Wine Trail Near Helen
Habersham, Creekstone, Yonah Mountain Vineyards and two more stops south of town
The short answer
The stops
Drive times are approximate and come from routing between the addresses. Hours and prices are from each business's own website.
| Stop | Where | Drive | Hours | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habersham Winery | 7025 S. Main St., Helen | About 3 min from downtown Helen | Mon to Thu 11 AM to 7 PM; Fri and Sat to 8 PM; Sun 12:30 to 7 PM | $18 plus tax, five wines |
| Creekstone Winery | 295 Hardman Farm Rd., Sautee Nacoochee | About 3 min from Habersham | Mon to Thu 1 to 7 PM; Fri and Sat 11 AM to 9 PM; Sun 12:30 to 7 PM | $20 plus tax, five wines |
| Yonah Mountain Vineyards | 1717 Hwy 255 S., Cleveland | About 17 min from Habersham | Mon to Wed 12 to 6 PM; Thu and Fri to 7:30 PM; Sat 11 AM to 7:30 PM; Sun 12:30 to 7:30 PM | Flight $35 (two for $60) |
| CeNita Vineyards | 591 Dock Dorsey Rd., Cleveland | About 8 min from Yonah | Mon to Thu 11 AM to 7 PM; Fri and Sat 11 AM to 9 PM; Sun 12:30 to 7 PM | Ask when you call |
| NoFo Brew Co. Cleveland | 1939 Helen Hwy., Cleveland | About 8 min from Habersham | Tue 12 to 7 PM; Wed to Sat 12 to 10 PM; Sun 12 to 7 PM; closed Mon | Beer by the pour |
Four ways to spend the day
Half-day sampler
Habersham first, since the tasting room is walk-in friendly, then drive to Yonah Mountain Vineyards. That's two stops in three to four hours with time to wander the grounds at Yonah.
Full-day explorer
Habersham, then lunch in Nacoochee Village, then Creekstone, and finish at Yonah. Creekstone's kitchen serves hot food Thursday through Sunday, and Yonah has weekend food trucks.
Wine and a walk
Spend the morning at Anna Ruby Falls or on the Mount Yonah trail, then taste in the afternoon. Anna Ruby Falls charges its own admission, so check the falls guide first.
Beer and wine day
Add NoFo Brew Co.'s Cleveland taproom, open Tuesday through Sunday, for anyone who'd rather drink beer. It's about 8 minutes from Habersham and sits at the former Tantrum Brewing address.
Getting around
Georgia's drinking age is 21, so settle on a designated driver before you start. The visitors bureau lists Elite Excursions & Wine Tours and VIP Southern Tours / Georgia Wine Bus if you want someone else behind the wheel.
What you'll be drinking
Georgia's mountain wineries pour a mix. Habersham makes vinifera, French-American hybrid and muscadine wines, and muscadine is the native Southern grape you won't see in most other wine regions. Yonah Mountain Vineyards plants Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Petit Manseng, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, and CeNita lists a Chambourcin, a Chardonnay and a Merlot.
A note on the label: the Upper Hiwassee Highlands AVA, established in 2014, covers Fannin, Towns and Union counties in Georgia plus two North Carolina counties, so it doesn't include Helen. The Dahlonega Plateau AVA (2018) spans parts of Lumpkin and White counties. See the Dahlonega wineries guide and Georgia wine regions guide for more.
When to go
Fall is the busy season, and Helen's October weekends are crowded, so weekdays are easier at the tasting rooms. Habersham has live music on weekends through October 31; Creekstone's evening music runs Fridays and Saturdays. Hours and events change, so confirm on each winery's site before you drive. Looking for more to do around the trip? Start with our weekend itinerary.
Related Imagery from Around Helen
