Butterducks Winery, Guyton, Georgia

 

“Accept what life offers you and try to drink from every cup. All wines should be tasted; some should only be sipped, but others, drink the whole bottle.”

Paulo Coelho

My husband, Joe and I had not had a day trip out of the Augusta, Georgia area for quite some time and it seemed to be the perfect day to do another adventure. We really enjoyed our last visit to the Butterducks Winery and decided it was time to go back and spend some quality time there.

Our drive to the winery from Augusta was very pleasant. We headed down the lovely, quiet back roads in Georgia heading towards Savannah. The large plots of farmlands stretched for miles. Today was a steamy day in Georgia, and the cows were lining up to be near the irrigation systems trying to keep cool. Many fields had rolled up wheat beautifully laid out in the fields to dry. On these lonely back roads in Georgia, we have only seen a few vehicles on the road.

We arrived at Butterducks which is a family run winery in Effingham County. We parked and strolled up to the door with an inviting chalkboard sign stating the cost of a tasting. When we entered the store, we were greeted by three lovely ladies who made us feel very welcomed. They asked if we wanted to do a tasting and we said, yes. They told us they would bring us our tastings out to The Duck Blind, which is a large covered patio that overlooks their property.

We went out and found a nice seat and enjoyed the scenery. Today was a steamy day but yet the patio seemed comfortable in the shade. Barbara brought out our tastings and we chatted it up for a bit. I did the white wines and Joe did the reds. The fruit wines were very nice and we each found a wine that we chose for a glass and a couple bottles to take home. Barbara is a lovely lady and after talking for a while, she told us that the winery was her and her husbands. She talked to us proudly about the winery.

The wine is made on site in 21 stainless steel tanks by her husband, Bill. When he was working on a name for the winery, he decided on Butter because everyone in their family’s first name started with a B and their last name is Utter. He wanted to add something to it and came up with Ducks because he looked outside and saw his ducks on his pond. So that is how the name Butterducks Winery came about.

On two weekends, one in March which is their anniversary weekend, and one in November, which is their customer appreciation day, they open up the tank room for tours and bring in food trucks. It sounds like the perfect time to come to the winery for a visit.

Inside the shop, you can buy jelly, jam, cheese and crackers, candles, fun items, and shirts. They also sell beautifully made gift baskets and bottles of wine. Take some time to shop around. It is easy to find that perfect gift for someone special.

Come check them out at: 3332 Blue Jay Road, Guyton, Georgia. They are opened Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm. It is a great stop on your way to Savannah. It is a friendly and relaxing place to sit and relax.

Till next time. Bye for now.

Cartecay Vineyards, Ellijay, Georgia

“Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards; there it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine; a constant proof the God loves us, and loves to see us happy.”

Benjamin Franklin

After thoroughly enjoying exploring the historic town of Ellijay, Georgia which is located in the eastern part of Gilmer County in the cartecay region. We stopped in the Cartecay Wine and Craft Store on the square and enjoyed tasting their wine. When we asked about their vineyard, we were encouraged to check it out so since it was close we thought we would go and see it. It was an easy fourteen minute drive through the beautiful rolling countryside to the vineyard.

The first thing we noticed when we pulled into the parking area was the beautiful old barn. We parked and went into a nicely refurbished tasting room that featured a pretty bar that was built from a black walnut tree on their farm. The inside of the tasting room was an eclectic mix of paintings, unique items, and various items for sale such as T-shirts, candles, coasters, and more. There also was a lounging area with a fireplace which has to be super cozy in the winter when the fireplace is blazing.

We ordered a glass of wine and stepped out on the back covered patio of the barn which had seating and tables set up. What a perfect spot to sit and gaze at the vineyard while enjoying our wine. There also was a small babbling creek with picnic tables and hammocks to lie on nearby under the shade trees. We walked up the dirt road to look at some of the grape vines in the vineyard and saw all the beautiful clusters of grapes that were thriving in the North Georgia mountains.

The Lykins moved to Gilmer County in 2002 and bought an abandoned farm that sat vacant for years. Before then, the farm was used for growing corn and hay as well as raising cattle, hogs, and mules. This farm was the perfect location, elevation, and climate for growing grapes. They went through a lot of legal hoops to start this winery as there were many people in the county that did not want alcohol to be made or sold. When they finally got all the approvals, this would become the county’s first winery.

Cartecay Vineyard was founded in 2007. They planted their first four acres in 2008 and then four more the following year. The vines were planted on west facing slopes which gave them maximum sun exposure. During the first few years the Lykins focused on the farming side of the vineyard. They had no equipment for making wine so in 2010, when they had their first harvest, they went to Habersham Winery in Helen, Georgia and asked them to process their grapes and make their wine out of their specifications. By 2013, they were able to do the entire process from growing to bottling to selling the wine right at their winery.

They grow a variety of grapes to include, Vidal Blanc, Traminette, Norton, Catawba, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Cardonel. They had planted Merlot but the crop got taken out by disease. All the wines are made from 100% Cartecay grapes that grow well in the southern Appalachian Mountains.

After we enjoyed our wine and bought a bottle of their Norton Red Dead Head, we strolled out to the parking lot. A chimney was standing behind another patio with a covered stage on the side where they have live music. The chimney is from the original house, circa 1890 and looks stunning with the vineyard in the background. There is also a wooden bridge that you can walk over to go to the vineyard. Both areas would be great places to take pictures.

We enjoyed out visit to this vineyard and loved their wines. If you are ever in Ellijay, make sure you stop in as this vineyard. They have great wines and it’s a beautiful area to come and relax. They are open seven a week. Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM and Sunday 12:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Check them out at: www.cartecayvineyards.com.

Bye for now.