Blue Ridge, GA Wineries, Breweries & Cider Houses: A Tasting Trail Guide (2026)
The North Georgia mountains have quietly become one of the South's most rewarding sip-and-stay destinations. Within a short drive of downtown Blue Ridge you'll find family-run wineries pouring estate wines, craft breweries a few steps off Main Street, and one of the few orchards in Georgia that grows, presses and ferments its own hard cider.
This guide covers the Blue Ridge, GA wineries, breweries and cider houses worth your afternoon, in Fannin County and just south in Gilmer County around Ellijay. You'll find a comparison table, a one-day tasting trail, our tips for getting around safely, and a comfortable cabin waiting at the end of it. We checked that every stop below was operating in 2025–2026, but tasting hours change by season, so confirm before you go.
At a glance | |
|---|---|
Where | Downtown Blue Ridge, the Blue Ridge and Morganton countryside, Ellijay wine country and Copperhill, TN |
Drive from downtown Blue Ridge | Downtown taprooms are walkable; most Fannin County wineries are within about 15 minutes; Ellijay wineries take longer |
Best time | Late spring through fall; October weekends are busiest |
Typical days | Most tasting rooms open around noon; many close by 6 p.m. |
Good for | Couples, friend groups, girls' trips and celebrations |
Must know | Plan a designated driver or book a car service; mountain roads and tastings don't mix |
Blue Ridge wineries, breweries and cideries compared
Stop | Type | Area | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
Mercier Orchards | Hard cider and farm wine | North of Blue Ridge | Cider flights plus fried pies |
Bear Claw Vineyards | Winery | Blue Ridge | Dog- and kid-friendly vineyard afternoons, live music |
Kerith House | Winery | Morganton | Mountain views, cafe, picnics by the creek |
Cartecay Vineyards | Winery | Ellijay | Estate wines, tasting barn, weekend music |
Chateau Meichtry | Winery | Talking Rock (Ellijay area) | Saturday winery tours |
Roo Mountain Vineyards | Winery | Ellijay | Rooftop bar and bistro (21+ only) |
Grapes and Ladders | Winery | Ellijay | A small, relaxed tasting room |
Angry Hops Brewing | Brewery | Downtown Blue Ridge | IPAs, stouts and sours; bring your own food |
Tipping Point Brewing | Brewery | Downtown Blue Ridge | Second-floor deck over downtown |
Grumpy Old Men Brewing | Brewery | East Main, Blue Ridge | Big flights and weekly events |
Copperhill Brewery | Brewery | Copperhill, TN | IPAs and trivia near the river |
Buck Bald Brewing | Brewery | Copperhill, TN | Patio pints in a former service station |
Blue Ridge wine country
Fannin County and its neighbors sit at elevations that suit both European vinifera and hardy French-American hybrids, and the local wineries lean into the setting with rocking-chair porches, vineyard rows and mountain ridgelines behind them. Most tasting rooms are open by noon, many host live music on weekends, and several welcome picnics.
Bear Claw Vineyards
The closest winery to downtown Blue Ridge is a laid-back farm winery in the foothills, with walking paths through the vines, a creek, a fire pit and lawn games. It's one of the friendliest spots for mixed groups: dogs and kids are welcome, and there's free live music on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays year-round, often with a food truck.
Practical details: 2281 Tennis Court Road, Blue Ridge. Open around noon most days, with later hours Friday and Saturday; closed Tuesdays. A VIP tasting experience is offered; check the winery's site for details.
Local tip: Friday evening is the sweet spot. You get the music without the Saturday crowds, and it's an easy drive back to a cabin near town.
Kerith House
A boutique farm winery in Morganton, a few minutes east of Blue Ridge, set on roughly 120 acres of vineyard, woodland, pasture and ponds with mountain views from the vines. Kerith House makes small-batch dry reds, whites and sweeter wines, runs the Vintner's Cafe Thursday through Sunday, and welcomes picnics by the creek.
Practical details: 611 Maple Grove Road, Morganton. The tasting room is open daily from about noon, staying open later Friday and Saturday. Fall brings extras such as a harvest market and weekend live music.
Ellijay wine country (Gilmer County)
Head south on Highway 515 toward Ellijay and the wineries come thick and fast. It's a longer drive from downtown Blue Ridge, but if you're staying in Cherry Log you're already partway there.
Cartecay Vineyards pours estate wines grown, fermented and bottled on site, with a tasting barn, a chimney patio, hammocks and weekend afternoon live music. 5704 Clear Creek Road, Ellijay. Open daily, with shorter Sunday hours.
Chateau Meichtry is family-owned, with weekend live music and food trucks plus a ticketed winery tour on Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. (private tours available for groups). 1862 Orchard Lane, Talking Rock.
Roo Mountain Vineyards has a tasting room, a bistro and a rooftop bar, and is open to adults 21 and over only. 1493 Old Flat Branch Road, Ellijay.
Grapes and Ladders is a smaller, relaxed winery that opened in 2020. 2317 Highway 382 West, Ellijay. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Good to know: Gilmer County doesn't allow alcohol service before 12:30 p.m. on Sundays, so plan Sunday tastings for the afternoon.
Hard cider at Mercier Orchards
Mercier Orchards is a big family orchard just north of Blue Ridge, and it's one of the few Georgia orchards that grows, presses, ferments and cans its own hard cider. The tasting room pours more than a dozen ciders, from the classic Grumpy Granny to rotating seasonal flavors, along with the orchard's own farm wines and local wines and meads.
Practical details: 8660 Blue Ridge Drive. Pouring typically starts at 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, and wraps up shortly before the market closes. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Easter. Our Mercier Orchards guide covers u-pick and the bakery.
Local tip: Pair the tasting with a box of fried pies for the cabin. Non-drinkers in your group will be just as happy as you are.
Craft breweries in and around Blue Ridge
Downtown Blue Ridge pours a strong craft lineup, from hazy IPAs to easy lagers and seasonal ales built for a post-hike pint. Most taprooms are casual and many welcome dogs, which fits the Blue Ridge way of doing things.
Angry Hops Brewing
A downtown brewery with a broad range of styles, including IPAs, stouts and sours, and indoor and outdoor seating. There's no kitchen, but you're welcome to bring outside food, and food trucks often park nearby. Leashed, well-behaved dogs are allowed inside and out.
Practical details: 341 East Main Street. Open daily from about noon.
Tipping Point Brewing Co.
On the second floor of Trackside Station on West Main, Tipping Point serves everything from classic lagers to fruited wheat ales and milk stouts. The upstairs deck looks over downtown, and live music is common.
Practical details: 322 West Main Street, Suite 2D. Open daily from about noon. It sits across from the downtown City Park.
Grumpy Old Men Brewing
One of the area's original craft breweries, on East Main toward the edge of downtown. The chalkboard menu rotates, the flights are big, and the taproom is dog-friendly with weekly events like live music.
Practical details: 1315 East Main Street. The taproom is open daily; check current hours before you go.
Fightingtown Tavern
Not a brewery, but a great place to drink local: this rock-and-roll tavern pours beers from area breweries (including its own Fightingtown Ale) and Mercier hard cider, with a farm-to-table kitchen and a heated, dog-friendly patio. 511 East Main Street.
Over the line: Copperhill, Tennessee
About 15 to 20 minutes north, the twin towns of McCaysville, GA, and Copperhill, TN, add two more taprooms. Copperhill Brewery moved its taproom to 155 Ocoee Street in October 2025, and is known for its IPA list, trivia and weekend music; its Ducktown sister operation also distills spirits. Buck Bald Brewing, open daily from noon, has a patio and a small-town feel. Combine them with our McCaysville and Copperhill day trip.
A one-day Blue Ridge tasting trail
This route keeps the driving short and puts the downtown stops last, so your evening ends on foot.
11:00 a.m.: Mercier Orchards. A cider flight, a fried pie and a market stop for cabin snacks.
12:30 p.m.: Kerith House. Lunch at the Vintner's Cafe (Thursday through Sunday) and a tasting with mountain views.
2:30 p.m.: Bear Claw Vineyards. A glass by the creek, lawn games and, on weekends, live music.
4:30 p.m.: Downtown Blue Ridge. Park once, then walk between Angry Hops and Tipping Point.
6:30 p.m.: Dinner downtown. See our where to eat in Blue Ridge guide for date-night and group picks.
Ellijay variation: For a wine-only day, start at Cartecay Vineyards around noon (12:30 on Sundays), add a second Ellijay winery, then head back north for dinner. If you're staying at Sacred Creek Retreat in Cherry Log, you're already well positioned between the two areas.
Local tip: Taste, don't drink. Most tastings are small pours, but four stops add up fast. Split flights, drink water between stops and buy bottles to enjoy back at the cabin.
Designated drivers, car services and tours
The roads between these stops are two-lane mountain roads with curves, hills and limited shoulders, and Georgia enforces DUI laws seriously. Settle the driving plan before the first pour.
Pick a designated driver and treat them well. Many tasting rooms offer non-alcoholic options, and Mercier's bakery is a fine consolation prize.
Book a car service or private tour for groups. Local transportation companies run winery shuttles and private charters; reserve early for fall weekends, and ask your hosts for a current recommendation.
Keep it walkable. Downtown Blue Ridge's taprooms and restaurants sit within a few blocks of each other. Park once, then explore on foot.
Don't count on rideshare. App-based rides can be scarce in the mountains, especially late in the evening. Don't build your night around finding one.
Local tips
Check hours before you go. Many tasting rooms close at 5 or 6 p.m. and some close one or two weekdays.
Bring ID. Every stop checks, and Roo Mountain is 21-and-over only.
October is peak season. Expect crowds on fall weekends; weekdays are noticeably calmer.
Ask about pets. Bear Claw and Angry Hops welcome well-behaved dogs; policies elsewhere vary. See our dog-friendly Blue Ridge guide.
Pair it with the outdoors. A morning in the Aska Adventure Area followed by an afternoon tasting is a classic Blue Ridge day.
Where to stay
A tasting weekend is only as good as the place you come home to. Sacred Summit sleeps 12 with sweeping mountain views, about 5 minutes from downtown Blue Ridge. It's close enough to Bear Claw and the downtown taprooms that the drive home is short and simple.
Sacred Creek Retreat in Cherry Log sleeps 14 on 4.7 private acres along Stanley Creek, about 8 miles south of downtown and handy for Ellijay wine country. Uncork your finds in the hot tub, warm up in the cedar sauna, then gather around the creekside firepit. Booking direct skips third-party platform fees.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked questions
Are there wineries in Blue Ridge, GA?
Yes. Bear Claw Vineyards is just outside downtown Blue Ridge and Kerith House is a few minutes away in Morganton. Mercier Orchards also makes farm wines alongside its hard cider, and many more wineries sit to the south around Ellijay.
How many breweries are in downtown Blue Ridge?
Downtown and East Main Street have three craft breweries: Angry Hops Brewing, Tipping Point Brewing Co. and Grumpy Old Men Brewing. Fightingtown Tavern also pours local beer, and Copperhill, TN, adds two more about 15 to 20 minutes north.
Can you walk between breweries in Blue Ridge?
Angry Hops and Tipping Point are a short walk apart downtown. Grumpy Old Men is farther out on East Main, so most people drive or get a ride there.
Are Blue Ridge wineries kid- and dog-friendly?
Some are. Bear Claw Vineyards welcomes both, and Angry Hops allows leashed dogs. Roo Mountain is 21-and-over only, so check each stop's policy before you bring the family.
Is there a winery tour or shuttle from Blue Ridge?
Local transportation companies offer winery shuttles and private charters, and Chateau Meichtry runs its own ticketed tours on Saturdays. Book ahead for October weekends.
What is Mercier hard cider?
Mercier Orchards grows, presses, ferments and cans its own hard cider from its Blue Ridge apples. The tasting room pours more than a dozen, including Grumpy Granny and seasonal flavors.
Updated October 2026. Details change — confirm hours and conditions before you go.
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