Traveling to scenic northern Georgia? You must make a day trip out to Wolf Mountain Vineyards and Winery (in Dahlonega, Georgia) for a winery tour, tasting and delightful lunch at the Vineyard Café!
This past summer we trekked out to the mountains of Northern Georgia for a mountain side wedding for two close friends. We enjoyed staying in a cozy cabin and for the most part just relaxing and enjoying the peace and quiet the mountains bring.
Of course, there was also some typical wedding stuff, like the rehearsal dinner and the bachelor and bachelorette parties, which for the guys consisted of a white water rafting trip and for the girls a trip to Wolf Mountain Vineyards and Winery.
This was simply the most picture perfect outing for a mountain wedding and our group of girls! Since we had about 15 girls in our group, we were able to schedule a private group tour and tasting, with lunch at the Vineyard Café afterwards.
The tour consisted of viewing the grape vineyards and the wine production equipment, wine cellar and Cask Room. As luck would have it, at the time we were visiting the vineyard, late July, it was right when the grapes were turning and a week before they were going to be harvested!
Wolf Mountain Vineyards, is a family owned and operated winery located in the southern region of the Appalachian Trail in Dahlonega, Georgia. The vineyard is on a south facing slop of the mountains and grows the red varietals of grapes, cabernet, port and Syrah and outsources the white wine grapes from other north Georgia vineyards.
The tour also went into great explanation of the wine-making process as told by the vineyard’s owner’s son and winemaker himself, Brannon Boegner. Wolf Mountain Vineyards uses the “Old World” wine-making techniques. They harvest and sort the grapes by hand and then the grapes are whole cluster pressed to preserve the flavors.
The vineyard then ferments approximately three tons of red wine fruit in each of their 800-gallon stainless steel tanks. Since Wolf Mountain Vineyards uses old world, European wine making techniques, they use French, Hungarian and American Oak Barrels for the aging of their wines.
After the tour, our group was then given the opportunity to taste six different wines in their tasting room and go home with souvenir glass. Wolf Mountain Vineyards produces a wide range of wines from dry white wines, to Rosé and Red Wines; with my favorite being the Coupage and Howling Wolf Red.
After our tasting we enjoyed lunch at the café. This reservation only restaurant serves Sunday brunch and lunch Thursday through Saturday. The restaurant features gorgeous mountain views and the menu focuses local flavors with wine pairing recommendations. I indulged in the Duck BBQ Sandwich (Pulled Duck Legs, Slaw, Housemade Blackberry BBQ Sauce, all served on a pretzel bun) with a side of Logan Turnpike Grit Fries (deep fried cheese grits, which are AMAZING!); all of which paired nicely with a glass of Coupage.
Other ladies in our group enjoyed the Mr. Quacker Pizza (Housemade Duck Prosciutto, Roasted Tomato & Pepper Relish, Goat Cheese, Blue Haven Honey Pepper Glaze) and The Fig, Prosciutto & Pear Pizza (with Caramelized Onions, Bleu Cheese, Bechamel Sauce) and the special of the day, a fresh crab salad. All of which had raving reviews. FYI, the pizzas are large, and plenty to share with a friend.
In addition to the restaurant, tasting room, vineyard and winery tour, Wolf Mountain Vineyards is a wedding and special event venue.
Even though a small summer rain storm erupted while we were enjoying our lunch, the day was simply picture perfect and a great bachelorette party! Whether you are vacationing with friends or your significant other in north Georgia or live in the Atlanta area (the vineyard is only about an hour away from the ATL) then a visit to Wolf Mountain Vineyards should be on your bucket list!
For more information about Wolf Mountain Vineyards and to plan your trip, see below:
Address:
Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery
180 Wolf Mountain Trail
Dahlonega, GA 30533
Phone: (706) 867-9862
FAX: (706) 867-9031
Hours:
Sunday Brunch
Sundays at 12:30pm & 2:30pm; Reservations Required, call 706-867-9862
Wine Tastings and Tours:
Fall Hours:
(September, October & November)
Tuesday-Saturday 11am-5pm
Sunday 12:30-5pm
Winter Hours:
(December, January & February)
Saturday 11am-5pm
Sunday 12:30-5pm
Spring Hours:
(March-August)
Thursday – Saturday 11am-5pm
Sunday 12:30-5pm
Vineyard Café Lunch
Thursday-Saturday 12:00 Noon-3:00pm; Reservations Required, call 706-867-9862.
You can also follow Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery online here:
Website
Facebook
This post is part of my special travel series: Kitchen Adventures… when life takes me outside the kitchen! For more travel ideas, click here or visit my Travel Pinterest board!