Appalachian Wine Country with Discover Adventures
July 25th - July 30th
All Inclusive
$2080/person

This is the first part of a two-part story I will tell you about this unique trip. Even if you decide this trip is not for you, read on and you will no doubt gain a better appreciation and understanding for the developing wine industries that straddle the Appalachians. More Here.

Never before has a hands-on, active-touring weekend been attempted during harvest season at a North Georgia winery. Want to be a winemaker for the day, but still have a 4-course wine dinner, vineyard lunch, and rustic-elegant accommodations?

September 10th guests will be hosted by the Glen Ella Springs historic inn, with hands-on days at Tiger Mountain and Persimmon Creek. The September 24th weekend guests will be hosted by The Lodge at Smithgall Woods, with hands-on days at Frogtown Vineyards and Habersham Winery. Press Release on both weekends here.

Contact 404-784-7696 for questions.

Wine List Downloads

The unwritten rule of wine reviews is that if the score falls below 85 then it doesn't get press. While telling the world about a sub-average wine is not routine practice, it does have merit. After all, experimentation is a fun part of purchasing, whether in retail or restaurant. So risking some controversy, I'm going to mention the unpleasant wines right alongside the "winners." There is no hidden agenda, nor do I have it out for these wines--they simply are not worthy of a repeat purchase, in my palate's view. What's the old moniker about having to kiss a few frogs? I welcome any comments or questions about any of these wines. List is here in Microsoft Word format.

Tips, Tricks & Trivia

• The On-going saga of ordering wine via the Web
  While the Internet provides a tantalizing market for winemakers, many states ban them from using it to sell their wares out of state. Who bans, who doesn't--here.
• The Story behind Kosher Wine
  Jewish or not, read up on the fascinating process of Kosher wine. More
• Very slowly, France is starting to understand
  Why are so many consumers baffled about our frog friend's wines? Maybe it's because North America (and the New World for that matter) buys it's wines by grape varietal, where France expects the consumer to deduct that information via their knowledge of place of origin. Right. At least some steps are being taken--I predict more.
• ...and Yes, Place of Origin is Important, so why hide it?
  As wine expresses itself so vividly in places on earth, we hearken to the label to see from where the grapes came...Hugh Johnson says it best, "Grapes are the only agricultural product whose price is solely tied to place of origin." But are too many "bulk producers" hiding it?