News Vine: Big Valentine's Weekend on the way

North Georgia Wine Country Weather:

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

2010 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

Wolf Mountain wins gold, two silver medals; Crane Creek, gold and bronze; and Tiger Mountain collects pair of bronze in Chronicle contest: The results of the 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition are in. Says the Web site winejudging.com: "Over five days, 63 professional wine experts tasted and evaluated a world-record breaking 4,913 entries." For all the winners, search and click here.

This weekend's spotlight:

-Jan. 23: Yonah Mountain Vineyards offers first-time tours. You're perhaps visited the wine tasting room at Sautee-Nachoochee but here's your first chance to see Yonah Mountain Vineyards, including a winery tour and barrel tasting. Winemaker Joe Smith lead it the tour; cost is $25 per person includes a full tasting. Details: contact Joe at 678-525-6050 or visit the winery's Facebook page.

News from the wineries:

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

-Saturday, Jan. 30: Montaluce Winery and Estates to host food, wine conclave: The Dahlonega winery is hosting it's first Wine and Food Conclave. Food and wine writers and bloggers from all around the Southeast are invited for a day of winery and vineyard tours, wine tasting, kitchen tour, chef demonstrations and more. If you're interested in attending, please contact rob@montaluce.com for more details.

-Now-Jan. 31: Tiger Mountain Vineyards in Rabun County. also features a "20-10" special on January weekends. 20 percent off and 10 percent off two wines every weekend. We're not telling which wines. Tasting room open Friday and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

-Feb. 6-7, 13-14, 20-21: -Three Sisters Vineyards has a tempting blend--wine, chocolate in February: Three Sisters Vineyards' annual "wine and chocolate lovers celebration" is set for February's first three weekends, from 1 to 5 p.m. On tap: "artisan chocolate and wines in a special tasting line-up." No reservations are required for the free tasting and $15 per person tastings. Also:, a special $25 per person private tasting/seating in the winery; reservations required. Limited seatings are at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 4 p.m. Sundays. The $25 tasting includes a barrel tasting, large souvenir wine glass, special chocolates and treats. Call: 706-865-9463 or visit.

-Feb. 7: Wolf Mountain Vineyards reopens after January break.

-Feb. 13: Wolf Mountain Vineyards' seventh annual Valentine's Dinner at 7 p.m., $80 per person. Includes six-course dinner and wine pairings. Click Menu. Reservations required: 706-867-9862.

-Feb.13: Yonah Mountain Vineyards: Prelude to Valentine’s Day, 3-6 p.m., at the tasting room in Sautee-Nacoochee. $15 per person includes: A glass of wine of your choice; hors d’oeuvres by Bernie’s Restaurant; and entertainment by Monica Spears. Reservations are requested. Please call 706-878-5522.(From Wine Growers Association).

-Feb. 13, 14: Frogtown Cellars offering special Valentine's Day meals. A wine taster's dinner is available that Saturday at 7 p.m. for $45 per person. On Sunday, a 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. wine taster's brunch is served fro $35 each. Reservations required. 706-865-0687.

-Feb. 13, 14: Montaluce Winery and Estates plans two Valentine's Day opportunities. Music, dining and wine are on the early menu for Feb.13-14. Additional details to post soon.

-Feb. 13: Crane Creek Vineyards & Guest House, Young Harris: A bowl of our soup plus handmade chocolates and flowers for the ladies. Plus: Crane Creek wines.

-Feb. 13, 14: BlackStock Vineyards and Winery: Two options for Valentine's weekend--a four-course meal Saturday night with wine and music; $65 per person. Starts at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, hors d'oeuvres reception and music, $30 per person. 2 to 4 p.m. Reservations required for both events: 706-219-2789.

-Feb. 13-14: Tiger Mountain Vineyards, Classical guitar by UGA Professor Bob Burton, homemade chocolate truffles and chocolate fondue are part of the annual Chocolate and Wine Weekend. $15 admission includes samples of three whites and seven reads.(From Wine Growers Association).

-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

-June 5-6: Three Sisters Vineyards' Georgia Wine Country Festival: Billed as "Dahlonega's Original Wine Festival," it is set for June 5 and 6 this year. It is the ninth time Three Sisters has staged the celebration. More details soon. Also, join the event's Facebook page> Click

Crane Creek Winery; what's ahead this winter

Crane Creek Winery, Young Harris:

Why we like winter winery visits (thanks to the Wine Rescue Squad)

A nice crowd gathers off the main wine tasting area at Crane Creek Vineyards in Young Harris on New Year's Eve afternoon. A steady stream of customers made their way to the country winery even as a winter storm was starting to move in that afternoon.

New Year's Eve "weekend" meant a trip to the Blue Ridge-Elijay-Young Harris area which also means a stop by our favorite country winery, Crane Creek Vineyards. An Earth Day event brought us to Crane Creek last April. While almost all the events were outdoors that time, everyone was inside huddled up as the coldest part of the storm was still coming in that afternoon.

But first we had to park and that's where trouble began. It was a busy New Year's Eve Day (3 p.m.) so we opted for a spot just off the parking area. Wrong move. No sooner did we pull in than we noticed a wheel or two already spinning where grass once grew.

As we exited to investigate, several couples leaving Crane Creek came right to our rescue without even a word spoken. One young lady directed the "rescue" attempt, coordinating a tow chain and a four-wheel drive. One clamp and quick pull later, and we were on our way. The "director" refused payment -- in cash or wine. So first we salute you, the Wine Rescue Crew on New Year's Eve. It is just another example of why we like wine people: friendly, helpful and funny.

Once inside the farm house, we beelined to the tasting bar only to be greeted by Catawba, the winery dog. In the past, we'd seen Sally sleeping behind the tasting bar but our pourer said the big old lab had passed several months ago. Sally is the namesake of some of the wine at Crane Creek. So, too, is Catawba (more for the grape but . . . ) and the pup did her best to make us feel at home by collapsing at our feet.

Properly stationed with Catawba's help, we got down to the tasting--a bargain at $3 per person, by the way, especially on New Year's Eve afternoon. The pouring list included:

1. Seyval Blanc: A crisp, dry white, it immediately earned a 7-plus in our 10-point scoring.
2. Etowah White was next, described as an "oaky off dry" white. Crafted from a hybrid grape, this probably was our favorite wine of the tasting. We'd purchased a few bottles during our earlier visit.
3. Apfelwein: This is a different wine, a relative new release. It is an apple wine with some German stylings. It might work as a dessert wine in a pinch or a pleasant pause between courses. Give it a sample next time you're in Young Harris; we don't know if its available at Naturally Georgia in Dahlonega.
4. We closed the white wine flite with Mountain Harvest White. Again on the sweet side, they recommend it for a picnic wine and we agree. Tasty
5. The Rose/Blush tour included Mountain Harvest Blush. Again sweet, it was a different experience. We were anxious to move to . . . the reds.
6. Brasstown Red earned a solid 7. It is a Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend that had a bit of a Malbec taste. It is said to be best paired with classic Italian or even Middle Eastern dishes.
7. Another specialty wine was the Christmas Catawba. We liked it as a fruity-tasting libation, perhaps again reserved for after dinner.
8. The final wine was Sweet Sally, another favorite we picked up last time. It was named early on for the wine dog that just passed. A fine way to end the tasting and a holiday visit.

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One side note on our trip: Ten days earlier, Crane Creek hosted a winter solstice tasting from 6 to 8 p.m. In the past, perhaps 20 to 40 people came out on the longest night of the year to sample wine and food. This year, the count topped 100, says our pourer. The turnout surprised the hosts. Chalk it up to the friendly folks at the winery and the growing appeal of North Georgia wine.

-If you go: You'll find some special deals at nearby Brasstown Valley Resort for Valentine's Weekend and during the winter months. This Saturday, Jan. 16, Brasstown is hosting a special wine education seminar followed by a wine-paired dinner. Details> Click

This picture is from the rear tasting bar at Crane Creek, overlooking some of the novelty items on sale and the back deck. You can see the moisture on the decking and the mist outside that Thursday afternoon, the last day of 2009.

News from the wineries:

-Friday, Jan. 15: Chateau Elan Winery and Resort is offering a "Wine Tasting Experience Package: for two, $199 plus tax. Includes: wine tasting with the Winemaker, this month's theme is "Top Value Wines" both national and international wines. Coming up: Dessert wines on Feb. 26 and Wines of Italy on March 19> Details

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

-Saturday, Jan. 30: Montaluce Winery and Estates to host food, wine conclave: The Dahlonega winery is hosting it's first Wine and Food Conclave. Food and wine writers and bloggers from all around the Southeast are invited for a day of winery and vineyard tours, wine tasting, kitchen tour, chef demonstrations and more. If you're interested in attending, please contact rob@montaluce.com for more details.

-Now-Jan. 31: Tiger Mountain Vineyards in Rabun County. also features a "20-10" special on January weekends. 20 percent off and 10 percent off two wines every weekend. We're not telling which wines. Tasting room open Friday and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

-Feb. 13, 14: Frogtown Cellars offering special Valentine's Day meals. A wine taster's dinner is available that Saturday at 7 p.m. for $45 per person. On Sunday, a 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. wine taster's brunch is served fro $35 each. Reservations required.

-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

Check your favorite wineries before visiting in January: Web sites for some of the wineries show down time in January, from reduced hours to no tastings. We'll assemble a list of closings for next week. Wineries can send us updates by clicking e-mail.

-Three Sisters Vineyards to take a break, reopening Feb. 1 as part of the three-weekend-long Wine & Chocolate Lovers Celebration.

- Wolf Mountain Vineyards: Closed through January, reopening Sunday, Feb. 7.