A winery treat in North Georgia:

Among the U.S. wineries, I try to keep tabs on is one in the North Georgia mountain region near Dahlonega: Blackstock Vineyards Winery. The owner and winemaker there, David Harris, is a true craftsman with a nice selection of wines and I try to visit there whenever I'm in the area (which isn't often enough). It's also one of my son's favorite wineries. A recent email from BSVW announced food and entertainment every weekend throughout the summer. If you're in the area, I do recommend you go. Here are three of my favorites from David's fine product list:

A.C.E.:
Named with the initials of his three children, David has created a nice, full-bodied, black fruit-driven red reserve that has plenty of depth, structure and balance. A great food-pairing wine especially if you enjoy some traditional Georgian bar-b-que!.

Touriga Dulce:
BSVW grows more of this traditional Portuguese varietal than anyone in Georgia (or probably on the eastern seaboard). It grows well in north Georgia. Mr. Harris does a great job in creating a great wine for sipping or pairing with fine cheese and desserts. It's not as sweet as a port (also made with Touriga varietals) but I suspect would, like a port, also be a great cigar wine.

Sangiovese Rose':
As a long-time lover of Italian varietals, I wasn't overly impressed with Blackstock's regular Sangiovese (I just can't reconcile the clay in the background with my love of Sangiovese's cherriness). I am absolutely, however, a BIG fan of their Sangiovese Rose. That's unusual, because I don't normally enjoy a Sangiovese as a rose. Whether it's the clay or David's addition of a little Touriga to the blend (perhaps a combination of both), it's simply a must try even if you're not a big rose fan. It's a great summertime wine (especially for us desert rats in Arizona) hitting the right balance of lightness in delivery without unecessarily sacrificing the great flavors of varietals involved.

North Georgia is the home of America's first gold rush, has river tubing, an alpine village, the start of the Appalachian Trail, the largest waterfall in the eastern U.S. and several wineries. These are just a few of the reasons to consider a fun getaway there. If you go, be sure to travel down Town Creek Road in Lumpkin County and pay a visit to Blackstock Vineyard Winery. You'll be glad you did. For a preview, visit their website: www.bsvw.com.