No need to hop a plane to Napa, France or Italy to savor award-winning wines – Dahlonega, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is home to a highly acclaimed wine country.
Dahlonega’s Wolf Mountain Vineyards and Winery took top honors in both the red and white varietals in the prestigious San Francisco International Wine Competition recently.
Founded in 1980, the San Francisco International Wine Competition is the oldest American wine competition and second only to the International Wine and Spirits Competition globally. This year, more than 20 judges gathered in San Francisco in November to evaluate and score more than 2900 wines from around the world.
Winning “Best in Show Sparkling,” and also “Best Blanc de Blancs” was Wolf Mountain Vineyards 2020 Méthode Champenoise Blanc de Blanc Brut, Dahlonega Plateau. Retailing at $36, the sparkling wine received 95 points and a Double Gold medal.
For the red wine competition, Wolf Mountain Vineyards 2016 Claret Estate Grown Red Blend, Dahlonega Plateau was selected as the “Best Premium Non-Bordeaux Blend >$25.” Retailing for $48, the wine scored 97 points and won a Double Gold medal.
The official San Francisco International Wine Competition tasting note described it as, “A noticeable mocha note of rich chocolate and dark espresso on the nose along with rich red and black fruit, and hints of prune. A full-bodied wine, that offers both balance and weight and which is capable of extended maturation.”
Visit Dahlonega’s Wine Country
From Italianate hillside mansions to Appalachian-style lodges, visitors to Dahlonega can tour distinctive wineries and several tasting rooms to learn first-hand from the vineyards what it takes to coax award-winning wines from ground to grape to glass. Each vineyard has its unique grapes, grown and cultivated to possess a distinct tasting profile.
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