There are so many fantastic wineries, breweries, and distilleries in Georgia that you may not even be aware that there are 2 other alcoholic beverages gaining traction: meads (made from honey) and hard ciders (fruit based)!
Check out these places for a unique taste of the Georgia mountains!
Meads and Ciders in the North Georgia Mountains
Etowah Meadery (Dahlonega)
Located in Dahlonega, the very Heart of Georgia’s Wine Country and Wine Tasting Capital of Georgia, Etowah Meadery gives “wine” a unique buzz!
Visit the “On Tap Now” page to see the current mead list. Light snacks are available in the tasting room (Boar’s Head snacks, meat, and cheese). Purchase a bottle or try a tasting flight (4 x 1 oz pours).
DISCOUNTS
- Military (active & retired): 15% off with ID
- Dahlonega: 10% off with local ID
HOURS
- Saturday 11:00 am – 7 pm
- Sunday 12:30 pm – 7 pm
CONTACT and VISIT
- 3003 Morrison Moore Pkwy East, Dahlonega, GA
- (706) 864-6323
- Website: Etowah Meadery
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube, TripAdvisor, Yelp
Montaluce (Dahlonega)
A beautiful gem with a Tuscan feel in the Georgia Mountains is Montaluce Winery and Restaurant, a short drive north of the Dahlonega square. This is a GaMountainsGuide favorite for it’s classic elegance and ability to transport you to an old world feeling of Tuscany. The gourmet restaurant has panoramic vineyard views and is a great place to enjoy the sunset. On-site lodging is available in Tuscan-style villas. Tesla charging stations available for patrons.
Currently selling a raspberry mead at $36 / bottle… which they say is less honey-oriented. Call for more details, or purchase online (shipping only available to Georgia and Florida).
CONTACT & VISIT: Montaluce Vineyards
- MAIN: +1 (706) 867-4060
- ADDRESS: 501 Hightower Church Road, Dahlonega, GA
- GPS COORDINATES: (34.5683255,-84.0643647)
- EMAIL: info@montaluce.com
- WEBSITE: Montaluce.com
REVIEWS & SOCIAL MEDIA
- FACEBOOK: @Montaluce Rated 4.6 (625+ Facebook reviews), 12,700+ Likes
- Google+: +MontaluceWineryEstates
- INSTAGRAM: @Montaluce 2,300+ Followers
- TripAdvisor: Rated 4.0 (400+ TripAdvisor reviews)
- TWITTER: @MontaluceWinery 1,000+ Followers
- YELP: Rated 3.5 (170+ YELP reviews)
- YouTube Channel: Montaluce
BeeCraft Mead Company (Dawsonville)
Located in Dawsonville, this company is next to the big outlet mall / shops. Seven different types of mead for your enjoyment!
HOURS
- Friday 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
- Saturday 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
- Sunday 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
CONTACT and VISIT
- 30 Industrial Park Rd #114, Dawsonville, GA 30534
- 855-GET-MEAD
- Website: BeeCraft
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TripAdvisor
Mercier Orchards (Blue Ridge)
Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge is known for their U-pick events and hard ciders. The family business has been in Blue Ridge for 4 generations — they recently celebrated 75 years of operation! They have a downtown Blue Ridge store where you can find their products at 260 West Main Street, but for the full orchard experience you should visit the original farm location at 8660 Blue Ridge Drive.
This family-friendy destination is open early and invites you to dine at their cafe, pick your own fruit, try the adventure / obstacle course, enjoy catch-and-release fishing in their pond, and of course to sample their hard ciders and fruit wines!
HOURS (subject to change)
- Farm is open 7 days a week from 7:00am – 6:00pm
- Tasting flights are $10 each in the store:
- Monday – Saturday 11:00am – 6:00pm
- Sunday 12:30pm – 6:00pm
- Closed New Years Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas
CONTACT and VISIT
- 8660 Blue Ridge Drive, Blue Ridge, Georgia
- 800-361-7731
- Website: Mercier Orchards
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, TripAdvisor, Yelp
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Which of these unique Georgia mountain desitnations is first on your list to visit?
Etowah Meadery sounds nice! And they even have military discounts too, how very kind of them to serve for our unsung heroes. My aunt lives near, I definitely must go and try out that mead with fresh air about, can’t wait! Mead’s a very ancient drink but very popular and healthy too if I’m correct. Do you think we can have a look at their distillery too?
Hi Riaz, Indeed you are right — mead has a very long history and references to mead have even been found in ancient Egyptian artifacts.
These meaderies and cider houses may be able to give you a tour of the production area — it will likely depend on the season and how busy they are when you arrive. It’s best to call in advance to make sure you arrive at the best time for this opportunity.
Warm Regards, Alyce
Hey Alyce, awesome article. I love how you point out all the great activities that can be done and explored while you’re in the Georgia mountains. I’ve never been but your article now makes me want to plan a trip. The information was a great read and although I don’t care for bees, it would be interesting to see the various bees along with everything else the trip has to offer. Thanks for the info.
Hi R.J., I can understand why a person might not like bees (stings are not fun), but know that it’s unlikely that you would come in contact with the bees while at the meaderies. I hope you can make it for a visit — it’s beautiful throughout the year with very different things to do and see in each season.
Warm Regards, Alyce