Wine tastings, presidential salute, chocolate celebration among North Georgia wine events this weekend

What ahead for Georgia wine lovers:

- Feb. 18: Riverside Gourmet wine tasting, 6:30 p.m. 250 Broad St., Rome, Ga. A blind wine tasting event. $10 per person (21 and over).  Facebook.

-Feb. 19-20: Three Sisters Vineyards. 2011 Wine and chocolate lovers celebration.

-Feb. 19:  Tiger Mountain Vineyards. Celebrate President's Day weekend with wine tastings, artisan cheeses, hors d'oeuvres and live music.

--March 4: Johnny Mitchell's Smokehouse, Euharlee, Ga. Wine dinner, Taste of Mardi Gras, 7-10 p.m. Includes six courses and three glasses of wine, $55 per person. Facebook.

-March 12: Tiger Mountain Vineyards. Celebrate St. Patrick's Day, noon to 4 p.m. Celtic fiddling, Irish cheeses and wine tastings. $10 per person. Tasting room open, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

-March 18-20: Fifth Annual Wine Highway Weekend. Purchase a 'passport' for $25 at any participating winery and visit all 10 wineries for tastings. Plus: you keep the souvenir glass. Hours: Friday, 2-5 p.m. Saturday: noon-5 p.m. Sunday: 12:30-5 p.m. Also check for extra-special events at some of the wineries. Details from the Wine Growers Association of Georgia. Details

-March 19: Persimmon Creek Vineyards,  6:30 p.m., hosting a Spring Equinox Celebration Dinner prepared by Chef Vincent Scafiti. The price is $68 per person (plus tax, gratuity). Reservation:  706-212-7380. Expanded details.

-April 9: Tiger Mountain Vineyards: Release party for TMV's award-winning Rose, $14 per bottle. Details to come.

-June: BlackStock Vineyards and Winery. The Georgia Fine Wine Festival returns. Billed as "...the finest food, wine, music and art found in the North Georgia Mountains!." Hosted at BlackStock.