Georgia On My Mind

"Georgia on My Mind" is a song by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell made famous by Ray Charles, a native of Georgia who recorded it for his 1960 album The Genius Hits the Road. It became the official state song of Georgia in 1979.

On June 18th, I was invited to the James Beard House for a Georgia Grown Dinner. where they highlighted the excellence of Georgia made wines, paired with each course. There were six Georgia chefs who each cooked one course. Agriculture is the state's leading economic sector. I was introduced to Gary W. Black, Commissioner of Agriculture for the state and Elizabeth S. Slack CSW,(Certified Specialist Wine) FWS (French Wine Scholar) who spoke about the wines. I was impressed with the quality of all the wines served. https://www.jamesbeard.org/

"The stereotypical Georgia wine was the sweet muscadine juice. Georgia is still the world's leading grower of muscadines, with more than 1,100 acres planted." This is changing as the dinner meant to prove. "It is in North Georgia, where a budding wine industry is emerging. Acres of European vinifera and French-American hybrids are thriving in the sandy clay soil of the sloping Appalachian terrain. The new wave of viticulturists and winemakers, with their rolling hills, mountain vistas, French chateau-style wineries and tasting rooms, are luring tourists by the busloads to a region that is gaining a national reputation for fine wines." The soil composition is similar to that of Italy's Piedmont region. Georgia may be the Peach State, but grapes have become their passion.

http://www.georgiawine.com

 

Elizabeth S. Slack sent me the following (at my request). Here are my five favorite Georgia wines.  This list includes wines that were made from Georgia-grown grapes. 

1. 2014 Wolf Mountain Reserve Cuvee Blanc de Blancs $24.95 - Only Methode Champenoise sparkling wine in Georgia.  Notes of baked bread, citrus and mineral.  Crisp, clean.  Good acidity. Further notes of stone fruit.
2. 2010 Cartecay Vineyards Merlot $23.00 - Notes of black raspberry, earth and spicy oak. Medium weight.  Ripe, smooth tannin. Note that the 2010 is not the current release. The 2011 and 2012 are both available now at the same price, but I would recommend the 2012. 
3. 2014 Frogtown Cellars Marsanne $30.99 - 100% Marsanne. Fuller body. Intense minerality, light oak, citrus, floral.
4. 2014 Crane Creek Vineyards ZUSA (Zusammengeschmolzen) $18.95 - a blend of Gruner Veltliner, Riesling, Traminette. Notes of peach and white flowers; melon. Citrus, mineral and kiwi on palate.  Part of the Upper Hiwassee Highlands AVA.
5. 2014 Serenity Cellars Harmony $30.00 - Blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium bodied.  Notes of cherry and spice; refined tannin.

 The Wolf Mountain Reserve Cuvee and the Frogtown Marsanne were both served at the James Beard dinner.