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:
12 Spies Vineyards & Farm, LLC
Rabun Gap, GA | Rabun County
Accent Cellars
Dahlonega, GA | Lumpkin County
Bear Claw Vineyards & Winery
Blue Ridge, GA | Fannin County
Boutier Winery & Inn LLC
Danielsville, GA | Madison County
Buckley Farms and Vineyard
Ellijay, GA | Gilmer County
Cartecay Vineyards
Ellijay, GA | Gilmer County
Cavender Creek Vineyards
Dahlonega, GA | Lumpkin County
CeNita Vineyards
Cleveland, GA | White County
Chateau Meichtry Family Vineyard and Winery
Talking Rock, GA | Pickens County
Cloudland Vineyards and Winery
Young Harris, GA | Towns County
Crane Creek Vineyards
Young Harris, GA | Towns County
Creekstone Winery
Sautee, GA | White County
Currahee Vineyards
Toccoa, GA | Stephens County
Dreamcatcher Vineyards & Winery
Ellijay, GA | Gilmer County
Engelheim Vineyards
Ellijay, GA | Gilmer County
Etowah Meadery
Dahlonega, GA | Lumpkin County
Fainting Goat Vineyards
Jasper, GA | Pickens County
Farmer's Daughter Vineyards
Thomasville, GA | Thomas County
Grapes and Ladders Vineyards
Ellijay, GA | Gilmer County
Habersham Winey & Vineyards
Helen, GA | White County
Horse Creek Winery
Sparks, GA | Cook County
Nashville, GA | Berrien County
Jail Creek Farms
Jeffersonville, GA | Twiggs County
Kaya Vineyard & Winery
Dahlonega, GA | Lumpkin County
Kingwood Winery
Clayton, GA | Rabun County
Lake Russell Wines
Elberton, GA | Elbert County
Little Red Dog Vineyards
Ellijay, GA | Gilmer County
Mercier Orchards
Blue Ridge, GA | Fannin County
Montaluce Winery & Restaurant
Dahlonega, GA | Lumpkin County
Odom Springs Vineyards
Blairsville, GA | Union County
Ott Farms & Vineyard
Ellijay, GA | Gilmer County
Paradise Hills Winery Resort & Spa
Blairsville, GA | Union County
Paulk Vineyards
Wray, GA | Irwin County
Serenberry Vineyards
Morganton, GA | Fannin County
Serenity Cellars
Cleveland, GA | White County
Sharp Mountain Vineyards
Jasper, GA | Pickens County
Still Pond Vineyard, Winery & Distillery
Arlington, GA | Calhoun + Early Counties
Stonewall Creek Vineyards
Tiger, GA | Rabun County
Tesnatee River Winery and Meadery
Cleveland, GA | White County
The Cottage Vineyard and Winery
Cleveland, GA | White County
This Little Piggy Vineyard
Blairsville, GA | Union County
Three Sisters Vineyards and Winery
Dahlonega, GA | Lumpkin County
Tiger Mountain Vineyards
Tiger, GA | Rabun County
Trillium Vineyard & Winery
Bremen, GA | Haralson County
Watermelon Creek Vineyard
Glennville, GA | Tattnall County
Wolf Creek Plantation
Americus, GA | Sumter County
Yonah Mountain Vineyards
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.
Do you know of interesting experiences in rural Georgia? Share your ideas with us by sending us an email or messaging us on Facebook!