to include the second and third floors as well as the basement.

-The bad news is, to get to the winery for that free sampling, or the for-pay premium tasting bar (three samples, $8), you need that day pass. Or you can convert your daily pass to an annual pass and visit all your want for $50 more.

-And the so-so news: Once in the winery and at the tasting bars (free and paid), you'll taste some of the expansive wines. Maybe it is just us but it seems the glitzier the winery, the less we like the wine itself. (Wine list). But there are some keepers and we brought a few bottles home for friends to enjoy.

-What we liked: The quick wine tour was fun--and self-guided -- although attendants are on duty. You see the production area, the underground wine library, a great event room that looks as if you're in a castle's hidden wine cellar, an expansive free sampling area, the premium wine sampling bar (much smaller) and finally the vast winery store. This is a trick we wish more North Georgia wineries would adopt: let people see how the wine is produced.

-The sampling experience: Let's start with the "freebie" first. The pourer is very knowledgeable and let's you try as many samples from the non-premium wine list as you'd like. These are smaller samples than you get at the North Georgia locations but enough to let you know if the wine is something you wish to buy. The sampling room is huge. There's not a lot of atmosphere although a recent paint job does brighten it considerably. The premium bar is much smaller, with elbow-to-elbow room for perhaps a dozen people at a time. You pay as you go (we suggest the $8 three-sample package because it saves a dollar and you'll probably not want to go much further down the wine list than that). Between the free and premium tastings, we sampled eight wines. All are OK in quality with a few standouts. We did enjoy the Chenin Blanc, Merlot and Limited Release Merlot. The Century White Wine was sweeter than most Reislings but enjoyable.

-The amenities: The winery opened in 1985 and this is a busy time to visit. Around 2,200 guests toured the winery on Oct. 16 and we were among the 2,300 expected the next day. We're pretty sure they hit that goal. The winery complex is attractive, built around the former dairy. The vineyard is off site, around 100 acres near the French Broad River. (Click History). The winery is close to The Inn on Biltmore Estate and a new complex is rising nearby to increase the total visit experience (think "Helen" in Asheville but with a Biltmore touch). The winery features some outdoor wine gardens as well. Plus: You can save the admission price by sampling a few wines at the main gate.

-The Asheville experience: The Biltmore estate is a must-see. Plan to spend at least four to five hours on property, saving the winery for last (hours are noon to 7 p.m.). You'll want a break after all the stair climbing at the home itself. Off property, try dinner at Grove Park Inn. You'll find a few dining options there and the meals are surprisingly affordable. The wine list looks like something out of "War & Peace" and the prices as up there. A wonderful bottle of Reisling we chose with dinner Friday night was recommended by the sommelier -- for $96. We found the same wine available locally for $20 or so a bottle. It cost more than our combined meals that night and we had a wonderful chicken dish with out-of-this-world squash bisque. Accommodations: Shop the online specials and don't be taken by the photos on the Web sites. We stayed at a new "suite hotel" where prices went up $50 per night because of leaf season. The nearby Marriott Residence Inn would have been just as nice--and would have featured breakfast as well. Downtown Asheville is as eclectic as you've heard: wonderful shops, restaurants and more. Visit The Mast General Store, one of our regional favorites. It is a throwback retail experience.

Photos include, top to bottom, the 'free' sampling bar; the wine library; and two production area photos.

This weekend & what's ahead

-Oct. 24: Annual Harvest Festival, Crane Creek Vineyards, Young Harris, 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Scheduled: hayrides, grape stomping, tours, a kiddie tent and more family events. Tickets: adults $20, ages 13-20, $10; children under 12, free. Ticket price includes wine tasting, souvenir wine glass, lunch and admission to all of the activities.
-Oct. 24: Call it 'HalloWINE' at Three Sisters, Dahloenga: The winery is sponsoring a free open house Oct. 24, 25 and 31 to celebate "Hallo-WINE." 12:30-5 p.m. Ghosts, music, free tastes of "our wines, especially our 'Blood Mountain Red.'

-Oct. 25: Seventh Annual end of Harvest Celebration/Bluegrass Brunch at Wolf Mountain: Live bluegrass music and a harvest buffet featuring your fall favorites. $30 per person (plus tax and tip; wine extra). Seatings: 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.
-Oct. 25: Montaluce site of Tweet Up: HelloNorthGeorgia.com and Montaluce Winery & Estates are organizing a North Georgia 'Tweet Up' for Sunday, Oct. 25, at the winery. 2-4 p.m. Click Tweet Up

-Oct. 29: Fourth Annual Georgia Aquarium AquaVino, 7-10 p.m. This year’s event invites guests to “Sip, Savor and Sea” the wonders of the ocean. Scheduled: More than 200 wines and samples from 30 Atlanta restaurants. All proceeds support the aquarium’s veterinary services facility through the Correll Center for Aquatic Animal Health. Cost: $150 to $200 per person. Details: Click Here

-Oct. 31: Nevermore 2009 at Persimmon Creek. Edgar Allen Poe dinner and tasting. 7 p.m. dinner. $95 per person. Details: Click Here.

-Oct. 31. Halloween Party at BlackStock. Wear a costume and you might win a case of wine.

-Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 at at Wolf Mountain: Seventh Annual Wild Game, Mushroom & Red Wine Festival: On the menu:
Wild Game Chili, Grilled Quail, Chicken Coupage, Venison Sausage and mushroom strudel. $30 per person. Seatings at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.

-Nov. 7, 14: Leaflooker Saturdays at Tiger Mountain, Tiger, Ga. Visit the winery between 1:30 and 4 p.m. Nov. 7 and 14 for wine, music and grilled sausages. $10 per person.

-Thanksgiving weekend note: Be sure to check with each winery before planning a Thanksgiving weekend visit. Some will be closed for the holiday. All the wineries are listed to the right.
-Dec. 11-13: Winter Wine Highway, $20 per person. Your weekend passport gets you tastings at participating wineries. Details: Click Here.

-Dec. 12, Wolf Mountain, Gourmet Dinner, 7 p.m. in celebration of the Holidays. The cost is $80 per person, all inclusive and includes a six-course gourmet dinner with wine pairings> Details

-March 20, 21: Spring Wine Highway Weekend dates set: Save the date for the fifth annual Wine Highway Weekend. The 2009 edition was a huge hit . Details

Wine events in your community:

-Nov. 1/Rome Symphony's Fifth Annual Fine Wine Festival set: The Fifth Annual Rome Fine Wine Festival, benefiting the Rome Symphony Orchestra, is set for 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, at the Forrest Building Ballrooms on Broad Street in Rome. The event will feature wines from around the world, local distributors and local wine and liquor stores. Also, 11 area restaurants are participating. Rome Symphony Orchestra musicians will perform and there will be a silent auction. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $50 each or $60 at the door. Each guest receives a complimentary Riedel glass. A Patrons' Party is set for 2-3:30 p.m. with guest sommeliers; tickets for this event are $85. David Dohrmann is this year's chairman. Details: Rome Symphony office at 706-291-7967.