Labor Day weekend sizzling at N. Georgia wineries

orthwest Georgia wine events:

-Sept. 9: Wine tasting at Riverside Gourmet: It begins at 6:30 p.m. and features a $10 tasting fee. What's planned: French wines.

This week's spotlight:

-Sept. 3-30: Harvest month specials at BlackStock Vineyards and Winery. In our year-plus of producing Wine News Vine, we've never seen a winery schedule a full month of specials, from Grill & Chill weekends to discounts and even freebies. Good show, BlackStock! Click

-Sept. 25: Persimmon Creek Vineyards hosts Writer's Dinner at 7 p.m. South Carolina author Cassandra King will join dinners. Chef Rebecca Lang will prepare the wine-matched dinner. $85 per person.

What's ahead this summer in North Georgia's wine country:

-Sept. 4: First Crush Fest, ,Yonah Mountain Vineyards. From the website: Crush Fest will feature grape stomping a la Lucille Ball, wagon tours of the vineyard, winery and cave tours. Admission: General $15, Designated Driver $5, 16 and under free. Admission includes all of the above, plus wine samples, a tasting glass, music all day, vendors and craftspeople."

-Sept. 4: Tiger Mountain Vineyards: Patio party with wine, cheese and live music on the patio. No admission charge; $5 tasting fee only. Tasting room open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Music, 1-4 p.m.

-Sept. 4-6: Three Sisters Vineyards: Pig n Chips BBQ - Ooh La La Cheesecakes Labor Day Weekend. Barbecue, cheesecake and live music Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

-Sept. 5: Eighth Annual Celebration of Jazz in the Vineyard, Wolf Mountain Vineyards. Live jazz and "country French cuisine." $30 per person; seatings at 12:30 and 2;30 p.m. Also on Sept. 12, 19, 26.

-Sept. 11: The Georgia Winery, Southern Sangria Release Party, "enjoy wine and cheese with us. Free admission. We are releasing our brand new deliciously appealing Southern Sangria. Wonderfully flavored, full-bodied, exceptionally balanced." (Web posting).

-Sept. 11: Frogtown Cellars, Harvest Dinner, 6 p.m. $75 per person. Details.

-Sept. 18: Sautee Nacoochee Vineyards Swinging in the Vines, 2-6 p.m. Details

-Sept. 25: Tiger Mountain Vineyards: "Release of Stonewall Creek Vineyards Rabun Red, a first harvest blend of French vinifera from the Tiger vineyards of Carl and Carla Fackler." (From website)

-Oct. 2: The Georgia Winery, 2010 Annual Grape Stomp, noon until 4 p.m. "Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy wine tasting, live music, hayrides, kids' activities, and more. $7 per adult." Also releasing a Tennessee Tangerine: blended muscadine and tangerine.

-Oct. 16: Sautee Nacoochee Vineyards Swinging in the Vines, 2-6 p.m.

Second Winter Wine Highway weekend set for Dec. 3, 4, 5

-Nine wineries participating with each offering special events during the weekend, according to the Wine Growers Association of Georgia. Additional details will be announced soon. The spring wine highway weekend usually is held in March as well. The winter tour's hours
-Friday. Dec. 3 2-5 p.m.

-Saturday, Dec. 4: Noon-5 p.m.

-Sunday, Dec. 5: 12:30-5 p.m.