Find down-home fun on the farm at North Georgia orchards, savor a sip at a winery
There’s no place like North Georgia’s Blue Ridge when it comes to unearthing farm-rooted fun. From the nearly 70-year-old Mercier Orchards, famous for fried pies, family fun and u-pick produce, to nearby Mountain View
Orchards in McCaysville – an old-fashioned apple orchard with a Cider House Café, fresh opportunities for making memories are abundant. Here, consider yourself lucky if owner Joe Dickey joins you for a meat and three at the Café and shares with you stories about his past work in the area’s copper mine.
New to Mercier Orchards, the popular u-pick produce destination now features a tasting room offering hard ciders and wines. Sit for a spell on the deck and sample one of the three locally-produced wines or six hard ciders, while enjoying live entertainment on the weekend. The all natural fruit wines and ciders range from dry to sweet apple, blackberry and peach. Stay for lunch – or, come early for a breakfast fit for a king, complete with local sausage, grits, apple fritters and more. 8660 Blue Ridge Drive; www.Mercier-Orchards.com, Facebook.
“Since we are a winery, all our ciders are above 6% alcohol by volume whereas most hard ciders you find in stores are 5% alcohol by volume. We also carry approximately 36 wines from nine other Georgia wineries, all but one of the wineries are from Northern Georgia,” said Eric Hiltz, Mercier Orchards, farm winery manager.
In town, save room for farm-to-table eats from Harvest on Main, where chefs use seasonal products whenever possible, supporting the local economy, farmer and artisan. Producers include the restaurant’s own The Cook’s Farm, as well as Logan Turnpike Mill, Mercier Orchards, and Brasstown Beef, as well as Linda Clement and Walt Taylor of PawPaw’s Produce.
Raise a glass
Spend a relaxing afternoon savoring a glass of vino at Serenberry Vineyard in Morganton, where you can experience the simple and serene pleasures of the North Georgia Mountains. Opened in 2012 by husband-wife team Mark and Janice Jernigan, wines are produced using grapes that were born and raised in Georgia, a process that’s not only good for the environment but also supports local farmers. The owners claim that Serenberry is the special ingredient and you’ll find a bit in each bottle. Want to know more? You’ll have to ask Mark yourself! www.SerenberryVineyards.com
Once you’ve had your fill at a Blue Ridge eatery, sample a Georgia Wine Tasting at The Vine Wine Bar and Bistro (632 E Main St) where they also serve local wines and craft beers alongside simple, delicious and fresh food best enjoyed to the tunes of the bar’s live entertainment on the weekends.
Another can’t-miss watering hole? Fannin Brewing Company’s (187 Depot Street) motto sums up just about all you need to know: Fresh Air, Fresh Water, Fresh Beer. Started in association with the Blue Ridge Brewery, here you’ll find some of the same sought-after sips like Hiawassee Golden Ale and Toccoa Brown Ale. Fannin Brewing Company’s owner, Tom Fennell, spent a good bit of time in Germany where many of his trips involved a visit to a biergarten or two, sampling a host of German beer styles. He was bitten by the craft beer bug in 2012, when he partnered with Pat Walker at the Blue Ridge Brewery. By December, the first beer was on tap at the Brewery where the brews, crafted with fresh Blue Ridge water, have been top sellers ever since. The brewery is open every Friday and Saturday for tastings. www.FanninBrewingCompany.com; Facebook.
North Georgia Farm Trail
Eat, drink, and linger awhile at the table as you travel the North Georgia Farm Trail. Featuring u-pick, u-eat options, farm-to-table offerings, agri-adventures — from snuggling up close to a friendly alpaca to saddling a spirited quarter horse for a ride through mountain valleys – the North Georgia Farm Trail provides a menu of experiences for an epicurean journey. www.GaFarmTrail.com
Fannin County Chamber of Commerce, www.BlueRidgeMountains.com, 1-800-899-MTNS.