Gorgia Wine Country Hospitality

Everyone knows about the state of Georgia. Savannah. Atlanta. We also know about the mountains for quaint southern towns, for apple-eating in the fall and for the wonderful array of outdoor activities--hiking, boating, backpacking and camping. Now, raise your hand if you've ever called the North Georgia mountains "wine country."

Lamb porterhouse at Blueberry Hill restaurant,

Wine country, indeed! For ten-plus years, Georgia mountain towns, especially in the geographic Dahlonega Plateau area, have been growing wine lovers. Wine lovers who've planted wine grapes and officially started tending vineyards, blending wines, hiring winemakers, opening wine tasting rooms and winning national awards for their wines.

Recently, my Dewey and I visited the area. This might have been our 20th trip! Yes, since 2020, we've been camping in the area and visiting wineries and vineyards. We've stayed at fine hotels, bed and breakfast establishments and campgrounds. A few weeks ago, we reserved a cabin at Dahlonega Resort & Vineyard.

Blueberry Hill restaurant hosting a recent wedding rehearsal dinner.
(Photo: courtesy of the restaurant)

Entering the back of the restaurant and inn from a walking path on the property.

The Dahlonega/Cleveland area is where most of the wineries are, although there are others farther out, like Wolf Mountain, which is just 60 miles north of Atlanta. Our favorites wineries are Montaluce, Yonah Mountain and Kaya. Fortunately for us, Kaya Vineyard & Winery is just a stone's throw from the Dahlonega Resort. It is also owned by the same couple who own the resort. So convenient!

Hospitality at the Dahlonega Inn & Resort is the kind you experience when visiting your closest friends. Laid back, but eager to make you comfortable and to show you the area. Every employee we encountered exuded a genuine interest in making us feel properly welcomed and at home. Yes, every waiter, receptionist and housekeeper we met seemed genuinely happy to assist us, and there was a sense of pride and ownership. We travel a lot. We've been to various locations throughout the United States and to many countries around the world. Honestly, with the exception of Viking River Cruise staff, everyone at this resort is like a happy puppy who is so excited to see you. Of course you want to visit, and often! But plan ahead, because they sell out quickly.

Blueberry Hill, the restaurant on the premises, is open for dinner on Thursdays, breakfast, lunch and dinner Friday and Saturday, and for brunch on Sunday. The menu is small, but interesting enough to suit everyone. They also feature a daily special. Be sure to ask about that. Blueberry Hill is open to the public, but reservations go quickly. Plan accordingly. The restaurant manager, Tyler Miller, is a wonderful and friendly host. He has been in this position since July of 2023, having worked since 2022 with the resort's events team. "We focus on fresh, local ingredients for our restaurant and sister catering operations," Tyler said, adding that they "...want to support our community." According to Tyler, all employees are local and share a love of the area and a desire to contribute to the success of the resort. It shows!

The resort's Chef de Cuisine, Justin Blackstock, shares the enthusiasm. On our first night, he hand-delivered my beautiful entree—lamb porterhouse. Justin has had a passion for cooking since he made omelets in his sixth-grade Home Economics class. While he'd cooked plenty of omelets with his family before, sharing his omelet creation with strangers sparked a lifetime of culinary creativity. Justin says, "It was seeing the joy in a stranger's face as they tasted something I'd made! That's what prompted me to declare to my mother that I was going to be a chef." 

In his current position, Blackstock is responsible for all aspects of the restaurant's food service and any on-site events requiring food service. The resort is quite popular for weddings, rehearsal dinners, birthdays and corporate events. The main number, 706-865-7678, will get you to the inn, reservations, events and to the restaurant.

After 20 years of assorted restaurant kitchen work and on-the-job training, that 11-year-old boy with a dream continues to please people with his cooking skills. Dewey and I were very happy with our dining experience Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I'd say that Chef Justin has arrived! "I can't imagine doing anything else," Justin says.

A dining experience isn't just about the food. Our first impression of Blueberry Hill was a drink at the bar with their weekend warrior mixologist, Marie, who welcomed us with laughter, area information and fabulous drinks. Marie explained that the Twisted wines we enjoyed with our dinners were bottled for the resort at Kaya, the sister property and winery.  Marie, a data analyst by day, provided us with cocktail-mixing magic at night.

Marie, the marvelous mixologist!

The history of the Dahlonega Resort & Winery is intertwined with the history of Kaya Vineyard & Winery through the owners, Bill and Andrea Werkheiser, who bought the shuttered Blackstock Winery, reopening in 2016 with a fresh look, new staff and a new name, Kaya Vineyard & Winery. The resort opened in 2018 and the restaurant in 2019. The Werkheisers also own nearby Sylvan Valley Lodge & Cellars and the Honeybrook Catering company. Accommodations are available at all three properties.

We enjoyed our resort stay so much, that we are returning to a Kaya Cottage rental with four of our friends. We will definitely sample Kaya wines, and our Blueberry Hill dining experience is already booked!

Many thanks to the restaurant manager, Tyler Miller, for his enthusiasm and warm hospitality in sharing information about Kaya, Dahlonega Resort and the Dahlonega area in general.