By Loren Lindler
What's better than a glass of wine after a long, hard day? We'll tell you what's better - a glass of wine from a winery in rural Georgia. In fact, there are over 60 wine producers in the state, so there are plenty of opportunities for your tastebuds to be tickled.
According to the Georgia Wine Producers, Georgia's wine industry has a total economic impact of $4.1 billion. With over 915 acres of vineyards, and providing over 35,000 jobs in the state, Georgia's wine industry is making quite an impact.
The state of Georgia offers the perfect climate for grapes, so it comes at no surprise that we have great wine. Traditionally, muscadine grapes have been the foundation of Georgia's grape and wine industry. Georgia leads the nation in its production of these grapes and, just recently, Governor Kemp named the muscadine the official grape of Georgia. But, new varieties have been introduced to the state over the years, allowing the state to have a diverse wine industry.
There are a number of wineries and vineyards scattered throughout rural Georgia and the state's grape production reaches from the north to the south. When it comes to the top grape-producing counties in the state, Lumpkin County tops the charts with an impact of over $5 million, followed by White, Habersham, Irwin, Madison, Rabun, Cherokee, Mitchell, Towns, and Calhoun counties.
If you're a wine connoisseur, buckle up because we've got the list of a lifetime of wineries in rural Georgia. All of the vineyards and wineries are linked, so click their name to learn more!
Wineries and vineyards in rural Georgia:
Rabun Gap, GA | Rabun County
Dahlonega, GA | Lumpkin County
Blue Ridge, GA | Fannin County
Danielsville, GA | Madison County
Ellijay, GA | Gilmer County
Ellijay, GA | Gilmer County
Dahlonega, GA | Lumpkin County
Cleveland, GA | White County
Talking Rock, GA | Pickens County
Young Harris, GA | Towns County
Young Harris, GA | Towns County
Sautee, GA | White County
Toccoa, GA | Stephens County
Ellijay, GA | Gilmer County
Ellijay, GA | Gilmer County
Dahlonega, GA | Lumpkin County
Jasper, GA | Pickens County
Thomasville, GA | Thomas County
Ellijay, GA | Gilmer County
Helen, GA | White County
Sparks, GA | Cook County
Nashville, GA | Berrien County
Jeffersonville, GA | Twiggs County
Dahlonega, GA | Lumpkin County
Clayton, GA | Rabun County
Elberton, GA | Elbert County
Ellijay, GA | Gilmer County
Blue Ridge, GA | Fannin County
Dahlonega, GA | Lumpkin County
Blairsville, GA | Union County
Ellijay, GA | Gilmer County
Blairsville, GA | Union County
Wray, GA | Irwin County
Morganton, GA | Fannin County
Cleveland, GA | White County
Jasper, GA | Pickens County
Arlington, GA | Calhoun + Early Counties
Tiger, GA | Rabun County
Cleveland, GA | White County
Cleveland, GA | White County
Blairsville, GA | Union County
Dahlonega, GA | Lumpkin County
Tiger, GA | Rabun County
Bremen, GA | Haralson County
Glennville, GA | Tattnall County
Americus, GA | Sumter County
Cleveland, GA | White County
To learn more about Georgia's wine industry, check out the Georgia Wine Producers for more information. If you're looking for a winery or vineyard near you, be sure to visit the Georgia Grown website.