Dahlonega Wineries
Six estates on the Dahlonega Plateau, a day trip from Helen
The short answer
Why make the drive
Helen has a few good tasting rooms, but Dahlonega has the state's biggest cluster: the town's own tourism office calls it the highest concentration of wineries and vineyards in Georgia. The roughly 39-mile wine trail drive there takes about an hour and 15 minutes to run end to end. If you want a break from Bavarian streets, this is the easy day trip: wine in the morning, a walk around the historic square after.
The Dahlonega Plateau became a federally recognized wine region (AVA) in 2018. It covers parts of Lumpkin and White counties at an average elevation around 1,550 feet. For the Helen-side wineries, see the wine trail guide; for the town itself, our Dahlonega guide has the rest.
Six estates at a glance
All addresses are in Dahlonega, GA 30533. Hours come from each winery's own website and change with the season, so call ahead on a special trip.
| Winery | Address | Hours | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montaluce Winery & Restaurant | 501 Hightower Church Rd. (GPS address) | Mon to Thu 11 AM to 9 PM; Fri and Sat 11 AM to 10 PM; Sun 10 AM to 9 PM. Last seating an hour before closing. | 706-867-4060 |
| Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery | 180 Wolf Mountain Trail | Tasting room Thu to Sun 11 AM to 5 PM (Mar to Dec); Sat and Sun only in Jan and Feb | 706-867-9862 |
| Three Sisters Vineyards & Winery | 439 Vineyard Way | Not posted on the homepage; call before you go | 706-865-9463 |
| Kaya Vineyard & Winery | 5400 Town Creek Rd. | Not posted on the homepage; reservations through the winery's booking links | 706-219-3514 |
| Frogtown Cellars | 700 Ridge Point Dr. | Fri 12 to 5 PM; Sat 12 to 6 PM; Sun 12 to 5 PM; closed Mon to Thu | 706-865-0687 |
| Cavender Creek Vineyards | 3610 Cavender Creek Rd. | Sun to Thu 12:30 to 6:30 PM; Fri 12:30 to 7 PM; Sat 11 AM to 7 PM | 706-451-9084 |
What each is known for
Montaluce
A Tuscan-style estate with two restaurants: Le Vigne (upscale, farm-to-table) and Trattoria di Montaluce (house-made pastas, brick-oven pizza). Its site also lists wine hikes and fly fishing. Montaluce takes dining reservations on Tock.
Wolf Mountain
The winery says it has more than 200 awards and grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Tannat and Touriga Nacional at about 1,800 feet. The Vineyard Café serves Thursday through Saturday 12 to 3 PM, with a Sunday brunch; reservations required for dining and for groups of 8 or more. Wolf Mountain.
Three Sisters
Calls itself Dahlonega's first family farm winery, on about 180 acres, with a cherry-wood tasting bar, stone patio and a best-selling Fat Boy Red. It is a working farm, so expect equipment around. Three Sisters.
Kaya
Farm-to-table food, picnic baskets and Blue Ridge views are the pitch on the winery's site. Book through the links there.
Frogtown Cellars
A tasting room and bistro open Friday through Sunday, with lunch, pizzas and cheese and charcuterie plates. The winery says it is the most awarded on the East Coast. Its site also mentions a Helen location at 7601 South Main; check with the winery before you plan around it. Frogtown.
Cavender Creek
A farm-style winery owned by Claire Livingston, with a rustic event barn, weekend live music and rental stays including a log cabin dating to the 1820s. Cavender Creek.
Making it a day trip from Helen
From Helen, plan on about 43 minutes each way to downtown Dahlonega, and more to reach some of the estates. Start with the places that keep the shortest hours (Frogtown's tasting room is closed Monday through Thursday, Wolf Mountain's Thursday through Sunday) and save the daily-hours spots for flexible stops. Georgia's drinking age is 21, so pick a designated driver or book a tour; the Helen visitors bureau lists wine-tour transportation for the Helen end. The Dahlonega Gold Museum makes a good non-wine stop.
Related Imagery from Around Helen
