Cafe Drake in ATL - Part II (Wine Tasting)

" What a drag it is getting old!"

Three Sisters Vineyards

Please, Sir, May I have Another?

With visions of Deliverance haunting the back of our minds, Cafe Drake set out with our Mother towards the northern, hilly stretches of Georgia, a trip we've made before and enjoyed, as the region around the tiny tourist hamlet of Dahlonega is staffed with burgeoning wineries. This time around we stopped for our first tasting at Wolf Mountain Vineyards (180 Wolf Mountain Trail, Dahlonega, GA 30533), a sprawling multi-acre complex perched high atop its eponymous peak, all rustic, rough wood and lupine imagery, more Pacific Northwest in feel than Southern. The Tasting Room (offering amazing views from three walls of picture windows) was jam-packed with daytrippers, boisterous and buzzed. We sampled 8 or 9 bottles and thought the dry Sunset Rose was among the best; overall, nothing danced across our taste buds, but rather strolled in the manner of so many young wines.

Next up was Three Sisters Winery (www.ThreeSistersVineyards.com), just a 5 minute drive down a few rural side roads. Far less grand than Wolf Mountain, these grapes were far better fermented however, and our special "Vintner's Tasting" was overseen by proprietors and winemakers, Sharon and Doug Paul. Again, the rose was quite nice and perfect for the muggy, endless summers of Georgia; tasting notes recommend it with fried chicken! We left with a bottle of the pricey (and best on offer) 2004 Cab Franc, to be put aside for the holidays or another special occasion.