Georgia Wines

[Dawgman]

I did some research on the web and found that we do have a few wineries here in Georgia. I bought a wine from Tiger Mountain yesterday called Rabun Red (2000 - $15). The winery is located in the NE Georgia mountains. I'll let y'all know what I think of it. I was excited to know that Georgia had more than just Chateau Elan.

[dananne]

You found the best winery in Georgia, IMHO. They make several wines, generally using grapes from the Loire and Rhone River valleys in France (with some exceptions). The Rabun Red is not one of my personal favorites in their line, but it is a pleasant, easy drinker that, from my experience, appeals to more novice drinkers. They make a very flavorful mourvedre, a somewhat more tannic tannat, a malbec, a cabernet franc that usually wins them lots of awards, a very nice viognier that tastes of peaches, a norton (which may be my favorite, as it has so much character), and a touriga national (the grape usually used for port in Portugal). Bill Stack, a co-founder, was an attorney in Atlanta before joining up with John Ezzard in Rabun. Very confortable tasting room -- they and their spouses are usually there pouring on the weekends. It's beautiful country around there, also, so it's a very pleasant way to spend a Saturday.

Last year at Wine South, I was very farorably impressed by the Georgia wines area, and I spent some good time tasting all that I could (you can look back to last Sept. for my review of Wine South -- I discuss GA wines -- it's in the Wine Events thread). IMHO, another up-and-coming GA winery is Three Sisters near Dahlonega.

Let me know what you think of that Rabun Red, and glad to hear you're trying some local stuff [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

[Dawgman]

I am drinking the Rabun Red as I type. I have to agree with your assesment. A pleasant drink but rather simple. I would drink it again but it doesn't go to the top of my list. I had the tannat in my hand at the wine shop but put it back. I'll have to go back and get it. I also want to try the viognier. I've read some good things about it.
I tried to talk my wife into going up to the winery tomorrow but she wasn't too keen on it. As I stated earlier...she thinks my new hobby is a little wierd. So I invited the family over for dogs and burgers tomorrow.

[dananne]

Try the mourvedre, the norton, and the cab franc when you get the chance.

The drive itself is worth it -- it is simply beautiful up there. The views on the drive are wonderful. In fact, the views of the N. Ga. mountains on my last trip to the winery inspired me to do a hike on the Appalachian Trail next week -- I'm hiking the 1st 30.8 miles of the trail from Mon. to Wed. by myself, which my wife believes is a recipe for becoming bear scat! Or, at the very least, catching Lyme disease [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

Regarding the winery, there are some nice little art galleries and shops in the downtown area just past the winery that are worth the trip if your wife is into things like folk art, shopping, etc. [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

[winoweenie]

Never met one that wasn't.WW