Wine and North Georgia aren’t usually in the same sentence. However, in recent years more wineries have sprung up in the region.
A good friend recommended that we try lunch at Montaluce Winery in Dahlonega. Describing the property as Tuscan-styled, she said we’d enjoy it since we’d come back from a recent trip to Italy. To be honest, I just couldn’t picture it. I think of Dahlonega as a cute small town with shops, a courthouse and a gold museum that you visit when the leaves change colors in the fall season.
Two years later, I finally made reservations for lunch on a Saturday. And it’s a good thing we did as they book up quickly and were turning people away when we visited.
Located in the countryside outside of Dahlonega, we entered the 400-acre property at the flower-graced sign, passing a few homes built as part of the estates. I later learned visitors can rent four of these villas. Signs ushered us along the windy road for about a mile to the main building.
I was no longer in Georgia, but Italy as we entered what looked like a large villa. Giving us a choice of sitting inside or outside, the hostess led us through a cathedral-peaked tasting room to the large terrace.
The outdoor dining overlooked rows of terraced vineyards and we had a front-row view of everything around us – including a wedding proposal! Two couples came over and asked if they could take a few pictures from the balcony next to us. Pointing out a young couple below us, they said their son was getting ready to propose. Soon, the son got down on one knee and the girlfriend said yes. A photographer popped out from the vines and began taking pictures. The family thanked us and headed inside to the celebration the son arranged.
Our waiter came over and went through the menu. Since we couldn’t decide between the Montaluce Tempranillo or the Merlot, he offered a taste of each. We settled on the first one and enjoyed the spectacular scenery around us. Although it was a hot summer day, a gentle breeze wafted through the elevated terrace and it felt like a nice spring day.
Montaluce offers small bites, sandwiches and heavier entrees on the lunch menu. We started with the Tuscan Flatbread featuring goat cheese and arugula. The drizzled balsamic vinegar brought all the flavors together. Soon our entrees – Pasta Bolognese and Cedar Plank Salmon arrived.
While dining on the delicious food, we noticed the ladies sitting at the table near us enjoying the charcuterie plate, while a family at another table ate desserts. Sadly, we didn’t have enough room for anything else so we decided to walk around.
A path led down to a small pond and we saw the events director giving a tour of the property to a couple looking for a wedding venue. Underneath the dining veranda, we passed by the large room holding the oak barrels for wine production. Sadly, it was time to leave but we will return.
For more information about Montaluce Winery, click here.