The News Vine for May 28-31

Lots of cycling in Dahlonega this weekend: Look for a lot of cycling this week if you're touring the Dahlonega area wineries and tasting rooms. The inaugural Dahlonega Omnium, presented in part by Montaluce, is Saturday and Sunday. Expect good crowds at the race sites, wineries and Montaluce in particular. Taking part will be some of the region's amateur and pro riders. For more on the race from the Gerogia Cycling Gran Prix, click Cycling

Also this weekend:
-Friday, May 29: Cinema in the Cellar at Montaluce. Wine, cheese, flatbreads and a movie. And not just any movie, beginning at 7:30, but ... Roman Holiday.

-Sunday, May 31, Wolf Mountain, Summer Seafood Gourmet Dinner, $60 per person (all inclusive). 7 p.m. Details: Dinner

Weekend weather for North Georgia:

-Friday night: Partly cloudy, low of 56.

-Saturday: Mostly sunny, high of 81. Night: Low of 59.

-Sunday: Mostly sunny, high of 84.

>Get the latest local forecast> Click

>Local, regional radar: Click

Gas & traffic:

-A gallon of unleaded was selling for $2.29 this morning, up 40 cents from a month ago but down $1.60 from a year ago. For updates, click Georgia Gas Prices.

-Georgia DOT: Check the highyways before you leave. Click DOT Map

What's ahead:

June 2: Dahlonega chamber's Business After Hours at Montaluce, 5:30 p.m.

Updated/June 5: Café Crane Creek begins new season of prixe fix dinner menus under The Barn Swallow Pavilion. Special events include upcoming pasta dinners. Click Crane Creek.

June 6-7: Second Annual Georgia Fine Wine Festival at BlackStock Vineyards and Winery, Dahlonega. Included: wine, food, music and arts. Times: Saturday, June 6, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, June 7, 1-5 p.m. Scheduled: Sampling of more than 50 premium Georgia-grown wines as well as food from area restaurants. The Kip Dockery Jazz Quartet will provide the music. Tickets: One day, $35 per person. Two-day, $50. Both include two $5 food tickets as well as a "passport" glass. For more, click Fine

June 6-7: Eighth Annual Georgia Wine Country Festival at Three Sisters Vineyards, Dahlonega. Wine, music and art. For more, click Country

June 11: An Alfresco Evening on the River: Georgia’s wine industry is growing fast, tripling its acreage in just the past five years. To provide the industry with the research and outreach it needs, the University of Georgia is expanding programs in viticulture and enology, the science of grape growing and wine making. The expansion includes a new endowed professorship. To help get the professorship started, the college will host a fund-raising event. “An Alfresco Evening on the River” will be June 11 and will feature great food from local chefs, wine and entertainment at the home of Richard and Sherri Smith in Atlanta. For the rest of the story and more on the benefit, please click http://tinyurl.com/c4rgz4

June 13, 14: Montaluce's first-ever white wines will be released to the public. Wines to be released: 2008 Chardonnay, Viognier and Rose. Scheduled: Vineyard tours, tastings, live music, special lunchtime wine pairing menu at Le Vigne, a wine dinner on Saturday night. Visitors to Montaluce have tasted a variety of imports and Georgia wines in previous visits. Starting next month, Montaluce's own labels will be poured as well.

June 21: Wolf Mountain: Father's Day is Sunday, June 21. Planned: Seventh Annual Father's Day BBQ Brunch.

The News Vine/Memorial Day weekend

Full wine weekend ahead for Memorial Day:

Friday evening through Monday, wineries in North Georgia have a full holiday weekend planned. Here's a look at what's on the menu:

Friday, May 22, Wine Tasting Experience for two, Chateau Elan: This package, for $199, includes overnight accommodations for two.

-Side note: Chateau Elan is offering a 50 percent room rate deal through May 21 (buy tickets now for nights through Sept. 7).

Saturday, May 23, Memorial Day concert featuring The Big Swig, Crane Creek, Young Harris, 7-10 p.m. Tickets: $15 for those 21 and over; $5 for under 21. Seating is on a first come first serve basis, so bring your own chairs or a blanket to sit and listen in the grass. Bring a picnic if you'd like. Wine will be available by the glass or by the bottle.

Sunday, May 24, Sunday Wine Tasting Brunch, Frogtown Cellars, Dahlonega: $35 per person with seatings at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Huevos Rancheros Frogtown Style with Frogtown Sauvignon Blanc 2006; Mexican Chicken Soup with Frogtown Inclination 2006; and Extreme Taco Salad with Thirteenth Colony Merlot 2005.

Monday, May 25, Memorial Day tasting: Wolf Mountain, Dahlonega, will be open Monday, Memorial Day, for tastings from noon to 5 p.m. A limited cafe menu will be available from noon to 3 p.m.

Weekend weather for North Georgia:

-Friday night: Cloudy, low of 61.

-Saturday: 20% chance of rain, high of 80. Night: 20% rain chance, low of 60.

-Sunday:: 30% rain chance both day and night. High of 79, low of 61.

-Monday: 40% rain chance with a high of 78

>Get the latest local forecast> Click

>Local, regional radar: Click

Gas & traffic:

-Just in time for holiday travel--rising gas prices: A gallon of unleaded was selling for $2.21 this morning, up 31 cents from a month ago but down $1.57 from a year ago. For updates, click Georgia Gas Prices.

-Georgia DOT will suspend construction-related lane closures on all interstates and major state routes from 5 a.m. Friday until 10 p.m., Monday. Click DOT Map

What's ahead:

May 29, Friday: Cinema in the Cellar at Montaluce. Wine, cheese, flatbreads and a movie.

May 30, Wolf Mountain, Summer Seafood Gourmet Dinner, $60 per person (all inclusive). 7 p.m. Details: Dinner

June 2: Dahlonega chamber's Business After Hours at Montaluce, 5:30 p.m.

June 6-7: Second Annual Georgia Fine Wine Festival at BlackStock Vineyards and Winery, Dahlonega. Included: wine, food, music and arts. Times: Saturday, June 6, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, June 7, 1-5 p.m. Scheduled: Sampling of more than 50 premium Georgia-grown wines as well as food from area restaurants. The Kip Dockery Jazz Quartet will provide the music. Tickets: One day, $35 per person. Two-day, $50. Both include two $5 food tickets as well as a "passport" glass. For more, click Fine

June 6-7: Eighth Annual Georgia Wine Country Festival at Three Sisters Vineyards, Dahlonega. Wine, music and art. For more, click Country

June 11: An Alfresco Evening on the River: Georgia’s wine industry is growing fast, tripling its acreage in just the past five years. To provide the industry with the research and outreach it needs, the University of Georgia is expanding programs in viticulture and enology, the science of grape growing and wine making. The expansion includes a new endowed professorship. To help get the professorship started, the college will host a fund-raising event. “An Alfresco Evening on the River” will be June 11 and will feature great food from local chefs, wine and entertainment at the home of Richard and Sherri Smith in Atlanta. For the rest of the story and more on the benefit, please click http://tinyurl.com/c4rgz4

June 13, 14: Montaluce's first-ever white wines will be released to the public. Wines to be released: 2008 Chardonnay, Viognier and Rose. Scheduled: Vineyard tours, tastings, live music, special lunchtime wine pairing menu at Le Vigne, a wine dinner on Saturday night. Visitors to Montaluce have tasted a variety of imports and Georgia wines in previous visits. Starting next month, Montaluce's own labels will be poured as well.

June 21: Wolf Mountain: Father's Day is Sunday, June 21. Planned: Seventh Annual Father's Day BBQ Brunch.

The News Vine for May 13-19

Update: North Georgia Wine Tours is available via weekly e-mail alert as well. All we need is your e-mail address. Send it to:
druck@hometownheadlines.com

Saturday/Spring festival at Crane Creek, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Local artists will feature their work; lunch and wine tastings as well. Also planned: Kiddie Craft Tent and fishing in the pond. Tickets: $20, 21 and over; $10, under 21. If you missed Crane Creek's Earth Day celebration last month, try this event. The country setting of this winery is perfect for an afternoon escape and the small lake on property is a great fishing spot for the kids and adults. Plus: A new vintage of Sweet Sally is out as well as the new Vidal Blanc (previously known as Brasstown White).

Saturday, May 16: Tiger Mountain Vineyards: Annual Awakening of the Vines at Tiger Mountain featuring the Marching Abominable Seed and Feed Band and a bonfire of the winter prunings. A visit from Bacchus and a picnic under the old oak trees overlooking the vineyards. Noon to 3 p.m., $20 per person. Admission limited to wine club members and guests.

Sunday, May 17: Sunday Supper comes to Montaluce: Starting this weekend, Montaluce is featuring a "Sunday Supper" from 5 to 9 p.m. The three-course meal is $23 per person; wines by the glass or bottle will be available.

Sunday, May 17: Vineyard Concert with Packway Handle Band at Wolf Mountain's pavilion beginning at 4 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 706-867-9862 to reserve a spot.

June 13, 14: Montaluce's first-ever white wines will be released to the public. Wines to be released: 2008 Chardonnay, Viognier and Rose. Scheduled: Vineyard tours, tastings, live music, special lunchtime wine pairing menu at Le Vigne, a wine dinner on Saturday night. Visitors to Montaluce have tasted a variety of imports and Georgia wines in previous visits. Starting next month, Montaluce's own labels will be poured as well.

What's ahead:

May 23, Memorial Day concert featuring The Big Swig, Crane Creek, 7-10 p.m. Tickets: $15 for those 21 and over; $5 for under 21.

May 29, Friday: Cinema in the Cellar at Montaluce. Wine, cheese, flatbreads and a movie.

May 30, Wolf Mountain, Summer Seafood Gourmet Dinner, $60 per person (all inclusive). 7 p.m. Details

June 6-7: Second Annual Georgia Fine Wine Festival at BlackStock Vineyards and Winery. Included: wine, food, music and arts. Times: Saturday, June 6, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, June 7, 1-5 p.m. Scheduled: Sampling of more than 50 premium Georgia-grown wines as well as food from area restaurants. The Kip Dockery Jazz Quartet will provide the music. Tickets: One day, $35 per person. Two-day, $50. Both include two $5 food tickets as well as a "passport" glass.

June 11: An Alfresco Evening on the River: Georgia’s wine industry is growing fast, tripling its acreage in just the past five years. To provide the industry with the research and outreach it needs, the University of Georgia is expanding programs in viticulture and enology, the science of grape growing and wine making. The expansion includes a new endowed professorship. To help get the professorship started, the college will host a fund-raising event. “An Alfresco Evening on the River” will be June 11 and will feature great food from local chefs, wine and entertainment at the home of Richard and Sherri Smith in Atlanta. For the rest of the story and more on the benefit, please click http://tinyurl.com/c4rgz4

The News Vine, May 6-10

Take an in-depth look at Georgia's wine industry:
A recent report from the University of Georgia's Center for Agribusiness and Economics takes an exhaustive look at the state's booming wine industry. Dated January 2009, the 25-page PDF offers tons of statistics about wine production, farm and visitor economics and just about anything else you want to know about grapes, wines and visitors.

What we're focusing on--the winery visitor.
The survey is based on 246 people who completed the questions put to them. Citing those responses, here are some stats to consider about winery visitors and consumers:

Average age: 48 to 49 years old.

Average household income: $105,000. Of those survey, some 27 percent reported incomes of $150,000 or more.

Gender: This was a little surprising given the crowds we've seen at North Georgia wineries--56 percent of the visitors were female vs. 44 percent male.

Race: 93 percent of the visitors were white and 4 percent were black. Again, a bit of a surprise based on the crowds we've seen. We expected a bit more diversity.

Education: 42 percent had four-year degrees with 33 percent were holding graduate degrees.

Consumption: 35 percent said they drink wine two to three times a week; 21 percent listed daily consumption.

Monthly wine expenditures: On average, $96

Per bottle costs: Nearly 43 percent purchased wine selling for $10 to $15 followed by 26 percent costing $16 to $25. Under $10: 24 percent.

Wine preference: dry wine vs. sweet wines (67 to 33 percent). Again, some surprises. Most tastings we've been to offer a definitive mix of reds and whites.


What's happening at North Georgia wineries :

>Friday and Saturday, Spring Wine Fest at Georgia Winery, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wine tasting, food samples, homemade fudge. Free admission.

Mother's Day celebrations: Make your reservations as you read this. North Georgia wineries had heavy traffic over Valentine's Day and we expect some of the Sunday brunches to fill quickly (if not all ready). Call, don't e-mail, with reservations. What's on tap:

Crane Creek, Young Harris. Seatings at 12:30 p.m. by reservation. Buffet-style brunch in the Barn Swallow Pavilion, $35 per person.

Frogtown Cellars, Dahlonega: Mother's Day Wine Taster Brunch, 12:30 p.m. $35 per person.

Montaluce, Dahlonega: Brunch is $35 per adult and $15 for children 15 and under. 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Wolf Mountain, Dahlonega: Brunch seatings at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m., $30 per person. Call for reservations.

Need a last-minute Mother's Day 'gift'? See our review of Young Harris below. The Equani Spa at Brasstown Valley, coupled with a trip to Crane Creek, will do the trick. It was among our favorite trips so far in 2009.

Also coming up:

May 16, Tiger Mountain Vineyards: Annual Awakening of the Vines at Tiger Mountain featuring the Marching Abominable Seed and Feed Band and a bonfire of the winter prunings. A visit from Bacchus and a picnic under the old oak trees overlooking the vineyards. Noon to 3 p.m., $20 per person. Admission limited to wine club members and guests.

May 16: Spring festival at Crane Creek, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Local artists will feature their work; lunch and wine tastings as well. Also planned: Kiddie Craft Tent and fishing in the pond. Tickets: $20, 21 and over; $10, under 21.

May 23, Memorial Day concert featuring The Big Swig, Crane Creek, 7-10 p.m. Tickets: $15 for those 21 and over; $5 for under 21.

May 29, Friday: Cinema in the Cellar at Montaluce. Wine, cheese, flatbreads and a movie.

May 30, Wolf Mountain, Summer Seafood Gourmet Dinner, $60 per person (all inclusive). 7 p.m.

June 6-7: Second Annual Georgia Fine Wine Festival at BlackStock Vineyards and Winery. Included: wine, food, music and arts. Times: Saturday, June 6, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, June 7, 1-5 p.m. Scheduled: Sampling of more than 50 premium Georgia-grown wines as well as food from area restaurants. The Kip Dockery Jazz Quartet will provide the music. Tickets: One day, $35 per person. Two-day, $50. Both include two $5 food tickets as well as a "passport" glass.

June 21: Wolf Mountain: Father's Day is Sunday, June 21. Planned: Seventh Annual Father's Day BBQ Brunch.