Mountain Wine Country, Ellijay

From whitewater rafting to fishing lakes and streams, there are ample activities that bring visitors to the Appalachian Mountains. But perhaps less expected are the more than one dozen wineries of North Georgia and far Western North Carolina. Together, these vineyards and tasting rooms make up what's locally known as Mountain Wine Country.

The rocky slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains, starting at the far west with Cartecay Vineyards, continues the wine trail along the Appalachian corridor with several stops like Odom Springs Vineyards, Paradise Hills Winery Resort, and Crane Creek Vineyards. Far to the west lies Hightower Creek Vineyards, from which one may travel north into North Carolina to visit many more.

And those are only some of the area's wine-making destinations—the best way to tour the region is during the annual Annual Bud Break Wine Weekend, when a passport takes you around to various wineries for samples and stains you can take home on your lips.