Vine and Dandy: U-Pick Muscadine & Scuppernong Farms

by Phebe WahlSeptember 9, 2013

You might have heard through the grapevine that muscadines are in season. September and October are prime months for picking this southern grape. Muscadines have an intense sweetness like a Concord grape, but yet tougher, plum-like skins and larger seeds. Scuppernongs are a greenish variety of muscadine. Combine the fun of self-serve harvesting with the sweet taste of this Georgia native fruit at these Atlanta-area farms.

Backyard Figs and Muscadines
As the name implies, Backyard Figs and Muscadines isn’t exactly a farm. It’s more of an acre yard with 3 fig trees, a muscadine vine and a few apple, pecan, and hickory trees that produce more than the family can eat. They don’t use pesticides, and they’re open every day by appointment from 8 am to dark.

455 Railroad Avenue, Flovilla, GA 30216
Cost: $5/gallon
Contact: 770-504-1729 or paulhale@mail.com

Bank’s Vineyard
Bank’s Vineyard boasts 15 acres with 20 vines of muscadines and scuppernongs. They’re open daily from 9 to 7. You don’t need an appointment, but you may want to call to make sure the fruit is ripe; they generally aren’t ready till September.

290 Banks Road, Fayetteville, GA
Cost: $1.50/pound
Contact: 770-633-9990

Brown’s Muscadine Farm
If you’re looking for a place to spend all day in the muscadine vineyard, Brown’s is the place to go. Their fields include toilets and picnic tables, so bring a lunch (or at least a sandwich or cheese and crackers to eat along with your grapes) and make a day of it. They use no pesticides, and they’re open from late August through October.

4853 Evans Drive, Union City, GA 30291
Cost: $8/gallon; $1.25/pound
Contact: 770-964-5304

Dacula Briarpatch
It’s a small homestead farm, but Dacula Briarpatch offers plenty for families, from restrooms and picnic tables to group tours. The main crops are blueberries and blackberries, but fall harvest includes apples and pears as well as muscadines. Your kids will enjoy the $5/person tour, which includes a show-and-tell of nature objects, from deer bones to birds nests.

2503 Cammie Wages Road, Dacula, GA 30019
Cost: Call for pricing
Contact: 770-962-4990

Weaver’s Berryland Farm
Weaver’s grows blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and vegetables as well as muscadines. This family farm gives a glimpse of what farming was like a generation ago, with 50 year old tractors and an historic barn. Your kids will also enjoy chickens and peacocks, as well as the 70 muscadine vines.

2252 Hiway 16 West, Jackson, GA 30233
Cost: $8/gallon
Contact: 770-595-8303

Waits Farm
The farm covers fewer than 5 acres, but Waits Farm packs a lot of grapes in a small space. The farm boasts 220 vines and 12 different kinds of muscadines and scuppernongs. They’ll be ripe from late August to mid-October.

3779 Old Braswell Road, Monroe, GA 30650
Cost: $4.50/gallon
Contact: 770-207-6910

What is your family’s favorite southern delicacy? Tell us in the comments section below!

–Lisa Baker

Photo courtesy of Paul Hale of Backyard Figs and Muscadines, Creative Commons via Flickr and Bank’s Vineyard via Facebook

Date Night: Best Red Wines of 2012

by scott wardellNovember 28, 2012

From Cabs to Syrah to, yes, even Merlots, these are the Best Red Wines in Washington state that this panel of experts think you should be drinking now. Our friends over at Seattle Magazine have scrounged up the top wines for 2012 and complied them into a list for your imbibing pleasure.

Merlot under $20
Winner: Columbia Crest H3 2009, Horse Heaven Hills, $15
Created to highlight the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, this lush Merlot (with 3 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 1 percent Malbec) has aromas of dust/minerality and dark cherries, with black pepper and chocolate-covered cherry lushness that Merlot drinkers love. Winemaker Juan Muñoz Oca aged this wine in mostly neutral French and American oak for a velvety texture. It’s hard to beat such a well-made Washington Merlot—in a state where there’s a lot of great Merlot—for the price. Paterson; 509.875.4227; columbiacrest.com

Nominees:
Blacksmith 2008, Columbia Valley, $18
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2009 Indian Wells Merlot, Columbia Valley, $18
Jones of Washington 2008 Estate Merlot, Wahluke Slope, $14.99

Merlot over $20
Winner: Abeja 2009, Columbia Valley, $38
Winemaker John Abbott calls this Merlot his “gentle giant.” And truly, it is a big wine, a product of the near-perfect 2009 vintage, which imparted luscious fruit of dark cherries and plums, with aromas of chocolate and espresso, along with earthiness and minerality and a backbone of tannins that help this Columbia Valley wine feel extremely balanced on the palate. The fruit is 100 percent Merlot, from Heather Hill, Abeja’s estate vineyard in the Mill Creek area of Walla Walla Valley, and Sagemoor’s Bacchus Vineyards on the banks of the Columbia River near Pasco in the Columbia Valley AVA. Abbott has a magic touch, and that, along with nature’s best work, makes this wine a true winner. Walla Walla (tasting room open seasonally to mailing-list members or overnight guests at its inn); 509.526.7400; abeja.net

Nominees:
Hestia Cellars 2009, Columbia Valley, $28
Pedestal 2008, Columbia Valley, $55
Soos Creek Wine Cellars 2008 Palisade, Columbia Valley, $24.99

Check out the complete list of must-try wines and their descriptions over at Seattle Magazine.

This is our weekly guest post from our friends at Seattle Magazine, which keeps readers on the pulse of restaurants, personalities, arts, entertainment and culture that reflect the tapestry of our dynamic landscape. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a weekly dose of fantastic Date Night ideas throughout greater Seattle.

Date Night: Best Eco-Friendly Wineries in Sonoma

by Erin LemDecember 28, 2011

Everyone seems to have an eco-friendly angle these days, but the wineries of Sonoma (and the area itself) have long been committed leaders within the movement. Many Sonoma wineries use a combination of green techniques like solar power and organic farming, while others have taken it to the next level using biodynamics. Here are our favorite eco-friendly wineries and the tour companies who will take you there:

Quivira Vineyards and Winery in Healdsburg stands by statements like “live in balance with your surroundings” and “experience a true vineyard farm.” They embrace all biodynamic farming practices from the spiritual to scientific, which means they obsessively monitor healthy microbiotic life, and use only materials from their self-sustaining vineyards, compost piles, farm animals, and vegetable gardens. Their tasty wines are carefully made to respect the natural flavors of the soils and the specific elements found in each vineyard.

Benziger Family Winery remains a leader in the eco-friendly movement with biodynamic gardens and wines and countless accolades for their green practices and farming over the years. The estate is earthy and beautiful, tours informative and nature-filled, and entire portfolio of wines are certified sustainable, organic, or biodynamic. Tribute, a robust Cabernet blend, was the first Demeter-certified Biodynamic wine from Sonoma Country and one of the first in Northern America.

To read the full article to discover more of what eco-friendly Sonoma has to offer, click here.

This is our weekly guest post from our friends at 7×7, a site that keeps you up on the best of SF. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a fantastic Date Night idea each week. Be sure to check out their blog for hourly doses of the best of SF.

Sonoma, California with Kids: Where to Stay, Eat, and Play!

by writerredtriJanuary 14, 2011

Back in your pre-parent days, you probably never considered bringing your kids to wine-soaked Sonoma, but think again. Even though organic milk may the beverage of choice in your household these days, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy a day trip or weekend hanging out around the square. This charming little town is packed with activities for kids, and wine tasting is still permitted (and in some places, encouraged) even with kids in tow.

Things to Do: Your first stop should be the historic Sonoma Plaza. This culinary and retail hub of Sonoma is known by locals simply as ‘The Plaza,” and with two playgrounds, a duck pond (don’t forget to bring bread) and ample tables and trees for shade, it’s loved by locals and visitors alike. On the north side is Mission San Francisco Solano, the last of California’s 21 missions, built in 1823, and just one block north of the Plaza is Depot Park with a Historic Railroad Station, history museum, bocce ball courts and sweet little playground perfect for kids.

Sebastiani Vineyard and Winery is walking distance from the Plaza—grab a picnic and find a shady spot on the lawn. The large water fountain (pictured) and surrounding grounds keep the kiddies entertained while you sample the zins, chards, and more. If you arrive midday, sign up for of the open air trolley tour, which includes a spin through the Plaza and a visit to neighboring Cherryblock Vineyeard.

If it’s trains your kids are into, then a visit to Train Town is a must. The ‘grand’ scale railroad, charming carousel, and other train themed rides and attractions are a blast for any little engineer. Be sure to check the website for hours of operation.

At Larson Family Winery, it’s all about great wine and family fun. Anything but stuffy, the tasting room and grounds have a ‘down home’ vibe—there are pet goats, bocce ball courts, an expansive lawn for picnicking, and vineyard horseback rides.

Making your way north on Hwy. 121, just before Sonoma, you’ll find a gargantuan blue Adirondack chair and the craziest white picket fence you can imagine. It may look like something out of the Twilight Zone, but it’s actually Cornerstone Gardens. Here kids can explore totally unique gardens designed by the world’s most innovative landscape architects, all for free! Our favorite is the 1,800 square foot garden made exclusively of colored pinwheels! Guided tours are also available by appointment.

Where to Eat:
Even a town attracting foodies from around the world boasts several family-friendly restaurants. Just a half a block from the Plaza is The Red Grape, serving excellent thin crust pizza, pasta, and salads. Dine al fresco or in the colorful, festive dining room.

Watch your kids’ eyes light up at the pastry counter at the Basque Boulangerie Café. This local fave also serves great sandwiches, salads, and of course some of the best bread in Wine Country. Located on the Plaza, this is a perfect spot to pick up breakfast or lunch for your picnic.

Where to Stay:
It doesn’t get much easier than Best Western Sonoma Valley Inn, located just a block and a half from the Sonoma plaza. This mid-range priced hotel boasts refrigerators in all the rooms, a swimming pool, and washer and dryer (just in case!).

The beautiful Lodge at Sonoma Renaissance Resort & Spa is a full-service resort with a gourmet restaurant (including a kids menu), spa, and casita-style accommodations perfect for families. To top it off, it’s just across the street from Traintown (don’t worry, the whistle doesn’t blow until at least 10am!)

If you are dreaming of playing house amongst the vineyards, then you might want to splurge with a villa stay. Beautiful Places has a collection of homes complete with pool, tennis courts, even playgrounds for your little ones. Want to bring your nanny? You can opt for a villa with a private guest cottage.

— Lisa Bolger

Kid-Friendly Sonoma

by Jacqui BolandOctober 15, 2009

photo by Sean Howard

Back in your pre-parent days, you probably never considered wine-soaked Sonoma a family destination, but think again. Even though organic milk may the beverage of choice in your household these days, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy a day trip or weekend hanging out around the square. This charming little town is packed with activities for kids, and wine tasting is still permitted (and in some places, encouraged) even with kids in tow.

Play: Your first stop should be the historic Sonoma plaza. This culinary and retail hub of Sonoma is known by locals simply as ‘The Plaza,” and with two playgrounds, a duck pond (don’t forget to bring bread) and ample tables and trees for shade, it’s loved by locals and visitors alike. http://www.sonomavalley.com On the north side is Mission San Francisco Solano, the last of California’s 21 missions, built in 1823, and just one block north of the Plaza is Depot Park with a Historic Railroad Station, history museum, bocce ball courts and sweet little playground.

Sebastiani Vineyard and Winery is walking distance from the Plaza—grab a picnic and find a shady spot on the lawn. The large water fountain and surrounding grounds keep the kiddies entertained while you sample the zins, chards, and more. If you arrive midday, sign up for of the open air trolley tour, which includes a spin through the Plaza and a visit to neighboring Cherryblock Vineyeard.

If it’s trains your kiddos are into, then a visit to Train Town is a must. The ‘grand’ scale railroad, charming carousel, and other train themed rides and attractions are a blast for any little engineer. Be sure to check the website for hours of operation.

EAT:
Even a town attracting foodies from around the world boasts several family-friendly restaurants. Just a half a block from the Plaza is The Red Grape, serving excellent thin crust pizza, pasta, and salads. Dine al fresco or in the colorful, festive dining room.

Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack, the popular San Francisco restaurant, has recently opened a second location in Sonoma, and the cool, funky vibe would make the hippest kid feel right at home. Besides her signature Spaghetti, Emmy’s seasonal menu features steak, salads, and seafood as well as a full bar and nightly guest DJ’s, Be sure to check the website for a calendar of acoustic music on the patio on weekends.

Stay:
It doesn’t get much easier than Best Western Sonoma Valley Inn, located just a block and a half from the Sonoma plaza. This mid-range priced hotel boasts refrigerators in all the rooms, a swimming pool, and washer and dryer (just in case!).

— Lisa Bolger

ML Interest Tag: vineyard

Vine and Dandy: U-Pick Muscadine & Scuppernong Farms

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