The mountains that straddle the North Carolina–Georgia line have quietly become a genuine destination for wine and craft beer, and tasting your way across the region is one of its great unhurried pleasures. Wineries near Murphy, NC and across the North Georgia mountains include estate vineyards with sweeping views, cozy tasting rooms, and a growing roster of craft breweries from Blairsville to Blue Ridge. North Georgia in particular has earned a reputation as an up-and-coming wine region. Whether you prefer a glass of estate red on a vineyard terrace or a flight at a rustic taproom, here's a guide to the region's wineries and breweries — and how to plan a tasting day. It's a side of the mountains that has blossomed remarkably over the past couple of decades, turning scenic back roads into a tasting trail and giving residents and visitors alike a relaxed, social way to spend an afternoon close to home.

A region for wine

North Georgia has built a real reputation as a wine region over the past couple of decades, sometimes called a wine country of the East, and the mountains around Blairsville, Blue Ridge, and on toward Ellijay and Dahlonega are dotted with vineyards. Many are estate operations growing their own grapes — often French-American hybrids suited to the elevation and the cool mountain nights — on hillside plots with genuinely beautiful views. The experience tends to be relaxed and scenic: a tasting flight on a terrace or in a timber-frame tasting room, often with live music on weekends in season and room to linger over the landscape. Spots near Blairsville sit within an easy drive of the North Carolina line, so they fold naturally into a day out from Murphy or the lakes. The North Carolina side of the region has its own vineyards and tasting rooms as well, making the whole area a rewarding one for wine lovers to explore.

Vineyards worth seeking out

A sampling of the kinds of vineyards and wineries you'll find across the region:

• Near Blairsville — estate vineyards such as Paradise Hills and Odom Springs offer tastings, mountain views, and on-site production.
• Around Blue Ridge — spots like Bear Claw Vineyards pair densely planted vines with scenic tasting experiences and weekend music.
• Larger-farm experiences — destinations like Living Water Winery combine estate wine with cider and craft beer on sprawling acreage.
• Orchard tasting rooms — Mercier Orchards near Blue Ridge offers hard ciders and wines alongside its famous fruit and market.

This is just a sampling — the region's roster grows and changes, so it's worth checking current vineyards, hours, and tasting offerings before you map out a route.

The craft-beer scene

Alongside the wine, the mountains have developed a lively craft-beer culture, with taprooms tucked into the downtowns and a few destination breweries worth the drive. Blue Ridge has emerged as a particular hub — sometimes nicknamed "Brew Ridge" — with several independent breweries, including well-known names like Grumpy Old Men Brewing, pouring a wide range of styles from lagers and IPAs to stouts and sours. Blairsville and the surrounding towns add their own breweries and brewpubs, and you'll find brewing happening across the line in the North Carolina towns too, including a brewpub in Andrews. The vibe is generally casual and welcoming — local beer, easygoing food, often live music — and the taprooms make a natural counterpoint to a vineyard afternoon. A handful of distilleries producing moonshine and whiskey round out the picture for those who want to sample the full range of mountain-made drinks. As always, hours and lineups change, so confirm before you go.

Planning a tasting day

A tasting day across the mountains is easy and rewarding to plan, with a few sensible guidelines:

More than a drink: the experience

Part of what makes the region's wineries and breweries special is that they're as much about the setting as the glass. A vineyard terrace at golden hour, with the rows of vines dropping away toward a ridgeline and a band playing on the weekend, is its own kind of mountain experience — and a brewery patio after a day on the lake or the trails is the easy, social end to an afternoon outdoors. Many of these spots have become gathering places, hosting music, food trucks, and events that draw locals and visitors together. For anyone getting to know the area, a tasting outing is a relaxed way to explore the back roads, meet the people behind the local products, and see corners of the mountains you might otherwise miss. It's also a reminder of how much the region has grown into a genuine food-and-drink destination, with the wineries and breweries adding to the lakes, trails, and small-town squares that already define life here.

How the wine country grew here

It's worth appreciating just how much this wine and craft-beer scene has blossomed in a relatively short time. A couple of decades ago, the idea of a serious wine region in the North Georgia mountains might have raised eyebrows; today, estate vineyards win awards and draw visitors specifically for the experience, and the towns support a roster of independent breweries that would have been hard to imagine not long ago. Several factors came together: the elevation and cool mountain nights turn out to suit certain grape varieties well, the proximity to Atlanta provides a steady stream of weekend visitors, and the broader boom in craft beverages gave local entrepreneurs the confidence to plant vines and fire up brew kettles. The result is a genuine agritourism economy layered on top of the region's traditional draws. For residents, it means an ever-growing list of places to spend a relaxed afternoon close to home; for visitors, it's one more reason to linger. And as more vineyards mature and more taprooms open, the scene only gets richer — a delicious sign of a region coming into its own.

For anyone putting down roots in the area, this growing scene is a quiet bonus of mountain life. It means that a relaxed afternoon among the vines, a brewery patio after a hike, or a vineyard concert on a summer evening is never far away, and that there's always a new tasting room or release to discover close to home. It also reflects something larger about the region: a confidence and creativity that keeps drawing makers, growers, and visitors. The lakes and trails may be what first bring people to these mountains, but the wineries and breweries are increasingly part of what makes them want to stay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there wineries near Murphy, NC?

Yes. Vineyards and tasting rooms are found across the region, with a notable concentration in North Georgia near Blairsville and Blue Ridge — an easy drive from Murphy — plus options on the North Carolina side.

Is North Georgia really a wine region?

Yes. North Georgia has earned a reputation as an up-and-coming wine region over the past couple of decades, with estate vineyards growing their own grapes at elevation and producing award-winning wines.

Where are the breweries in the area?

Craft breweries cluster in the towns, with Blue Ridge a particular hub (home to spots like Grumpy Old Men Brewing). Blairsville, the surrounding towns, and the North Carolina side, including Andrews, add more options.

Do the wineries have food and music?

Many do, especially on weekends in season — live music, food, and scenic terraces are common. Offerings vary by spot and season, so check each venue's current schedule before you plan around it.

How should I plan a tasting day?

Arrange a designated driver or a tour, cluster stops around one area like Blairsville or Blue Ridge to limit driving, check hours and reservations ahead, and build in a meal at a nearby town.

Raise a glass to the mountains

The region's wineries and breweries are one more reason life here feels rich and unhurried. If a tasting day has you dreaming of more time in the mountains, you can browse current listings around Murphy and the lakes, read about dining in Blue Ridge, or reach out to Bonnie DuPree to talk through what you're looking for in the area.

The DuPree Real Estate Group is pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity. Bonnie DuPree, REALTOR® · RE/MAX Town & Country · Each Office Independently Owned and Operated.