One of the oldest Blue Ridge Mountain towns in Georgia, Dahlonega has grown into a major tourism hotspot in the North Georgia mountains.
Originally best known as the site of the 1828 Georgia Gold Rush, Dahlonega is now beloved for its diverse array of outdoor activities, historical attractions, festivals, shops, restaurants, and wineries!
It’s also home to an Old Fashioned Christmas celebration that has made it one of our favorite places to go for Christmas in Georgia.
While the natural beauty of the area is widely celebrated, it’s less well-known that Dahlonega (and the North Georgia Mountains in general) offers an optimal climate for producing great wines.
There are a number of award-winning vineyards in Dahlonega and other small towns nearby.
So we’ve gathered info about some of the best wineries in Dahlonega, including tours, tastings, and some of the best varietals offered at each.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Wineries in the North Georgia Mountains
Wineries in Dahlonega GA Guide
- Cavender Creek Vineyards & Winery
- Frogtown Cellars
- Kaya Vineyard and Winery
- Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery
- Montaluce Winery & Restaurant
- Three Sisters Vineyards
- Accent Cellars
- Dahlonega Resort and Vineyard
READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Dahlonega GA & Lumpkin County
1. Cavender Creek Vineyards & Winery
3610 Cavender Creek Road, Dahlonega GA • 706-451-9084
Cavender Creek Vineyards is a small farm and North Georgia winery that produces delicious wines.
They’re located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains just outside the heart of Dahlonega.
While the winery is best known for its drinks and Southern hospitality, they’re also known for their donkeys.
Original owners Raymond and Donna Castleberry bought a Sicilian donkey in 2008 and named him Hotie (get it, Donkey Hotie?).
Sadly, Hotie has since passed away. But a baby donkey named Elliot was brought to the vineyards in 2018 and he loves to meet visitors!
Best Wines
The most popular wines in the vineyard include Cabernet Fran, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Manseng, and several Norton blends (including Blackjack and the fan favorite Donkey Hotie).
There are also varietals like Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Merlot, Viognier, and Cabernet Franc you can try.
Tours
There are no official tours of the vineyards and winery, but you can explore the area to take in the beautiful scenery.
This is also a great Dahlonega winery to visit with kids, as there is a fun playground and wide-open lawn children can play on.
Tastings
Cavender Creek’s tasting room is open seven days a week for visitors to enjoy a wine tasting or wine by the glass or bottle.
They also serve several other drinks, including wine slushies, cocktails, sangrias, mocktails, craft beers, and soft drinks.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Places to Celebrate Christmas in Atlanta GA
2. Frogtown Cellars
700 Ridge Point Dr, Dahlonega GA • 706-865-0687
Located on the “Dahlonega Plateau,” Frogtown Cellars is a 57-acre vineyard and winery that was founded in 1998 by Craig and Cydney Kritzer.
In order to take advantage of the area’s unique terrain, the winery was specifically constructed as a tri-level gravity flow GA winery.
The vineyards boast over 20,000 individual grapevines, including 25 different wine grape varieties across the estate’s 44 acres.
Wines produced at Frogtown Cellars are highly acclaimed, having won four consecutive double-Gold Medals at the 2016 San Francisco International Wine Competition and a number of other awards.
Best Wines
At Frogtown you can find a variety of red and white wines, along with Frogtown California Blends like the 2012 Convergence.
Popular whites include the 2015 Inclination, 2015 Chardonnay, and the 2015 MRV (a blend of their three Rhone Valley white wine grapes).
Popular reds include the 2013 Sangiovese and the Oglethorpe Red (a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot).
Tours
Tours of Frogtown Cellars are not currently being offered.
Tastings
At the tasting room, there is indoor and outdoor seating where you can sip on delicious wines with breathtaking overlooks of the vineyards and beautiful mountains.
You can also enjoy paninis, hand-crafted pizzas, and charcuterie trays at their Italian Bistro, where they serve lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch.
READ MORE: The 7 Best Restaurants in Dahlonega GA for Foodies
3. Kaya Vineyard and Winery
5400 Town Creek Road, Dahlonega GA • 706-219-3514
Considering it was built on a ridge at 1,600 feet of elevation, this Dahlonega Winery has some of the most breathtaking panoramic views of the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The vineyards you’ll see are planted with classic European, Italian, and American varietals.
All of the grapes are hand-harvested and processed in an on-site facility, which the Werkheiser family rightfully calls “the art of wine.”
Best Wines
Some of the vineyard’s most popular wines include their Chardonnay (Kaya grows the largest crop of Chardonnay in the state of Georgia), Trifecta Red Blend, and Rosé.
If you’re looking for something a little sweeter, they also have sweet wines like Blue Truck Blush and Touriga Dulce, which pair great with a dessert.
Tours
While there are no formal tours being offered, you are encouraged to explore the area and take in the incredible views.
Virtual tours of the vineyards, tasting rooms, patio, and cottages are offered on their official website.
Tastings
The tasting room is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 5pm, and Sunday from 12:30pm to 5pm.
You can choose five wines from the wine list to enjoy for $25, and no reservations are required.
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4. Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery
180 Wolf Mountain Trail, Dahlonega GA • 706-867-9862
Often compared to the wineries in Napa, the Wolf Mountains Vineyard & Winery is one of the most popular Dahlonega wineries.
Run by the Boegner family, it was established in 1999 and modeled after a raised Craftsman-style cottage.
The vineyard is located at a 1,800-foot elevation and has 10,000 hand-planted vines that produce some truly exquisite wines.
Best Wines
Their award-winning estate wines include dry whites such as their Private Reserve Chardonnay and Plentitude (a unique blend of Chardonnay and Viognier).
You can also try semi-sweet and port wines, like the WMV Demi-Sec and Deliciex, along with dry rosé and red wines such as Sunset Rosé, Coupage, and Claret.
They even have a selection of Méthode Champenoise sparkling wines, like their Syrah Brut and Brut Natural Cuvée René.
Tours
Guided tours are typically available here, but have been postponed until further notice due to COVID-19.
Tastings
Tastings are available on a first-come, first-served basis for eight or fewer guests. For groups any larger, advance reservations are required.
Just off of the tasting room there’s an open-air veranda and waterfall terrace, where you can enjoy the delicious wines and take in the stunning scenic vistas.
READ MORE: 101+ Things to Do in North Georgia
5. Montaluce Winery & Restaurant
501 Hightower Church Road, Dahlonega GA • 706-867-4060
Easily making it onto the list as one of the best wineries in Dahlonega, Montaluce Winery combines wine, food (with two restaurants), special events, and gorgeous scenery.
At Montaluce, they operate with the belief that extravagance isn’t needed when it comes to making quality wine, but rather hard-working people who are dedicated to the craft.
Best Wines
Red wine drinkers will enjoy the 2018 Sangiovese, NV Centurio, 2018 Malbec, and the NV Dolce Ross, a sweet red with hints of cherry and anise.
If you’re more of a white wine drinker, opt for the 2019 Tramoto, 2019 Chardonnay, or 2019 Dolce.
For special occasions, they also have sparkling wines like the Bottega Oro Prosecco and Franciacorta.
Tours
Deluxe 2-3 hour private tours are offered for groups of 5 or less. During these tours, a Sommelier will guide you through the winery and vineyards.
After the guided tour, you can enjoy a six-pour wine tasting with cheese and charcuterie pairings.
There also offer guided wine hikes through the hiking trails, vineyards, and the headwaters of the Etowah River. After the hike, you’ll be treated to a five-pour tasting.
Tastings
This popular Dahlonega winery offers both indoor and outdoor tastings, where you’ll be guided through a flight of Montaluce’s hand-crafted wines.
As an added bonus, each wine tasting comes with a free collectible tasting glass.
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6. Three Sisters Vineyards
439 Vineyard Way, Dahlonega GA • 706-865-9463
Sharon and Doug Paul began planning out Three Sisters Vineyards in 1995, after purchasing 184 acres of property about 10 miles from Downtown Dahlonega.
They named it Three Sisters Vineyards after being inspired by the incredible view of Three Sisters Mountain to the West.
It was the first family farm winery in Dahlonega, and also the oldest continuously operated vineyard and winery on the Dahlonega Plateau.
Best Wines
Popular red wines here include the Three Sisters Vineyards Cynthiana, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cab Franc-Merlot (a 53% Cabernet Franc and 47% Merlot blend).
Some of their best white wines are the Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Vidal Blanc, and Chestatee White. For a more unique taste, try the Hula Hala-Kahiki, a fruity pineapple-infused Chardonnay.
There are also a number of sparkling and dessert wines to sample, including the Georgia Cuveé Rosé and Dahlonega Gold (an “Ice-style” dessert wine).
Tours
Tours of Three Sisters Winery are not currently offered. However, if you’re looking to host an event or have a wedding on the property, tours are available by reservation 7 days a week.
Tastings
Walk-in tastings for groups of four or less are offered on the outside patio.
The tastings include a flight of four wines of your choice for $25.
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7. Accent Cellars
215 Auraria Road, Dahlonega GA • 706-867-0123
Accent Cellars is a family-owned business founded on the principle of bringing people together with friends and family to have a great experience.
Their goal is to celebrate the relationship between man and nature through hand-crafted wines made with fruit sourced from farms in Georgia and beyond.
Best Wines
Popular white wines here include their Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Blanc du Bois, 2018 Dry Riesling, and 2019 Sauvignon Blanc.
Red wine drinkers will enjoy the Grenache, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Underdog.
For something more unique, try Wanderlust, which is a Georgia apple “port” wine made with locally grown apples from Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge GA.
Tours
Tours of Accent Cellars are not currently available, but they host a variety of events throughout the year, including art classes and comedy nights. Check the official website for specific dates.
Tastings
Accent Cellars wine tastings are offered seven days a week. Reservations are only required on the weekends, or if your party exceeds five people.
Standard tastings range from $20 to $24.
They also have the Winemaker’s Reserve Tasting, which is an intimate experience hosted by owner/ winemaker Tyler Barnes.
You’ll get one-on-one access to Barnes and learn more about the intricacies of the winemaking process.
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8. Dahlonega Resort & Vineyard
400 Blueberry Hill, Dahlonega GA • 706-865-7678
Opened as a small bed and breakfast in the mid-90s, the Dahlonega Resort & Vineyard has grown into a full-scale getaway in the North Georgia Mountains.
The peaceful retreat is set in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, providing one of the area’s most scenic places to relax and “get away from it all.”
Along with lodging (an inn and rental cabins), they also have incredible dining options. Their chefs and winemakers work together to pair Georgia wines and dishes to give you a unique culinary experience.
Best Wines
The sister property of Kaya Vineyard & Winery produces all the wines you will find at this lovely resort.
Some of the best wines include the Twisted Pinot Noir, Twisted Reserve Merlot, Lot 950 Red Blend, Pinot Noir, Twisted Cabernet Franc, and Twisted Malbec.
Tours
Official tours of the grounds are not available, but you’re welcome to explore the area. There’s a small network of hiking trails you can follow through the woods and across meadows spotted with wildflowers.
Tastings
You can relax and experience an educational wine tasting in the outdoor Twisted Wine Garden.
There’s also a pavilion overlooking the garden where you can enjoy the wine, eat some snacks, and soak in the spectacular views. –by Christina Maggitas; lead image via Canva
