muscadine wines with locally grown fruit, including cherry, blackberry, blueberry, satsuma and black currant. On a chilly afternoon, couples gathered inside the winery as Kathy McMahon – “not a sommelier, just a neighbor” – poured from bottles bearing labels created by area artists. With every sip, visitors get brief history and science lessons. The wines’ names recall local lore, and tasters learn of the delicate science to cultivating a Muscadine wine to resemble, for instance, a Riesling or a White Zinfandel, or creating dry wines from the naturally sweet grape. Eddins, a civil and environmental engineer by trade, has mastered the science. He also creates award-winning vinegars with high antioxidant content. His vision, one shared by the folks who laid out the Alabama Wine Trail, is to celebrate and spread the wine created in Alabama. “I’m trying to educate my friends and neighbors,” he says. “You cultivate our people, our land, and you go for excellence.” Becky Berta says all the wineries support each other and share the cost of the souvenir glasses and rack cards. “It would be great if our beautiful state would get involved in promoting us by way of road signage and such,” she says. “Other states do this for their wineries and that would be a great start. The wine trail could really catch on then. We, too, are Alabama the beautiful!” A
Foggy mist enshrouds the Berta vineyards in Albertville.
Choose your own wine adventure Follow any or all of these excursions on the Alabama Wine Trail to discover all Alabama wineries and vineyards have to offer. Check out the websites to learn more. Shelby Trail Excursion Hidden Meadow Vineyard (Jemison) 664 County Road 606, Jemison (205) 688—4648 www.hiddenmeadowvineyard.com
Mountain Trail Excursion Jules J. Berta Vineyards 1409 Darden Ave., Albertville (256) 891-5115 www.julesjbertavineyards.com
Morgan Creek Vineyards 181 Morgan Creek Lane, Harpersvile (205)672-2053 www.morgancreekwinery.com
Wills Creek Vineyards 10522 Duck Springs Road, Attalla (256) 538-5452 www.willscreekvineyards.com
Ozan Vineyards & Cellars 173 Highway 301, Calera (205) 668-6926 www.ozanwine.com
Maraella Vineyard & Winery 5296 Old Us Hwy 278 E., Hokes Bluff (256) 494-1000 www.maraella.com
Vizzini Farms Winery 800 Highway 87, Calera (205) 685-0655 www.vizzinifarmswinery.com
Fruithurst Winery Co. County Road 49, Fruithurst (256) 463-1003 www.thefruithurstwineryco.com
Bryant Vineyards 1454 Griffitt Bend Road, Talladega (256) 493-1260 Find “Bryant Vineyard” on Facebook.com email: tonyab62@yahoo.com
White Oak Vineyards 1484 Dry Hollow Road Choccolocco Valley, Anniston (256) 231-7998 http://southernoakwines.com
South Alabama Trail Excursion Hodges Vineyards 230 Lee Road 71 (intersection of 72) Camp Hill (256) 896-4036 www.hodgesvineyards.com Whippoorwill Vineyards 4282 County Road 31, Notasulga (334) 401-9263 www.whippoorwillvineyards.com
Two of the Berta grandchildren enjoy grapes as a snack. 14 JUNE 2013
Perdido Vineyards 22100 County Road 47, Perdido (251) 937-9463 www.perdidovineyards.net
After Alabama Wine Trail voyagers visit eight wineries on the trail, they receive this wine glass bearing the names of all the sites. www.alabamaliving.coop