North Georgia Mountains are home to some of the leading wineries in the country
By Pam Guenther
It is no secret that wine and winemaking have been around for thousands of years, actually for the last 7,000 years, but no one is quite sure where and how it all began.
Historians believe it may have been accidentally discovered, maybe a caveman chomping on some fermented grapes and just having a great ol’ time?
Well, in any event, we know it took many years to come to where it has evolved today, and every country in the world has experimented and practiced on growing only the best grapes in their vineyards to boast upon and claim the rights to their superiority of the wine.
Even if we are not wine connoisseurs we know there are a variety of grapes being grown all over the world with France and Italy mostly in the lead producing some of the finer wines due to the environment and expertise of the wine growers.
Winemaking can be very complicated also, as I once learned while working for a wine company in Florida, quite technical and confusing as well if you are not an experienced wine lover.
Well for me, as I am sure with many of you, I just know what I enjoy and what I am willing to spend! Anyway, what really is wine but grape juice that has become fermented into sugars and then into alcohol?
To some winemaking is a perfection that has been mastered and improved upon over the years. In the beginning when winemaking really took off was in the medieval times in Europe with many of the vineyards being grown by church monks who worked tirelessly to improve the grapes in the vineyards they tended to over hundreds of years.
The real modernization of winemaking began post World War ll in the 1960s when more advanced technology in the production of the winemaking equipment began, fermenting in stainless steel vats and bottling equipment. Wine began being sold in most supermarkets and was available to any adult who wanted to try it along with their regular shopping.
Today wine tastings are held in every state and all over the world when we travel with hundreds of different flavors and varieties for any taste buds out there. Those of us who live in Georgia are particularly lucky to have the perfect climate and mountainous region to grow some of the finest muscadine wines. Where I live in Talking Rock, there are several wineries within a few miles and more being built in the very near future.
Mike Ott is no stranger to the ever-growing wine business, and when he moved up here several years ago after operating a successful floral fern business in Florida you might say he already had his green thumb in place.
When he was approached by a local wine grower at the time after moving up here to build his own winery, he thought that might be a good idea. He really knew very little about growing grapes, but with the very suitable conditions for the grapes he began to look for that perfect piece of hillside property on which to start his own vineyard.
He also had to do his homework to start learning the basics – like the types of soil, the correct way to grow the vines, and when to harvest.
Fortunately he was told about a local wine grower who was more than happy to assist the new entrepreneur in his own vineyard. Ott says he still works closely with Joe Smith, a professional wine maker who also taught Chateau Meichtry the ropes, and he continues to this day to assist him when needed.
Mike finally found that perfect piece of land that many of you may have already visited nestled on 20 acres with six acres of grapes and expanding.
I think Mike has one of the best views, but he confides in me it didn’t look like that when he purchased the land, explaining that many of the trees had to be removed to reveal the beautiful mountain view the winery presently boasts.
Mike also explained that currently all of the wine is made at the Engelheim Winery because as for now they pretty much ferment the grapes for all the local wineries using their own grapes. Mike also said he has plans to complete a new building within the coming year where he can make his own wine on his property, and he also has plans to expand the area where the grapes are being grown.
As I sat and spoke with Mike I got the feeling he was just one of your “down home country boys” that everyone loved and talked to when they came into his winery.
Mike still works very closely with the wine maker Joe Smith at the Engelheim Winery which still has all the winemaking equipment that helps to supply most of the local growers.
He has also taught many of the local wine growers about the winemaking process and worked with most of them to nurture their own vineyards to produce the best muscadine wines here. He does give a lot of the credit to Engelheim Winery as well as their expert winemakers there.
Mike also says Georgia’s soil with many rocks that is best for drainage is perfect for producing the muscadine wine. The more the vines become stressed for water, the better as the grapes will produce less sugar and thus become a better quality. One grape, he said, can make four different types of wine depending on the fermentation and flavors. Engelheim, where most of the local wines are now produced, currently makes 14 different types of wines that are distributed to the other local wineries.
Mike can be a tad bit modest and does not boast about all the help he has given to the other local wineries to get them started, but everyone that knows him has no problem in sharing all the generous ways he has reached out to his fellow winemakers and help he has given to them to get them started.
More recently he even helped out another winery which had opened just down the road from him called Buckley Vineyards and was also very instrumental in getting them started as well.
Currently there are about a dozen wineries in the Ellijay area with more coming. The Ott winery also has some really great entertainment on the weekends and is open seven days a week. The view itself is really breathtaking and worth the visit, and they usually have a food truck every weekend to purchase food.
Both Mike and his wife Lee work tirelessly at their vineyard. It’s no surprise to see Lee serving up bottles or glasses of wine while Mike is running around greeting people while making sure there are plenty of supplies and everyone is having a good time! You are also invited to bring your own snacks and food and just enjoy the music and the view, and even if you are not a wine drinker you are still very much welcome to come and enjoy! Be sure you say hello to Mike for me!