It’s true, fantastic wineries are not hard to find near Atlanta. Sure you could go to the local Publix and buy a bottle that was grown and bottled far away and then shipped to Georgia. Or you could fly thousands of miles away (and spend tens of thousand of dollars) to the more well-known wine regions. Or you could spend a day (or more) enjoying wine that is local to the area and save money and time without giving up the winery experience.

Château Élan
100 Rue Charlemagne Drive
Braselton, GA 30517
(678) 425-0900
www.chateauelan.com

Château Élan is one of the premier spa and wine destinations in the Southeast. And it is only about 40 minutes from Atlanta, making it very accessible. With championship golf, an award-winning spa and top-notch dining and accommodations, you may forget a winery is there too. But it is! Spread over 3,500 acres, Château Élan produces many varieties of red and white wines which are showcased and ready for tasting throughout the resort. Come for the wine and stay for everything else!

Frogtown Cellars
700 Ridge Point Drive
Dahlonega, GA 30533
(706) 865-0687
www.frogtown.us

Head due north to Dahlonega to experience the good life from a comfortable chair on a laid back porch. Overlooking a three acre lake and the North Georgia Mountains, Frogtown Cellars offers wonderful surroundings in which to enjoy their unique wines. Frogtown produces award-winning wines on their 57-acre property and has tasting rooms in Dahlonega, Helen and Hahira, Georgia too.

Three Sisters Vineyards & Winery
439 Vineyard Way
Dahlonega, GA 30533
(706) 865-9463
www.threesistersvineyards.com

Dahlonega is also the site for the Three Sisters Vineyards & Winery, which is located on 180 acres of prime farm land. Three Sisters was named after Three Sisters Mountain in historic Lumpkin County. It was established in 1996 and was the county’s first vineyard since the end of prohibition. It holds the claim of Dahlonega’s first family farm winery. Three Sisters Vineyards offers a tasting room and many opportunities for festivals and musical entertainment, especially in the summer.

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Cavender Creek Vineyards And Winery
3610 Cavender Creek Road
Dahlonega, GA 30533
(770) 823-9255
home.windstream.net

Cavender Creek Vineyards got its start in 2007 and has grown substantially since then. The owners of Cavender Creek pride themselves on producing small batch, hand-crafted wines that reflect their personal attention. There is a tasting room with limited hours and one hand-hewn log cabin which can serve as rustic accommodations for anyone wanting to experience more than just a day trip to this family farm in northern Georgia.

The Cottage Vineyards & Winery
5050 US-129
Cleveland, GA 30528
(706) 865-0053
www.cottagevineyardwinery.com

The Cottage Vineyards & Winery is a small winery set on 29 acres in Cleveland, Georgia. With beautiful mountain views of the North Georgia mountains, it is an ideal destination for sight seeing, or perhaps a mountain wedding. The Cottage Vineyard makes several varieties of vinefera based wines and has a tasting room (with limited hours) to help you taste.the passion this family-run business puts into their finished products.

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Maria Smith is an on-the-go mom to 4 children ages 8 and under. In between carpool lines, she’s a freelance writer covering travel, health, and family fun. She was a producer for Oprah in her pre-mom days, but now produces people instead of TV shows. Read more on Examiner.com