Pickens County

October 31, 2014

This whole trip got started when I saw that the new winery near Ellijay had opened and the realization hit that six weeks had passed without a howdy do to anyone.  Overtime at work is a major impediment to my hobbies. 

Chateau Meichtry Family Vineyard and Winery

862 Orchard Lane
Talking Rock, GA 30175
706-502-1608
http://chateaumeichtry.com/

Misty rain was falling as we made the approach to Meichtry, by tonight there's definitely going to be snow.  Be careful, there is a small deep pothole on Orchard Lane.  Hopefully they'll have that fixed shortly.  The family portion of the name is no joke!  There were three generations in the tasting room when we arrived.  I'm happy to report, in the interest of my kids, that they had bottomless bowls of oyster crackers. 

There is space outside for adults and children to hang out.  When the rain started falling my little ones took their pens and paper to the little covered area outdoors.  Meichtry is a good example of how the wine industry is evolving.  On the menu is a wine that they made in conjunction with Monte Luce, Vidal Blanc, and their sweet wines are made by Currahee.  Within certain circles of the wine industry there is a spirit of cooperation that is admirable and will serve everyone well in the future. 

Tastings are $6 for 6 which will get you through the ones produced at Meichtry.  Meichtry is currently focusing their work on the European style of wines, but they do not give the air of being fussy.  They're planning on staying open seven days a weeks until December, which is a nice change from the usual winery schedule.

Once again showing their willingness to be a part of the industry with their neighbors, these signs are at the end of Meichtry's driveway.

 

Sharp Mountain Vineyards

110 Rathgeb Trail
Jasper, GA 30143
770-735-1210
http://www.sharpmountainvineyards.com/home.html

Salem Church Road is a road full of hops, dips, and curves that makes you want a little sportster.  Watch your self because their are locals tearing down this road at speeds that defy the laws of physics as they should apply to minivans!

This building is the tasting room, not their house as I initially thought.  There is a outdoor space to the left that is used for special occasions and I imagine tastings in better weather. 

When I was given the menu it was clean, but my traveling partners were getting restless.  The tasting room didn't have much in the way of windows and since the parking lot came up so close to the building I had to keep a close watch on the little ones which involved helping wear out the hinges on the door.  This is definitely an adult oriented tasting room, which is perfectly fine, just don't expect to spend an afternoon here with your six year old.

The samples are essentially $1 a piece, though they are grouped as 5 for the first ones.  They have the only Gewürztraminer so far.   The last three on the list are the sweet wines and very smartly they have the whites printed in green and the reds printed in burgundy.

We heard what sounded like a large dog barking behind us from this view.  In this area Yogi isn't looking for a pic-a-nic basket, he's looking for grapes.  As a result most of the vineyards keep big dogs to explain to Yogi that he is not welcome and that goes for Boo Boo too.