The Region Is Ripe for Winemaking
Published Jan 13, 2010
The Southeast Industrial Development region is rapidly building a reputation as a cluster of wine-making enterprise.
Soil and climate conditions make it fertile territory for growing numerous varieties of grapes that are being turned into award-winning wines.
Crane Creek Vineyards in Towns County, Ga.; Morris Vineyard and Tennessee Mountainview Winery in Charleston, Tenn., and the Ocoee Winery in Cleveland, Tenn., are just a few of the winemakers in the area.
Family-owned Morris Vineyard has been in operation since 1965, and added a winery in 1986. It produces nearly 30 varieties of muscadine fruit, along with grapes and blueberries on a 50-acre farm. A visitors center on site includes a gift shop and tasting room for samples of its eight different varieties of wines.
“We’re at the perfect latitude to grow a wide variety of grapes,” says Megan Hearn, tasting room coordinator for Crane Creek Vineyards in Towns County, N.C. “The mountains and climate make it a perfect area.”
Founded in 1995 by Eric Seifarth, who also is the winemaker, the Crane Creek operation produces about 4,000 cases – 50,000 bottles – of wine each year.
At the 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition – the largest competition of American wines in the world – Crane Creek’s 2007 Seyval Blanc earned a silver medal. Its 2006 Hellbender Red, made from Norton grapes, earned a bronze medal.
A tasting room is located in an old farmhouse, built in 1886 and owned by several generations of the Bryson family. “The owners actually lived in it for the first five or six years after they planted the vineyard, while the vines got going,” Hearn says.
In addition to the vineyard and winery, Crane Creek offers bed-and-breakfast lodging, a culinary garden, wedding and special events facilities rental, and catering.
Story by Carol Cowan
Current Weather Conditions In Chattanooga, TN (37405)
Cloudy, and 53 ° F. For more details?
Click here...
