North Georgia's wineries: Frogtown Cellars

Winery: Frogtown Cellars, Dahlonega, Ga.

-Web site: Frogtown Cellars

-Directions: Click (about 95 miles each way from Rome)

-Separate tasting room is even closer: Can't make it to Dahlonega? Try Frogtown's exclusive tasting room, Frogtown Cellars at Corks & Crumbs on the Ellijay square.
5 Southside Square, 706.698.9463

About the winery: Three of Dahlonega's wineries are just minutes from each other. Frogtown Cellars is almost contiguous to Three Sisters. But the difference in the venues is just about as plain as red wine and white wine.

Frogtown has one of the best settings of any of the North Georgia wineries and the view for the expansive back deck is spectacular. The campus is just as nice. You enter across a small bridge leading from the parking lot. Below are the traditional coy and other "fountain fish." Inside is an earthy toned tasting room that doubles as a serving area as well for special events. Frogtown has one of the larger tasting bars and includes a side station or two for overflow. Like several of the wineries, Frogtown offers some food service, including a Sunday brunch (two seatings) and a panini bar open from noon to 3:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Special events: Our visit was on Valentine's Day and the dining room was set up for a special (and sold out) Valentine's Dinner. Frogtown followed it with a special brunch service on Feb. 15. The campus also is available for wedding receptions and related events.

What we liked: The view and the large deck. Also nice: some of the signage between Three Sisters and Frogtown, a plus for first-timers touring Dahlonega wineries.

What was different: The conversation, or lack thereof. The pourers were not as free-flowing with background on each sample poured. The sample list was detailed so we knew what we were getting. Still, it is the conversastion and even education that makes a tasting room special as well as the wine itself. Again, it was Valentine's Day and the place was busy so the quick-serve mentality can be excused.

What they're pouring: Frogtown features an extensive list of wines, including two we liked: Talking Rock and Tannat. Click Wines

Sunday samples, sales OK, too: Our biggest surprise aside from the overall enjoyment of the trip--you can both sample the farm-grown wines at Three Sisters on Sunday afternoons as well as purchase it for on-site or take-home consumption. The reason has something to do with state laws and agricultural products. The exemption helps promote such tours on both weekend days although Saturday remains the busiest for most local wineries.

Photos: The images at the top and bottom show some of the views from Frogtown Cellars. The vineyards are prepped for the next harvest. Inside, you get a look at the main tasting area.

North Georgia's wineries: Three Sisters Vineyards

Winery: Three Sisters Vineyards & Winery, Dahlonega, Ga.

That's Three Sisters on the left upper side of the photo with Dahlonega's mountains in the background.

To the center and right: vines planted for upcoming harvests.

Web site: Three Sisters

Directions: Click (about 95 miles each way from Rome)

About the winery: Of the five wineries and tasting rooms in the Dahlonega area, this one is perhaps the funkiest. From the outside, it looks like an old single-story home surrounded by acres of vineyards. On the way in, you notice a patio area where visitors can enjoy whatever they purchase following the tasting session with a light snack.

The tasting room itself feels like a slice of "Cheers." On a busy recent Saturday, people were three rows thick stretching around the bar. The very gracious, very chatty hosts were offering samples of the winery's latest labels and some familiar favorites as well. Since it was February and Valentine's weekend, tasters sampled a spread of chocolate creations and Hersey's Kisses. One reason: the dark chocolate was a great accompaniment to some of the red wines.

What we liked: The overall atmosphere inside the winery. The guests were a mix of Atlanta-area wine lovers and a few locals as well. Both wine pros and amateurs were in good spirits even before the samples. Again, those pouring those by-the-ounce samples were quick-witted and offered Twitter-length summaries of what they were distributing. Short and sweet, just like much of the wine poured.

What was different: This was our first stop of the weekend and given the amount of media and Web exposure Three Sisters receives, we expected something a little more upscale. That is not a negative. Consider it a mix of expectations vs. first impressions. There are four other wineries in the market, all gradually stepping up the "wine" food chain if you will. Three Sisters--home of a wine festival set for early June--was a good place to start the tour.

What they're pouring: Several locally produced labels are available including our favorite, the Fat Boy series. Click Wines.

When they're pouring: Click here for hours and costs. Three Sisters

Sunday samples, sales OK, too: Our biggest surprise aside from the overall enjoyment of the trip--you can both sample the farm-grown wines at Three Sisters on Sunday afternoons as well as purchase it for on-site or take-home consumption. The reason has something to do with state laws and agricultural products. The exemption helps promote such tours on both weekend days although Saturday remains the busiest for most local wineries.

Photos: The image to the upper right shows some of the crowd tasting Fat Boy Red and other delights crafted at Three Sisters. Above, a closer look at the vineyards and the mostly rural setting surrounding Three Sisters.