The beautiful mountains of North Georgia are an idyllic respite from the pace of city life or the humdrum of the everyday. Situated less than two hours outside of Atlanta, the thickly wooded slopes harbor rich, fertile soil, and the balmy mountain climate lends itself perfectly to growing a variety of wine grapes.
Wine tour lovers rejoice! The days of needing to head to the West Coast or leave the country to sample the best wines are over. Now you can sip the most balanced, full-bodied wines in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Wineries in Georgia have certainly come into their own over the last few decades, producing wines that consistently rank among the best in North America. Visitors staying in a Blue Sky cabin rental can include a winery tour at one or more of these exquisite vineyards for a truly unique sampling of the area’s fine wines.
1. Fainting Goat Vineyards
Photo Credit: Jose Calsina
- Address: 201 Vineyard Way, Jasper, GA
- Phone: (706) 692-9463
- Hours: Open every day from 12-6 pm; Sundays 12:30-6 pm
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Fainting Goat Vineyard offers handcrafted wines from conception to crush. The vineyard specializes in producing small lots of high-quality, award-winning wine.
Visitors will enjoy meeting several fainting goats on the property, as well as two Great Pyrenees dogs who are fond of wine drinkers. Fainting Goat Vineyards is also a venue for great live music on the weekends and is pet friendly and kid-friendly, so bring the whole family and have a wonderful day at Fainting Goat Vineyards.
2. Engelheim Vineyards
- Address: 120 Lakeview Rd, Ellijay, GA
- Phone: (706) 635-9463
- Hours: 12:30 – 6 pm daily
Engelheim Vineyards in North Georgia offers a delightful wine-tasting experience that highlights its commitment to producing high-quality wines rooted in its German heritage and Appalachian surroundings.
Visitors can sample a variety of award-winning wines crafted from outstanding grapes grown on the vineyard, including both red and white varietals.
The tasting room provides a welcoming atmosphere where guests can savor each wine’s unique flavors and learn about the vineyard’s winemaking process. While Engelheim focuses primarily on its exceptional wines, visitors often pair their tastings with delicious food from nearby dining options to enhance the experience.
3. Roo Mountain Vineyards
- Address: 1497 Old Flat Branch Rd, Ellijay, GA
- Phone: 706-502-3935
- Hours: 12-6 pm M-Thurs; 12-8 pm Fri and Sat; 12:30-6 pm Sun
Roo Mountain Vineyards offers an incredible wine tasting experience set against the stunning backdrop of the North Georgia mountains on their outdoor patio.
Visitors can explore a diverse selection of wines crafted from carefully tended vines, including both classic varietals and unique blends inspired by the region’s climate and soil. The tasting room provides a welcoming atmosphere where guests can savor each glass while enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, making it a perfect place to relax and unwind.
In addition to exceptional wines, Roo Mountain Vineyards features a delicious menu at their onsite restaurant that perfectly complements their offerings. Guests can indulge in a variety of dishes made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, designed to pair beautifully with the wines.
Whether you’re craving savory appetizers, hearty entrees, or decadent desserts, the restaurant’s culinary creations enhance the overall vineyard experience.
4. Cartecay Vineyards
- Address: 5704 Clear Creek Rd, Ellijay, GA
- Phone: (706) 698-9463
- Hours: 11 am – 6 pm Monday – Saturday; 12:30 pm – 6 pm. Sunday
Located in Ellijay, this winery is situated on a historic farm, with remnants of its original barn serving as a tasting room. The sweet and savory varieties at Cartecay Vineyards feature locally sourced grapes and berries. Highlights of the wine list include Traminette, Vidal Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and sweet offerings such as the Sassy Sisters. Cartecay Vineyards also hosts the Crush Festival, an annual late-summer event that celebrates wine with live music, fresh food, grape stomping, and more!
5. The Cottage Vineyard and Winery
Photo Credit: DavideAngelini
- Address: 5050 US-129, Cleveland, GA
- Phone: (706) 865-0053
- Hours: 11- 6 pm, Monday-Friday; 11- 9 pm Sat; 12:30-6 pm Sun
The Cottage Vineyard and Winery was voted among the top 25 wineries in the United States! Located in Cleveland, it makes for a great day trip from our Blue Sky cabins.
This 29-acre winery features an impressive array of wines, including rosé, chardonnay, vidal blanc, malbec, and merlot. The Cottage is also well known for their Sunday sermon, aptly named “Jesus N’ Jeans”; stop by for fellowship and flights each Sunday starting at 10:30 a.m. If you’re looking for a quaint, laid-back atmosphere with delicious wine options, this is your spot.
6. Chateau Meichtry Family Vineyard and Winery
Photo Credit: AJPhotouniverse
- Address: 1862 Orchard Lane, Talking Rock, GA
- Phone: (706) 502-1608
- Hours: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday – Saturday; 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Sunday
Located in Talking Rock, Georgia, Chateau Meichtry Family Vineyard offers a charming, intimate wine-tasting experience. This family-run winery produces a diverse selection of wines, including popular varieties such as Pinot Grigio, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and sweet whites aged in Hungarian oak barrels. Visitors can enjoy tastings in a cozy setting that highlights the vineyard’s dedication to quality and tradition.
Chateau Meichtry also offers custom charcuterie plates featuring à la carte meats and cheeses, perfect for pairing with their wines. On weekends, guests can often enjoy live entertainment and guided vineyard tours, making it an inviting destination for wine lovers seeking both variety and a welcoming atmosphere.
7. Hightower Creek Vineyards
- Address: 7150 Canaan Dr, Hiawassee, GA
- Phone: (706) 896-8963
- Hours: 12 pm – 5 pm Monday-Saturday; 12:30-5 pm Sun
From their Hiawassee location, this boutique vineyard produces a number of unpretentious labels featuring red and white wine blends that celebrate food, fun, and family.
Savor Chatuga Red for its heady, deep notes or enjoy the Red Clay Rosé with its blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes. Some of our top picks here include Trillum, Rose, and Cabernet Franc. Hightower Creek also offers a full tasting room and musical entertainment during events throughout the year.
North Georgia History Of Wine Making
North Georgia doesn’t try to imitate Napa or Europe—it leans into what makes it different. Muscadine remains a staple, and many wineries embrace creative expressions like blackberry and apple wines that feel distinctly local. The result is a wine scene that’s a little less predictable and a lot more personal.
Early Roots in the 1800s
North Georgia’s wine story goes deeper than most people expect; it’s not just a modern tasting-room scene; it’s a slow-build legacy that took shape in the 1800s. Early settlers brought European grape varieties with them, hoping to recreate the wines they knew. The problem? North Georgia’s heat, humidity, and rugged terrain had other plans.
Adapting to the Southern Climate
Instead of forcing it, growers adapted. Native grapes, especially muscadine, became the backbone of the region’s identity. These grapes thrive in the Southern climate, producing wines that are naturally more aromatic, fruit-forward, and often a little sweeter than their Old World counterparts.
The Muscadine Breakthrough
A major turning point came in 1909, when the University of Georgia launched its muscadine breeding program. It remains the oldest and largest of its kind in the United States, helping refine grape quality and supporting the growth of local vineyards. What started as agricultural experimentation quietly laid the groundwork for a sustainable wine industry in the region.
A Region That Found Its Stride
Today, North Georgia has found its rhythm by blending tradition with experimentation with a wide variety of wines. Thanks to its elevation, cooler mountain air, and mineral-rich soils, the region can now support a surprisingly wide range of grapes. You’ll find structured reds like Cabernet Franc and Merlot alongside crisp whites like Chardonnay and Vidal Blanc, with Traminette and Petit Verdot adding depth to the mix.
Stay Near the Best Wine Tasting in North Georgia
After a full day of vineyard hopping, winding through mountain roads, tasting bold reds and crisp whites, and soaking in those long-range views, you’ll want a place that feels just as memorable as the wineries themselves. That’s where Blue Sky Cabin Rentals comes in.
Blue Sky offers a wide range of cabins tucked throughout North Georgia’s most scenic wine country areas, including Ellijay, Blue Ridge, and the surrounding mountain communities. Whether you’re planning a romantic wine weekend or a group getaway, you’ll find options that match the vibe—cozy one-bedroom cabins with hot tubs and fireplaces, larger multi-bedroom homes with mountain views, and upscale retreats with game rooms, fire pits, and wraparound decks made for sunset wine.
Many of these cabins are just a short drive from top wineries, giving you easy access to tasting rooms during the day and a quiet, private escape at night. It’s the kind of setup that lets you slow down, open a bottle from your favorite stop, and actually enjoy it.
Book your North Georgia cabin with Blue Sky and turn your wine tasting trip into a full mountain experience.
