mashed potatoes, while cutting the heartiness of the gravy and richness of stuffing and meal of a T-day meal. Made from coolclimate grapes from the Russian River Valley, this elegant wine blends bright flavors of pear and citrus with a lush, creamy finish of oak and spice. Serve chilled.
eventually sold her grapes to a winery in Mississippi, where her Pinot Blanc became the first Georgia wine to take a medal in a national competition. She ran the vineyard for 12 years. The vineyards are long gone and the land is now part of an environmental park.
Rosé (The Classic Pairing) – In French and other classical cuisines, a dry rosé is often a go-to choice with a meal of game bird or fowl. Try a California take on this rule – Halter Ranch 2013 Paso Robles Rosé ($17.99), a salmon-colored blend of the grapes Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Picpoul Blanc that brings a “Cali flair” to a French classic – flavors of red cherry and ripe raspberry over a dry, mineral finish. Serve chilled.
A bottle of her first vintage, 1981 Etowah Ridges, a dry white wine blend of Seyval Blanc, Vidal, Pinot Blanc, Semillon and Villard Blanc, is displayed at the Habersham Vineyards Tasting Room, near Helen.
Red (Be Versatile) – Beaujolais Nouveau, the perennial French favorite from the Beaujolais region of Burgundy, is the light-and-fruity red choice that comes out to great fanfare each November and is preferred by many as a Thanksgiving pairing. (Bacchus is taking pre-orders for Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau.) For a heartier yet still-versatile choice, try a Red Blend: Marietta Cellars Angeli Cuvee ($33.99) is a Sonoma County blend of Zinfandel, Petit Syrah and Carignane, creating a rich, full-bodied red that drinks as well as it presents. Or, for an excellent option…the Marietta Cellars Old Vine Red Lot 62 ($14.99), a non-vintage blend (predominantly Zinfandel) ranked by Robert Parker as one of the “World’s Greatest Wine Values”. Sparkling (Start the Holiday Joy Early) – Gruet Winery Blanc de Noirs ($19.99). French Champagne maker Gilbert Gruet established a family-owned winery in New Mexico, Gruet Winery, in 1984 as a New World experiment. The awardwinning Blanc de Noirs is US sparkling wine at its best—made in the Methode Champenoise style, the wine is aged for at least two years, creating a sophisticated, complex layering of notes of berries and fruit over a creamy texture and toasty vanilla notes. 90 PTS Wine Spectator / Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines. I stopped by recently and discovered a spectacular Chenin Blanc amidst a large selection of French wines. If you visit, plan to stay awhile! So, you’ve decided on a wine. How much will you need? Bottle of Wine: 750 ML of wine 2.4 pounds of grapes (39 ounces) 25.6 ounces of wine (4/5 quart) 5 glasses of wine (5 ounce pour) Case of Wine: 30 pounds of grapes (468 ounces) 307.2 ounces of wine 12 bottles of wine 60 glasses of wine (5 ounce pour)
Heard it on the Grapevine . . . Hue and Jane Rainey, who opened their Tasting Room at Sautee Nacoochee Vineyards in 2009, plan to retire at the end of the year. The Tasting Room will be open through December 30th and all of their vintages have been re-released and are for sale…. Claire Livingston purchased Cavender Creek Vineyards near Dahlonega and recently completed her first harvest. Founders Donna and Raymond Castleberry are enjoying their “second retirement”…. Georgia Wine Producers, the newly formed organization representing vineyards and wineries throughout Georgia, held its inaugural Georgia Trustees Wine Challenge in October and will announce top awards at a gala dinner in November. Stay tuned! By Carla Fackler Carla and Carl Fackler planted their first vines in 2005 and made their first wines in 2011. They produce wines on two labels: Stonewall Creek Vineyards (vitis vinifera grown in their vineyards--Petit Manseng, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Tannat), and Standing Deer Cellar (Norton and Petit Manseng grapes from The Stack Farm nearby). With a B.A. and M.S. in journalism, Carla has worked in public relations, magazine publishing and editing (non-profit newsletters and publications). Stonewall Creek Vineyards, 323 Standing Deer Lane, Tiger, Georgia 30576. 706.212.0584 / www. stonewallcreek. com
North Georgia Women & Wine Began with Gay Dellinger The first person to plant vinifera and French-American hybrids in Georgia was a woman – Gay Dellinger. She planted her first three acres near Cartersville in 1979 and named her venture Split Rail Vineyard. She added five more acres and
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