DawsonTimes.com

Three Sisters Vineyards & Winery’s signature event, the eighth annual Georgia Wine Country Festival, will be presented Saturday and Sunday, June 6-7, at the vineyards and winery location in Lumpkin County near Dahlonega. The weekend will be filled with fine wine, art, music and other fun-filled activities.

Celebrating eight years in 2009, this is Dahlonega-Lumpkin County's original wine celebration, and attendees will sample Georgia wines from around the state of Georgia.  Wines featured this year include those from Boutier Winery, Danielsville; Georgia Wines, Ringgold; Crimson n’ Scarlett Winery, Dawsonville; Rock Creek Winery, Nashville; Three Sisters Vineyards, Chestatee, Walasiyi Wine Company,Fat Boy Wines from Dahlonega and more.

Celebrants will enjoy unique musical entertainment from the “crush pad” by regional musicians presenting bluegrass, folk, Americana, and rock ‘n roll.

Gold City Corral of Dahlonega will present vineyard wagon rides, Upper River Adventures of Blue Ridge will be raffling a $250 Guided Fly Fishing Trip, and silent and live charity auctions for SEBA, The SouthEastern Bluegrass Association, will be conducted. 

Additionally, PAWS (The Pet Adoption and Welfare Society) will be raising awareness and donations during the event, and the Lumpkin County Historical Society will be selling items to raise funds to support the Mount Hope Cemetery Restoration Project. 

Three Sisters’ 184-acre vineyard grounds will feature tents of folk art, handmade items, travel and culinary, resorts and accommodations, real estate, local honey, promotional and farm exhibits, and many others involved in the active lifestyle of Georgia Wine Country. Special folk artist John “Cornbread” Anderson will offer original works of art for sale.

Food and beverages can be purchased inside from local chefs, including Chef Dairen Roberts and Chef Kelly Finucan. Chocolatiers Debbie and Tony Owens of The Fudge Factory of Dahlonega will have hand dipped strawberries and cherries available in the tasting room, while Ooh La La Cheesecakes & More of Gainesville will offer desserts.

The music lineup is impressive and larger than previous years, with performances by The Appalachian St. Andrew's Society Pipe Band, The Buzzard Mountain Boys, Cindy Musslewhite & Friends, Queen Deaton and The Hot Dates, Tim Quigley, Route 66 and The Georgia Waybacks. 

Festival hours are 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday and 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday. Daily admission: $20 for ages 21 and older (includes souvenir wine glass), and $10 for designated drivers and guests under 21. Kids under 12 are will be admitted free. The festival will be presented "rain or shine" under vineyard tents.

Visit www.ThreeSistersVineyards.com for more information, directions to the site and registration. Current returning sponsors are The Fudge Factory of Dahlonega, Long Mountain Lodge of Dahlonega, Upper River Adventures of Blue Ridge, and The Georgia Wine Council.  Additional sponsors will be accepted. Those interested in sponsoring the Festival are asked to contact Sharon and Doug Paul at 706-865-9463.

Promotion and advertising are being handled by Catspaw-Alpharetta Studios (www.CatspawProductions.com) and Jimmy Booth PR (www.jimmybooth.com) of Dahlonega.
 

Site Classifieds: entertainment, festivals, wine