Enjoy fall with a glass of wine at these Lake Chatuge vineyards

Enjoy fall with a glass of wine at these Lake Chatuge vineyards

Wine lovers don’t have to travel across the pond or the country to sample and enjoy world-class wine. Lake Chatuge in Northeast Georgia is home to exceptional vineyards that rival the best that Napa and Tuscany have to offer. From inside the tasting rooms or the cozy front porch, visitors can enjoy stunning views of mountains and rolling hills, bursting with the reds, yellows and oranges of the changing leaves, making these vineyards the best spots to absorb the beauty of fall. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite spots below.
 
Crane Creek Vineyards
Eric Seifarth opened this beautiful and sprawling Young Harris vineyard after spending a large part of his military career in Northern Italy. The Northern Italians’ casual approach to wine, how it’s made and how it’s best consumed inspired him and greatly influenced Crane Creek. The vineyard staff’s belief is that no matter your personal taste or palate, all wine should be shared with family and friends. Crane Creek offers a variety of blends, each as legitimate as the next, to cater to as many wine preferences as possible.
Crane Creek’s tasting room is open six days a week. On Tuesday to Saturday, wine lovers can stop in to sample a few blends, or try a full bottle, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Sundays, the tasting room is open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Vineyard tours are available on Saturdays at 2 p.m. for $30 per guest. On Friday nights through the rest of October and November, Crane Creek hosts Friday Apertivo, a free event that pairs wines with a few light snacks, headlined with different live local bands.
 For more on Crane Creek, including where to buy their wine after you return home, visit https://cranecreekvineyards.com/.
 
Hightower Creek Vineyards
Hightower Creek Vineyards, located in Hiawassee, is a family-owned vineyard that places the importance of friends, food and a sense of family above all else. This belief is shown not just in their wines, but throughout the property as well. Friends of founders Liz and Sanford Green helped transform the space, pitching in to renovate the tasting room, plant vines and create an ambient space to enjoy delicious wine. New owners Fred and Carol Myers vow to keep that tradition alive. The wine created at Hightower represents the hard work that built the vineyard, and celebrates family and friends coming together. With a variety of blends available, there is sure to be a wine for every preference.
Hightower’s tasting room is open six days a week. Stop by to sample delicious, local wine from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Saturday. The tasting room is open from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
For more on Hightower Creek Vineyards, visit http://hightowercreekvineyards.com/.
 
Hiawassee Brew
If there are beer lovers in the group, be sure to stop by Hiawassee Brew. This locally loved brewery in Hiawassee serves wine from both Crane Creek and Hightower Vineyards, and boasts seven varieties of in-house beer. Hiawassee Brew also has a rotation of other regional brews on tap.  Enjoy an ice-cold beer, sip on a glass of locally made wine and gorge on tasty Mexican cuisine while you unwind from a full day at Lake Chatuge. The brewery is open Wednesday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more on Hiawassee Brew, visit their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Hiawassee-Brew-327899031148477/.

Grab a group of girlfriends and drive to Lake Chatuge for an adventure full of wine, fun, beer and ever-changing fall foliage, all nestled in the mountains of Northeast Georgia. Spend an afternoon tasting your way through these spots or turn this tour into a wine-themed getaway. Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa’s () spacious rooms and striking mountainside views make it the ideal place to relax and recoup from a day exploring the vineyards near Lake Chatuge.